SMILE BRIGHT WITH TEETH WHITENING
Want a brighter, whiter smile?
Teeth whitening is a popular and affordable option to brighten your smile. Stains from coffee, wine and everyday foods can dull teeth over time. Professional whitening safely removes these stains, giving you whiter teeth that help you feel more confident when you laugh, talk and smile.
Book your teeth whitening assessment at your local Maven Dental practice to discover which treatment will best brighten your smile.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening or tooth bleaching is the process of turning yellow or discoloured teeth white.. Before starting a whitening treatment, a dentist will examine your mouth to advise whether the whitening process is right for you.
There are two professional teeth whitening treatment options available at our Maven practices:
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Custom-made take-home teeth whitening kits.
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In-chair teeth whitening treatments.
Your cosmetic dentist or hygienist will be able to recommend the best option for you.
Results may vary depending upon the original shade and condition of your teeth, but most people notice an improvement shortly after treatment.
Take-Home Whitening
Take-home whitening treatments let you brighten your teeth in the comfort of your home. Before you get started, book a teeth whitening consultation with your dentist to discuss your suitability and how the treatment can help you reach your smile goals.
At your consultation, a dentist will take impressions of your teeth for custom-made trays and book you in for a follow up appointment to pick up your custom whitening kit.
Your take home teeth whitening kit will include two new custom-made trays (one complete set with upper and lower teeth), syringes of dental grade whitening gel and easy-to-follow instructions.
Your dentist will let you know how often to repeat your at-home whitening sessions to get the level of whitening you desire.
In-Chair Whitening
In-chair whitening is the fastest and most effective way to brighten your teeth. It’s carried out in the dental practice and is your best option if you’re after almost 'instant' results.
If you’re ready for a brighter, whiter smile, book a pre-whitening consultation with your dentist to check your oral health and find out if you’re suitable for a whitening treatment. Any dental concerns will need to be addressed before you go ahead with whitening treatment.
Whitening teeth normally takes one to two hours, depending on your teeth and brightness goals. Your cosmetic dentist will apply a dental grade whitening gel to your teeth and activate it with a special LED light in some cases.
What Can Teeth Whitening Treat?
Teeth whitening treats extrinsic stains that lie on the surface of the teeth (on the enamel). Some problems teeth whitening can treat include:
- Discolouration from natural aging of the teeth.
- Discolouration from consuming staining foods and beverages (such as tea, coffee, wine, tomatoes).
- Discolouration from smoking and nicotine stains.
What Can’t Teeth Whitening Treat?
There are some things that teeth whitening can’t easily treat.Intrinsic stains lie on the deeper layers of the teeth, making them harder to treat. These could include:
- Stains caused by taking certain antibiotics as a child.
- Stains caused by trauma or damage to the tooth.
- Discolouration of crowns, veneers and other dental restorations.
Learn more about how different teeth whitening options work.
What about Over the Counter Teeth Whitening Products?
It's not hard to find teeth whitening products in your local pharmacy or grocery store — from toothpastes, whitening strips, gels, UV devices and more. These products are easy to access and usually inexpensive, but do over-the-counter teeth whiteners work?
To an extent. Over-the-counter teeth whiteners can change the shade of your teeth slightly, but one-size-fits all strips and trays usually only whiten the front of your teeth. On top of that, if they don’t fit properly, you could get patchy results.
Overall, over-the-counter products aren’t as good as professional dental grade whitening like take-home or in-chair treatments. A cosmetic dentist can also properly assess your oral health before whitening so you don't damage your teeth or gums during the process.
What to know before your teeth whitening appointment
HOW MANY APPOINTMENTS DO I NEED?
You'll begin with a consultation to figure out if teeth whitening is right for you. The dentist will check your oral health, tooth shade and sensitivity levels.
If you’re having in-chair treatment, you’ll have whitening done in your next appointment.
If you’re getting a take-home kit, you'll take impressions during your consultation and then come back to collect your custom-fitted trays.
HOW LONG DOES TEETH WHITENING TAKE?
Each teeth whitening option needs a different time commitment.
In chair:
- The consultation will usually take around 10 to 15 minutes.
- Treatment will usually only take around 1 to 2 hours.
Take-home:
- The consultation and impressions will take up to 20 minutes.
- Follow the instructions from your dentist or hygienist on how often you will need to wear your whitening trays
HOW LONG AFTER WHITENING TEETH CAN I EAT NORMALLY?
Avoid certain food and drinks in the first few hours after teeth whitening, as directed by your dentist. In the first 48 hours, you should avoid any food and drinks that may stain teeth, including strongly coloured, dark food and drinks like wine and coffee, and acidic beverages such as fruit juice and alcohol.
WHAT IF I HAVE SENSITIVE TEETH?
Tooth sensitivity isn’t unusual. Many people with sensitive teeth can have their teeth whitened without pain. Your dentist will take a look at your oral health and assess your suitability for different kinds of teeth whitening during your consultation. That’s also the best time to bring up any concerns you may have.
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TEETH WHITENING FAQs
Teeth whitening treatment costs will depend on whether you choose in-chair whitening or a take-home whitening kit. Treatments vary across dentists and some practices may have special offers on teeth whitening packages. Contact your local Maven Dental Practice for our current teeth whitening prices.
Teeth whitening at home is a convenient way to brighten your smile, but there are safe and not-so-safe ways to go about it. At Maven Dental, we offer a take-home whitening system that uses dental grade products and acustom fit whitening tray.
There are over-the-counter versions of whitening systems, toothpastes and gels, butthey’re not as effective as professional teeth whitening systems and may not give you the results you want. We recommend you discuss any questions you have about teeth whitening with your dentist.
How long teeth whitening lasts depends on many factors like your lifestyle and habits. Most people find that it’s a few years before the stains reappear to the level before treatment. Our practices also have home touch-up kits available to extend the life of your whitening treatment.
Teeth whitening is safe when done as advised by your Maven dentist. It’s important to visit the dentist for a consultation before undergoing any whitening treatment. At Maven Dental, we assess your overall oral health to check if your teeth are suitable for whitening. We advise against ordering DIY teeth whitening kits online that aren’t dental grade, as you don’t know if it is safe to use or if your teeth are suitable.