How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
When teeth are whitened, teeth are safely bleached, making them whiter and brighter. While whitening may not leave you with blindingly white teeth, it can significantly lighten your teeth, making them look far more white.
Who Is Qualified to Whiten Teeth?
This is a dental procedure that should be handled by a professional. Teeth can be whitened by dentists, dental therapists, and dental hygienists. If the procedure is not performed by a dentist, a prescription may be necessary.
While whitening is occasionally offered by beauty salons, it is only legal if there is a dental professional at the facility. Having teeth whitened by an amateur can compromise the health of your teeth.
Using at-home whitening kits could also damage your teeth.
What Is the Process of Teeth Whitening Like?
Typically, whitening is done over multiple visits.
Your dentist will create a custom mouthguard for you after making an impression of your teeth. This mouthguard is designed to be used along with bleaching gel. For approximately two to four weeks, you’ll use the mouthguard to apply the gel to your teeth at home. Depending on the bleaching gel used, it may be possible to leave the gel on for as long as 8 hours in a sitting. In these cases, the treatment could be as brief as one week.
Another option offered by some dentists is laser whitening. With this method, a bleaching substance is applied to the teeth. The whitening properties of the substance are activated by a laser or light. This process lasts for approximately one hour. See here for ‘Denplan Fees‘.
Are All Dentists Qualified to Perform Teeth Whitening?
Whitening can be performed by all dentists that are registered members of the General Dental Council. With a valid dental prescription, this procedure can also be done by dental hygienists as well as dental therapists.
If you’re not sure that a dentist is GDC registered, you can dial 0207 167 6000 or take a look at the online registration.
Are DIY Kits and Salon Whitening an Option?
It’s illegal for teeth to be whitened at a salon that does not have a dentist on staff. Furthermore, salon treatments and DIY kits could potentially damage your teeth?
What Kind of Damage Can Kits and Salon Whitening Cause?
In many cases, DIY kits don’t contain any whitening ingredients, rendering the products ineffective. Furthermore, when whitening is done at home or by an amateur, you may not have a mouthguard that fits correctly. This could cause the bleaching agent to leak into your mouth, which can leave you with blistered and sensitive gums.
If the employees at the salon are not qualified to perform dental procedures like teeth whitening, they are in violation of the law. You shouldn’t trust a facility like that with your dental health.
Can You Have Teeth Whitened Through the NHS?
Teeth whitening is only available through the NHS for medical reasons. As an example, if a nerve dies within a tooth, it could lead to discolouration. Whitening might be approved in this case.
Under most circumstances, however, whitening is classified as cosmetic. This means it needs to be done privately. While the total expenses can vary, professional bleaching is generally more affordable than laser whitening treatments.
Learn more about NHS dental treatments.
How Can I Get More Information About Teeth Whitening?
Talk to your dentist if you’re interested in teeth whitening. Your dentist will let you know if whitening is right for your teeth. If you have crowns or gum disease, your dentist may advise against it. Look for a dentist near you.
What Kinds of Questions Should I Ask My Dentist?
If you’re interested in teeth whitening, you should ask your dentist plenty of questions about the treatments available. You should ask about results as well, and you should take the time to see if there is any sort of guarantee on the dental work.