Tooth Whitening

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Tooth discoloration can be a result of either extrinsic (surface stain) or intrinsic (internal stain) factors. As a general rule our teeth become darker as we become older, it is part of the normal ageing process. Many people would prefer their teeth to be whiter and so look at various whitening options.

Teeth that are discoloured and have a yellowish tone usually whiten well, but sometimes darker teeth can present more difficult, but this can vary in each person. If any fillings are present these also will not whiten, so you may wish to whiten your teeth and then have any necessary fillings changed to match the new shade of your teeth.

At home systems contain lower concentrations of peroxide. Your dentist takes an impression of your teeth to produce a custom made tray to cover the teeth to be whitened. The trays will need to be worn for 1 hour at a time. A course of treatment usually takes 2 to 3 weeks, but would require ‘top-ups’ as and when you feel the teeth are discolouring, this can happen naturally with what we have in our diets.