Are you looking to whiten your teeth so you can reveal a brighter smile? Before you pick up your teeth whitening kit, your Surrey dentist must assess your teeth to find out whether they are healthy enough for this cosmetic procedure.
When it comes to enhancing the appearance of a patient's tooth, whitening might be an option — if the teeth are healthy enough for this treatment. Many people come to us aiming for a whiter, brighter smile so they can grin more confidently. That said, there are some things you should know before using your first whitening strip.
Your smile will need to be assessed by our dental team in Surrey to confirm that your teeth are healthy enough to undergo whitening treatment. Today, we'll share the criteria we use for deciding whether you are a candidate for teeth whitening.
Is teeth whitening right for me?
If you are thinking about whitening your teeth, you'll first need to book a consultation with your Surrey dentist, who will examine your teeth for any signs of thinning or weakened enamel, or tooth decay that can affect the results of a whitening treatment. We might also discourage bleaching and recommend other methods including porcelain veneers if you have very sensitive teeth or gum disease.
People with healthy, unrestored teeth (with no fillings) and gums but whose teeth have yellow tones are the best candidates for teeth whitening.
What should I expect from teeth whitening treatment?
Bleaching has proven to be an effective, safe way to whiten teeth. However, remember that some patients can experience slight irritation of the gums or tooth sensitivity, which should disappear once treatment ends. As for which results you might realistically expect, dental teeth bleaching can only offer a change in colour from gray to a lighter shade of gray, for example.
Note that each patient will experience varying results. Visible restorations such as a bridge or crown will not respond to whitening; they will remain the same colour as they were previously.
After using one of our take-home kits to bleach your teeth, you'll typically have at least one vial of bleaching gel left from your first round of treatment. You might keep this to "touch up" your smile. You can also keep purchasing vials of whitening gels as required to use with your personalized mouth guard.
Preserve Your Smile With Consistent Oral Hygiene
Regardless of how healthy your teeth are, our dentists always recommend visiting your dentist for a checkup and cleaning once every six months (the frequency of your visits depend on your at-home oral hygiene routine and the general condition of your teeth and gums). Pairing a great at-home oral care routine with regularly-scheduled dental visits is the best way to keep your smile white and prevent oral health issues.
