Whitening

Teeth whitening is one of the most sought after method to boost confidence with a radiant smile. Watervale Dental now offers two ways to help you have whiter teeth, Take-home kit or in-office bleaching. In the In-office bleaching, after professionally cleaning your teeth, a resin barrier is applied to the gum areas surrounding the teeth to protect them from the whitening gel. Whitening gel is then placed directly on your teeth and will remain in contact with them for a total of 24 minutes consisting of approximately 3 x 8 minute applications. The whitening gel (hydrogen peroxide) is broken down and oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, and the stains are “dissolved”.

In the take home kit, impressions of your teeth are taken and custom trays (like mouth guard) to fit your teeth are fabricated. After which you will be given the tooth whitening gel and shown the method of application.

Plaque is the cause of gum disease, which makes it imperative that we maintain a high standard of oral hygiene. Plaque turns into calculus (sometimes called tartar) which bonds to the tooth so strongly that is can only be professionally removed. Regular brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouth wash accompanied by regular dental visits and cleans can help prevent gum disease.

Before choosing to whiten your teeth it is important to get your teeth checked by a dentist to determine if your teeth are suitable for the treatment. Teeth whitening is not recommended for everyone because of various issues relating to gum and tooth sensitivity, the natural colour of a person’s teeth and presence of fillings, crowns and veneers.

Unlike many untrained operators offering teeth whitening treatments, only dentists are trained to assess a person’s suitability for the treatment. Without a proper assessment it is not possible to rule out any permanent side effects or other risks associated with the process such as heightened tooth sensitivity and gum problems.

When assessing your teeth for whitening, your dentist will:

• Ensure your mouth is healthy before whitening commences
• Look for grey or yellow discolouration and diagnose the cause of any discolouration
• Discuss with you the best method to whiten your teeth
• Advise if there are factors which may influence the whitening process (e.g. antibiotic staining)
• Assess whether your fillings, crowns and veneers need replacement (as these won’t change colour)
• Identify areas of gum recession
• Discuss possible tooth sensitivity and how it may be managed.

Teeth whitening should only be carried out on people who have their adult teeth, unless otherwise advised by a dentist.heightened tooth sensitivity and gum problems.