Teeth Whitening

How does Teeth Whitening work?

Teeth Whitening works to bleach the internal chromophores living within our tooth layers which are similar to the pigments living within our skin layers. Teeth Whitening will help neutralise those molecules that tend to stain our teeth which are generally derived from foods such as curries, drinks such as tea, coffee and red wine and habits such as smoking.

Midway Dental Clinic Is A Fully Accredited Practice

MIDWAY DENTAL CLINIC

How can I start Teeth Whitening?

We can whiten teeth with two methods; internal and external bleaching.

Internal Bleaching

Internal Bleaching is reserved for non-vital or root-canaled teeth which have discoloured over time. This often presents as a greyish halo or tinge on the tooth near the gum and can gradually darken. The tooth is examined, an impression mould is taken and a tooth access is created for a specialised bleaching gel to be placed inside. This procedure may need to be repeated depending on the intensity of the discoloration.

External Bleaching

External Bleaching is recommended to fight off stains and brighten your teeth and can either be done in-chair or at-home.

In-chair Teeth Whitening
A high-strength bleaching gel is applied to your teeth and repeated over 1-2 hours. The gums need to be protected with a liquid dam while light or laser is used to activate the bleaching gel.

At-home ZOOM Teeth Whitening
An impression mould of your top and bottom teeth are taken to create customised whitening trays. A high-strength bleaching gel is provided and your dentist will instruct you on how to apply the gel to your trays overnight. You will typically observe changes after 2-3 days and be instructed to continue over 2 weeks for best results.

Is Teeth Whitening safe?

Yes, only if you have had your teeth professionally examined and cleared to be healthy. Teeth whitening is known to increase sensitivity to cold air, food and drink. However, your dentist can recommend best practice techniques to reduce this sensitivity during the period you choose to whiten your teeth.