Teeth whitening is one of the most popular treatments at our St Helens practice in Merseyside, and our patients are always thrilled with their results. We offer Philips Zoom and Boutique Whitening, which are used from the comfort of your own home to make things as convenient as possible. If you’re asking yourself, ‘what is teeth whitening?’ ‘How does it work?’ ‘Is teeth whitening right for me?’, then you’ve come to the right place.
Brown stains can form on even the healthiest teeth after consuming certain foods and drinks or smoking tobacco. Extrinsic stains affect your tooth enamel. Balsamic vinegar, soy sauce and red wine are some of the worst culprits for this staining, thanks to their dark colour – but luckily, they are easy to remove. Intrinsic stains are slightly more complicated as they affect the dentine inside your tooth; we’ll talk more about this later on.
At Alverna House, we use teeth whitening to remove surface stains and brighten your smile quickly, easily and cheaply. Philips Zoom NiteWhite and Boutique Whitening are two of the most effective teeth whitening treatments out there. They both have a similar treatment process involving three to four appointments – first, we’ll see you for an initial check-up to assess the health of your mouth. Once we’re happy that your mouth is in good condition, we’ll scan your mouth to create custom trays; you’ll fill these with whitening gel and wear them at home. We will check the fit of these trays and give you a demonstration before delivering your whitening kit to your home – then you’re ready to go! You will see us for a review a few days after your whitening kit is delivered and at the end of your treatment to check you’re happy with the results.
Both Philipps NiteWhite and Boutique Whitening treatments are bleaching gels containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to break down stain molecules, shrinking them until they separate from your enamel. Whilst these ingredients are powerful, teeth whitening is completely safe and can only be carried out by trained professionals, like the cosmetic dentists at Alverna House.
Teeth whitening is suitable for anyone whose teeth and gums are in good condition – we’ll need to carry out a thorough check-up before we go ahead with your treatment. If you’re showing signs of cavities or gum disease, we may need to do some work on your teeth before starting the process – equally, if your stains are intrinsic, we might need to look at other options.
Intrinsic stains form inside your teeth, and they can be harder to remove – unlike extrinsic stains, they result from genetics, injuries, high fluoride levels, ageing and certain medications. Although whitening might not be the best solution for this type of staining, beautiful teeth are still an option: we offer alternatives such as composite bonding and porcelain veneers to make your teeth smooth and bright.
If you are in any doubt about the whitening procedure, contact us by e-mail at tco@alvernahouse.co.uk. We can offer expert advice about what’s best for you.
