Professional Teeth Whitening
Safe, professional whitening that lifts years of staining for an instantly brighter smile.
Professional whitening removes stains from coffee, tea, wine and smoking, brightening your teeth several shades in a single session.
In-Office vs Home
In-office whitening gives the fastest, most dramatic result; we can also provide custom home kits for maintenance. Whitening is often the finishing touch before veneers.
Is It Safe?
Performed by professionals, whitening is safe for enamel. Mild, temporary sensitivity is normal. For permanently discoloured teeth, crowns or veneers may be better.
In-Office or At-Home? What the Evidence Shows
In-office whitening uses high-concentration gel (roughly 25–40% hydrogen peroxide) in one 60–90 minute appointment and produces the largest immediate shade change. At-home trays use 10–22% carbamide peroxide over one to two weeks.
The important finding: over time, the two approaches deliver comparable results. In-office is faster; at-home is gentler and cheaper. Many clinics combine both — an in-office session followed by trays for maintenance.
Sensitivity: What to Expect
In-office bleaching produces more sensitivity than at-home, because the concentration is higher — but it is shorter-lived. At-home sensitivity is milder and may recur through the treatment period.
In most patients sensitivity is temporary and settles within 1–3 days after treatment ends. Desensitising gels containing potassium nitrate or fluoride reduce it substantially. Persistent sensitivity beyond a week should be assessed — it usually indicates an underlying crack, decay or exposed root, not the bleach.
How Long Results Last
Both routes typically hold for 1–3 years. Longevity depends almost entirely on what you drink and whether you smoke: coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco all re-stain. Periodic top-up trays extend results at low cost.
The Limit Nobody Mentions: Whitening Does Not Work on Restorations
Bleach affects natural enamel only. Crowns, veneers, composite fillings and bridges do not change colour. If you whiten after having front restorations placed, they will no longer match.
The correct sequence is: whiten first, wait about two weeks for the shade to stabilise, then choose the shade of any veneers or crowns. Getting this order wrong is an expensive mistake. Compare approaches in whitening vs veneers.
Who Should Not Whiten (Yet)
Untreated decay, active gum disease, cracked teeth, exposed root surfaces and pregnancy are reasons to postpone. Grey, tetracycline-stained teeth respond poorly and may need veneers instead. Internal discolouration from a dead nerve requires internal bleaching, not trays.
Aftercare: avoid strongly coloured food and drink for 48 hours while enamel is temporarily more porous. See whitening aftercare.
This page provides general information and does not replace professional dental advice. Always consult a qualified dentist about your individual case.
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