What is tooth whitening?
Tooth whitening uses a chemical called peroxide to remove the stains from the tooth and actually lighten the colour of the dentine within the tooth, without damaging the tooth structure.
At Wollaton Dental Care we have over 20 years of experience in whitening teeth and use Boutique Whitening gel and ultra-thin whitening trays.
What is the tooth whitening process?
At your first appointment, your dentist will assess your teeth and mouth to check that you are suitable for tooth whitening and answer any questions you may have.
Fillings, crowns and bridges will not respond to tooth whitening, so it is important for us to make sure that tooth whitening is right for you and whether any other additional treatment will be required to help brighten your smile.
Once an assessment has been made, a digital scan will be taken of your teeth and custom made thin trays will be created to fit your mouth.
At your next visit, approximately one week later, your trays will be fitted and photographs of your teeth will be taken to establish the current shade of your teeth.
Your dentist will show you how to use the whitening gel in the trays and advise you on how to carry out the process so you feel comfortable and confident to do this.
You will have the option of wearing your trays to whiten your teeth for an hour each day or using the trays overnight while you sleep if you’d rather; we will provide the appropriate gel for whichever method you prefer.
The whitening process typically can take anywhere from 10 days or nights to six weeks, to achieve a good improvement in the brightness of your smile, although occasionally in certain more tricky cases it can take longer.
Are there any risks to tooth whitening?
Some patients experience increased sensitivity during the whitening process. This is entirely normal and will not cause any permanent damage to your teeth. There are some cases where whitening is not advisable and your dentist can advise you on this. Sometimes a specific type of whitening called internal bleaching is needed-this is used if a ‘dead’ tooth looks grey in appearance. Normal whitening is less effective in these cases.
We can advise on how best to manage sensitive teeth, often just having a rest day from the whitening process will settle things down.
On the whole, whitening is a very safe process and one of the most conservative ways to improve your smile.
How long does tooth whitening last?
Following successful treatment, your teeth will remain brighter for around 18 – 24 months, depending on how much coffee, tea or red wine you enjoy.
As long as you have kept your trays safe and there have been no significant alterations to your teeth then you will be able to use them again to top up your whitening as needed in the future.
If you have had your teeth whitened at Wollaton Dental Care, you can contact us to discuss obtaining top up gel as needed. Whitening gels are a prescription only medication and so we will need to have seen you relatively recently in order to know that it is still safe for us to prescribe you a top up gel. If you’re unsure, please call us and we can advise you.
How much does tooth whitening cost?
For full details, download our latest Price Guide
Cosmetic dentistry
Treatments can range from simple stain removal or whitening, to more complex work involving replacement of missing teeth or alterations in the shape or appearance of your teeth, such as composite bonding or veneers.
At Wollaton Dental Care we are always mindful of the value of healthy tooth enamel and the biological cost of any treatment on your teeth. Any cosmetic treatment that we discuss with you will always be aimed at preserving your teeth in order that they are strong and continue to function well into the future.
Any treatments are carefully planned to be as conservative as possible while still allowing an improvement in appearance, so that you can smile with confidence.
What is a veneer?
A veneer is a partial covering usually used on front teeth. It can be made of porcelain or composite resin.
Why do I need veneers?
Veneers can be used to improve the shape or colour of teeth that are broken down or significantly discoloured.
Your dentist can discuss with you whether a veneer would be a suitable treatment in your individual case.
What happens when I have veneers?
Veneer cases require careful planning to ensure we achieve a result that will both work well in the long term and to ensure you are happy with the finished appearance of your teeth.
Your dentist will discuss the treatment and options with you, checking that you understand the procedure and will answer any questions you may have.
Often a ‘wax-up’ of the shape of proposed veneers is constructed by our technician on a model of your teeth. This helps to ensure that you will be happy with the proposed shape of your veneers.
We can also arrange a temporary ‘mock up’ of your veneers, so you can see how they will look in your mouth.
Sometimes we will need an up to date X-ray of your tooth/teeth to check that the roots are healthy and the foundations strong before commencing on the process of preparing your tooth/teeth for veneers.
Composite veneers are usually placed at a single visit as they are built up directly onto the tooth and then polished. They do not require impressions to be taken.
The process?
Appointment one:
Your dentist will carefully shape your tooth to allow space for the veneer (usually done under local anaesthetic).
At this appointment we will also take impressions of your teeth to send to the dental technician. You will be able to choose a shade for your veneer to match your existing teeth.
You will be provided with a temporary veneer to cover the prepared tooth/teeth.
Appointment two:
You will have your temporary veneer removed and your new one will be fitted.
Your dentist will ensure a good fit and appearance for your new veneer and then bond it in to place using the appropriate material to ensure it lasts well.
We will advise you on how best to care for your veneers over the years to come.
How long will my veneer last?
Veneers typically last 10-15 years.
There are a wide variety of factors that influence this, including:
- the strength of the underlying tooth
- the health of the nerve within the tooth
- the position of the tooth within the mouth
- how much stress and strain a particular veneer is put under
- how well the veneer is looked after
Are there any risks to having veneers?
We will always take steps to carefully plan your treatment to try and achieve the best possible long term outcome, however there can be complications outside our control even with the best possible planning and treatment.
- Colour matching: This can be a challenge, particularly matching a single veneer to your adjacent teeth or existing fillings, crowns or veneers. Occasionally this can mean additional visits are needed if a veneer requires alteration or remaking.
- Nerve damage: In a small percentage of teeth that are prepared for veneers, the nerve can die off at some stage in the future and the tooth require either root canal treatment or extraction. Although this risk is very small it is important to consider this before commencing with treatment.
- Detached veneers: Occasionally veneers can de-bond and come away from the tooth. Often they can be re-bonded back into place but sometimes a new veneer may be required.
- Chips and cracks: The porcelain on veneers can chip or crack over time and this usually results in the need to have the crown replaced.
- Receding gums: Gums can recede over time and this can make the joining line between the veneer and the tooth more visible. This can be a cosmetic problem and may require replacement of the veneer.
How much do veneers cost?
The cost of your veneer(s) will vary depending on the tooth, materials used and the expected time the to perform the treatment.
Your dentist will advise you of this at the time of booking and provide you with a written estimate.
Porcelain veneers start from £613 per tooth
Members of our Care Plan benefit from a 10% discount off these prices.
For full pricing details, download our latest Price Guide
