Tooth Whitening

Tooth whitening uses a chemical called peroxide to remove the stains within the tooth, without damaging the tooth structure.

At Wollaton Dental Care we have over 10 years of experience in whitening teeth using Philips Zoom 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, impressions 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 two 30 minute sessions each day or using the trays overnight while you sleep if you prefer; we will provide the appropriate gel for whichever method you prefer.

The whitening process typically takes around 7-10 days or nights to achieve a good improvement in the brightness of your smile, although occasionally in certain cases it can take longer. Patients can feel confident that this process allows them to control how much or little change they want in the whiteness of their teeth.

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.

We can advise on how best to manage sensitive teeth, often just having a rest day from the whitening process will settle things down.

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. However your teeth will always be brighter than they originally were.

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.