Firstly, don’t worry, we at MVDC are here to help. Teeth naturally begin to change colour and get darker as we get older. Day to day activities such as drinking coffee, tea, red wine, soft drinks, smoking can cause stress and strain on the colour of your teeth.

As the name suggests, this treatment is all about lightening stained or discoloured teeth.

We offer to forms of whitening

1. At home whitening – impressions of the mouth are taken to construct custom fitted moulds. A week later whitening trays and bleaching medication is taken home. It is important to follow the dentist instruction as not doing so will affect the outcome of the treatment and can also damage your teeth and gums.
2. Office whitening – dentists are allowed to use higher concentration of bleach that are painted on your teeth and activated by light. It usually takes between an hour to an hour and a half. It is often recommended to follow up with home whitening to maintain the colour.

Current studies show that whitening should be done in stage. whether is home or office whitening you whiten once and 6 months later you should be whitening again. If an office whitening is done you repeat the whitening but instead of doing it in the office it is done at home with custom made trays.

The most important thing before carrying out whitening is to consider the health and condition of your mouth.

There are two conditions that should be looked at prior whitening

1. Gum disease like gingivitis or periodontitis. This is caused by tartar or build up on your teeth. If this tartar is not removed prior whitening it can damage the gum and also the tartar will be whitened rather than the teeth.
2. Tooth decay if not treated prior whitening the bleaching gel can leak through the decay causing severe tooth ache.

Hence it is recommended to have a thorough check up in the last three months prior to getting your teeth whitening.

Although you can buy over-the-counter, use-at-home toothpastes and strips, your dentist is the best qualified person to determine if you need teeth whitening. As well they can diagnose the reason for the discolouration and its type, and can then advise the most appropriate treatment to lightening your teeth with the highest level of safety.

Avoid shopping centre booth, hairdresser or a beautician to get your teeth whitened, as they are NOT qualified to whiten your teeth. Incorrect use of bleaching agents may cause irreversible damage to your teeth and gums. Whitening teeth without proper instruction by a dentist can be dangerous and could result in permanent damage to your teeth and gums. If administered incorrectly, you are at risk of chemical burns to your gums which cause pain, blistering, and discolouration. Even if you do not cause injury, without proper instruction you are at risk of uneven and often disappointing results.

Keep in mind that crowns, veneers and fillings don’t change colour when you have your teeth whitened. It is also important to keep in mind that not everybody benefits from this procedure and therefore other solutions may be more appropriate such as veneers.