Teeth Whitening

Whitening is a process where the tooth discolouration is ‘whitened’ to a lighter shade. It removes the staining agent through chemical means.

It is a safe procedure when carried out under professional supervision. Treatment results usually depend on the severity of the discolouration. Both vital (i.e. live) and non-vital teeth (e.g. tooth with root removed) can be bleached and may take several visits to complete. It is not effective on dental restorations such as amalgam fillings, metal or porcelain crowns, etc.

Teeth can discolour for various reasons. The dentist will recommend the most ideal method based on your oral condition after an examination to establish the cause and nature of your tooth discolouration, as well as provide you with more information on the various types of whitening procedures available, duration & frequency of treatment.

Here are the answers to common questions about the treatment.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. Teeth whitening can’t make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades.

Who can perform teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and should only be performed by a dentist or another regulated dental professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist.Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there’s no dental professional present, and it may put your oral health at risk.You can also buy DIY home teeth whitening kits but these may also carry risks.

What happens during teeth whitening at the dentist?

If you have teeth whitening you will need to make several visits to the dental surgery over a couple of months.The dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make a mouthguard and will instruct you how to use it with a bleaching gel. Then, using your mouthguard at home, you regularly apply the gel for a specified period of time over two to four weeks. Some whitening gels can be left on for up to eight hours at a time, which shortens the treatment period to one week.

What about home kits and beauty salons for teeth whitening?

You should only go to a registered dental professional for teeth whitening because whitening by people who aren’t qualified, for example in beauty salons, is illegal. Home kits also carry risks.

Why should I whiten through my dentist?

The most common concern is temporary teeth sensitivity, but lots of advances have been made in recent years to help combat this. Philips Zoom DayWhite and NiteWhite have a special formula with built-in potassium nitrate and ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate), which are known desensitisers. These special ingredients make your enamel smoother and more lustrous as well. We also recommend that you brush with a sensitivity formula toothpaste two weeks prior to whitening.

What are the possible side effects?

The most common side effect is tooth and gum sensitivity. Your dentist is your best resource to ensure that you are a good candidate for whitening and that you are using the right concentration of whitening formula. Philips Zoom at-home whitening products have two mild desensitising agents, potassium nitrate and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP), to minimise tooth sensitivity.

What kind of results should I expect?

While results vary from person to person, your smile will be noticeably whiter with Philips Zoom. Philips Zoom DayWhite and NiteWhite offer a dramatically whiter smile in one to two weeks. And unlike over-the-counter options, your dentist will work hand in hand with you until you’re completely satisfied with your results.

How long will my whitening results last?

That’s all dependent on your genetics and habits, but generally around a year. Drinking staining foods or beverages and smoking can limit your results, but you can easily keep your smile shining between treatments with the Zoom top up kit.