Teeth Whitening: The Benefits for Patients

16 / 05 / 2017

Teeth Whitening: The Benefits for Patients

Don’t Be Fooled By Teeth Whitening Toothpaste

One of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments currently available is teeth whitening. There are good reasons for this. It is a non-invasive treatment that is affordable and usually produces excellent results. In fact, for an immediate boost to the way your teeth look, there is little better.
Naturally, this hasn’t escaped the notice of toothpaste manufacturers, and you will no doubt have seen a variety of toothpaste advertised on TV which offers to improve the whiteness of your teeth. The reality though is that, due to health and safety regulations, these kinds of toothpaste contain very small amounts of the whitening ingredient and most patients are likely to be very disappointed with the results when compared to a professional treatment.

Benefits of teeth whitening

The most obvious benefit of having your teeth whitened is that your teeth will look much more attractive. It has been said that the first thing that people notice when they meet someone new is their smile. This can be hugely beneficial to anyone who is seeking a relationship or even attending job interviews; those first few seconds can mean the difference between creating a good impression or not.

In addition to the more visible benefits, many patients report that they notice an increase in their confidence and don’t feel restricted by an unattractive smile anymore.

Professional teeth whitening

At the Lighthouse Dental Practice in Ipswich, we offer a home whitening kit that is customised for each individual patient. Although variations of these can be purchased from chemists, they include a ‘one size fits all’ tray which means that the bleaching agent can leak and cause burns to the soft tissues in the mouth. In addition to this risk, the strength of the active ingredient does not match those supplied by a dentist and will produce inferior results.

To ensure a comfortable and safe fit, our dentists take impressions of the patient’s teeth, and whitening trays are then made from these. A whitening gel will be provided, with full instructions on how to use it correctly. The trays are then worn at home for just a few hours each day and you will start to notice the results within a week or so of starting the treatment. Full whitening results are usually seen after approximately three weeks.

Patients should not see any side effects from this treatment although a little extra sensitivity may be noticed in a small number of cases. This usually subsides quickly. On a further safety note, please do NOT have your teeth whitened anywhere but at a registered dental practice. This is not only potentially dangerous but also illegal too.

If you are unhappy with the colour of your teeth and would like to find out what we can do to whiten them for you, please call the Lighthouse Dental Practice on 01473 257 379.

We are here to help you.
If you would like to speak to a member of our friendly team about any of the issues in this article please visit our contact page or call us on 01473 257379.