Teeth whitening at the dentist in the UK

Teeth whitening at the dentist in the UK

On 27 July 202225 June 2024In Polish Dentist in the UK, Tooth whitening

The colour of your teeth can be the result of genes, hygiene, diet or specific treatments. These you can do yourself - with home remedies or opt for professional overlay whitening. Another option for a white smile is teeth whitening at a dentist in the UK. If you are wondering what such a treatment looks like, how much it costs and how to pay less - I invite you to read the article.

Tooth colour - what you can and cannot influence

The biggest influence on tooth colour is oral hygiene. We would like to remind you that it is not only about thorough brushing, flossing and using mouthwash. It is also about regular visits to the dentist. 

Why is this so important? You are not able to remove parts of plaque and tartar, and this can quickly damage your teeth and make their colour yellow. Therefore, in order to avoid this and also to take care of your dental health, we recommend that you visit the office every six months for a hygienization. You can read more about it in our article "Dental hygiene in the UK - scaling, tooth sandblasting, polishing and fluoridation".

Other factors that affect the colour of your teeth are a good diet or not smoking. However, there are situations that even by following the above you may not have a white smile. Genes or your age will be to blame, but you can read more about this in our article "What tooth colour depends on".

What then? 

The image shows a dentin colour swatch used by dentists to match the correct shade of material when making tooth restorations. Two rows of colour swatches are visible - light in the top row and darker shades of yellow in the bottom row.

Teeth whitening - possible options

In-office teeth whitening is one option, which we will describe below. However, before we move on to it we will briefly introduce you to the other options.

You can find a lot of information on the web about the effectiveness of activated carbon, soda or lemon juice as a method of tooth whitening. However, before you decide, read our text "Home remedies for teeth whitening - pros and cons". Remember that some of these will not only have no effect, but may damage your teeth.

A much better option is to visit a dental practice and choose one of the options recommended by your dentist.

The first is overlay teeth whitening, about which we have written more in a text with a similar title "Overlay teeth whitening at home". It involves applying a special preparation to your teeth, which is previously applied to a splint made of transparent, flexible material. These are fitted to your teeth.

Another option is in-office teeth whitening or a combination of both treatments, i.e. opting for the Enlighten system. It gives the best and most long-lasting (even for life) results. You can read more about this in our article "Enlighten teeth whitening - a snow-white smile in 2 weeks". Today we will focus on in-office teeth whitening. 

The photo shows a dentist treating a patient in a dental practice in the UK. The dentist, wearing an apron and medical mask, is performing a procedure on the teeth of a patient lying in a treatment chair. The interior of the practice is modern and sterile.

Before you decide to have your teeth whitened by a dentist in the UK

Whether you decide on overlay whitening, whitening at the dentist or the Enlighten system, the first stage will be an interview and a check-up of your oral health. 

The most common contraindications to whitening are caries, Periodontitis or inflammation of the gums. However, these are not the only situations through which you will have to wait for a snow-white smile. Therefore, if you want to have white teeth you had better opt for whitening at your dentist, and certainly consult your dentist about your decision. 

If there are no contraindications, the next step will be the hygienization we mentioned earlier.

Only after this will you be able to whiten your teeth at the dentist or on your own at home.

The painting depicts a child undergoing a dental procedure. You can see the girl lying in the dental chair and her open mouth into which the doctor, wearing blue gloves, is inserting a dental instrument. The child is wearing protective goggles and dental equipment and utensils can be seen in the background. The image illustrates a routine visit to a dentist in the UK.

In-office teeth whitening - what does the procedure look like?

In-office teeth whitening is a one-off visit (takes up to 60 minutes), during which the dentist will apply a special preparation to your teeth. It will be in the form of a foam or gel. Then, using a professional lamp, the effect of the preparation will be intensified.

The whole procedure is painless and safe, and the results are visible immediately afterwards.

IMPORTANT: If you experience hypersensitivity after treatment teeth - rest assured this is normal.

Remember also that if you want the effect to last as long as possible, do not eat or drink for 2 hours after the treatment and avoid tooth-staining products for at least a week. You can read more about this in our article "Recommendations after tooth whitening - what you can and cannot do".

The painting depicts a smiling man with a red beard, wearing glasses and a white T-shirt. The man has a happy and friendly expression on his face.

The cost of white teeth

Very often the only thing that limits people who dream of a beautiful smile is the price of whitening. If you are in this group we have good information for you, but before we get into it we will take a moment to outline the costs associated with whitening.

And so, in our practice, for a kit for overlay whitening At home you will have to pay £250. For teeth whitening at the dentist £350, and £550 for whitening with the Enlighten system. 

Back to our aforementioned good news - at our practice, you can take advantage of a secure installment system (it is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority - FCA number 619628). Importantly, the first 12 months are zero interest, thus you only pay back the amount you have spent.

If you have questions about the installment system we recommend our article "Teeth on credit: dental treatment on hire purchase" or you are welcome to contact.