At Dental Healthcare Practice, we have more than 20 years’ experience of teeth whitening procedures. Fully trained in the safest and most effective procedures on the market, our treatments will ensure you get the results you are after.
Tooth whitening is now widely employed as one of the most effective ways to enhance the appearance of your teeth, provided you use a process that’s suitable for you and your teeth.
Dr. Mark Setters BDS has been carrying out teeth whitening procedures since they were first introduced in the UK in 1994. Highly experienced in traditional and cosmetic dentistry, including all the latest teeth whitening processes, he is committed to the highest quality service and the best standards of care. All our treatments come with a guarantee.
Teeth whitening treatments
Tooth whitening is a safe and effective way to lighten the natural colour of your teeth; it does not involve removing any of the tooth surface. There are several ways to carry out teeth whitening. These include treatments carried out at the dental surgery, and teeth whitening kits to be used at home.
At Dental Healthcare Practice, our dental practitioners have many years of experience with all types of teeth whitening procedures. Why not pop in for a consultation and recommendation for the best treatment for you?
Home teeth whitening
Home teeth whitening treatments use a custom made lightweight plastic mouth tray or thin mouth guard that fits snugly over your teeth. You place a whitening gel inside the tray and, following our teeth whitening instructions exactly, wear the tray either for a few hours during the day or overnight.
The chemical tooth whitening agent will gently and gradually lighten your teeth safely and predictably. Results will start to become visible after 2 or 3 days. The desired result will be achieved after 1 – 2 weeks, with teeth appearing whiter and brighter.
It’s a tried and tested system that we’ve used successfully for nearly 20 years.
Do please bear in mind that the gels available to buy over the counter do not have the required strength to predictably whiten your teeth.
Laser whitening or power whitening
We do not recommend this system anymore as recent UK regulations have limited the concentration of the peroxide so it is not as effective as our home whitening.
The good news is that our dentist prescribed home whitening was always more effective than any laser/ power system anyway and that has been proven from scientific studies as well as my 24 years of experience of using all the systems.
How safe is tooth whitening?
Teeth whitening procedures are completely safe when carried out by a dentist in a professional dentist’s practice setting. This ensures that the chemicals and procedures used are appropriate for your mouth. A thorough dental consultation and examination is the basis for successful and safe teeth whitening.
However, in the wrong hands, or used by untrained staff, tooth whitening could harm your teeth.
After teeth whitening treatment, some people may experience temporary sensitivity, particularly when consuming hot or cold food or drink. This usually disappears after 48 hours. If you do have problems with tooth sensitivity after treatment, we would advise you to wear the mouth tray for shorter periods, and switch to a toothpaste for sensitive teeth for the time being. In some cases, it’s a good idea to stop the whitening process for a few days to allow your teeth to adapt.
There are certain circumstances under which our dentist may discourage teeth whitening. They include
- Pregnancy or breast feeding;
- Gum disease, worn enamel, cavities or especially sensitive teeth;
- Tooth coloured crowns, veneers, implants or other dental work on your front teeth that will not respond to lightening treatment.
For further information about any of our dental services, or to book a consultation with Dental Healthcare Practice for teeth whitening in Horsham or Sussex, please contact us to arrange for an appointment.