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Teeth whitening

Who can benefit from teeth whitening?

Teeth can lose their whiteness for many reasons. Some people’s teeth are naturally less white than others, and your teeth may naturally lose their whiteness as you get older. Teeth can also be stained by dark-coloured food and drink (such as red wine, tea, coffee, beetroot and berries) and smoking.

Teeth whitening can sometimes be used to lift stains or lessen the appearance of discolouration. However, the treatment may not be effective if your teeth have been discoloured by an injury, a medical condition or as a side-effect of medication. If you have dental work such as crowns or fillings, these won’t be affected by the treatment and will remain their current shade.

 

We can let you know if you’re a candidate for teeth whitening during your consultation at your local Melbourne clinic.
Wisdom teeth are not necessary for oral health. If you feel any pain or discomfort from your wisdom teeth, or if we notice any problems during your regular check-up, we’ll recommend that you have them removed.

We may also recommend early wisdom teeth removal for younger patients if there’s a risk that your wisdom teeth may cause problems later in life. Wisdom tooth removal may also be recommended if you’re having orthodontic treatment.

Teeth whitening at d-spa

If you choose to have your teeth whitened at one of our clinics, our friendly team will help you to feel relaxed in the calming surrounds of our dental spa. During the 1-hour treatment, you can watch a film or listen to music while your dentist works on your smile.

The first step is to examine and polish your teeth to make sure they’re free from plaque. If we do see signs of an oral health problem, we’ll recommend treating this before your teeth whitening treatment begins, as it could affect your outcome.

During the teeth whitening treatment, we’ll protect your gums with an isolation material and apply whitening gel to all the visible surfaces of your teeth. This gel is activated by a whitening machine for approximately 8 minutes, and we’ll repeat the procedure as many times as needed to achieve your desired results (usually 3-4 cycles).

In most cases, we can complete the whitening treatment in 1 hour. We’ll check that you’re happy with the results and provide you with a home maintenance kit and whitening gel so you can continue to maintain and protect your new smile.
We recommend that you avoid hard, crunchy and sticky foods for a few days, don’t smoke, and drink plenty of water. You should resume brushing and flossing your teeth the day after the treatment, taking care to brush gently around the treated area.

If you continue to experience pain, swelling, bleeding or other unexpected symptoms after a few days, call us on (03) 9650 0870 to make an emergency appointment at one of our Melbourne clinics.

Home teeth whitening

If you prefer to have a treatment in the comfort of your own home, we can provide you with a take-home teeth whitening kit and instructions on how to use it. This kit will include a custom-fitted tray that we’ll create based on impressions taken of your mouth, and whitening gel at the proper concentration for your needs.

We’ll advise you on how long to use the whitening tray and how many sessions will be needed to achieve your desired outcome. We’ll arrange a follow-up appointment once the treatment is complete, so we can check that you’re happy with the results and answer any questions you have.

We recommend a whitening kit supplied by our dentists over generic kits bought from stores, as over-the-counter kits aren’t tailored for your individual needs and can produce uneven results.

Will my teeth feel more sensitive after whitening?

You may feel heightened sensitivity during the procedure and for a short time after, especially if your teeth have fine cracks or if they’ve been worn down by teeth grinding or abrasive brushing.

Most patients only report feeling mild sensitivity that lasts up to 10 hours, but your teeth could feel more sensitive to heat and cold for up to 24 hours. We may recommend using a tooth mousse product after your teeth whitening treatment to help reduce this sensation.

If you continue to experience sensitive teeth or other pain or discomfort after 24 hours, call us on (03) 9650 0870 to make an emergency appointment with our dentists.

How can I keep my teeth white?

Teeth whitening isn’t a permanent treatment, which is why we’ll provide you with a maintenance kit that can be used to top up your smile as the whiteness fades. We’ll also recommend Therabrite Plus paste, a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste.

You can help your teeth to stay white for longer by avoiding staining food and drink, giving up smoking (which has additional benefits for your health), and keeping up with your usual oral hygiene such as brushing twice daily and flossing at least once a day.
We’ll advise you on how long to use the whitening tray and how many sessions will be needed to achieve your desired outcome. We’ll arrange a follow-up appointment once the treatment is complete, so we can check that you’re happy with the results and answer any questions you have.

We recommend a whitening kit supplied by our dentists over generic kits bought from stores, as over-the-counter kits aren’t tailored for your individual needs and can produce uneven results.

What does teeth whitening cost?

With our current teeth whitening offer, a one-hour treatment at a d-spa clinic with a complimentary home maintenance kit costs $695 (valued at $890), although this does not include any treatments you may need beforehand (such as treatment for gum disease or tooth decay).

For more information or to book a teeth whitening consultation, call us on (03) 9650 0870 or contact us online.
You can help your teeth to stay white for longer by avoiding staining food and drink, giving up smoking (which has additional benefits for your health), and keeping up with your usual oral hygiene such as brushing twice daily and flossing at least once a day.
We’ll advise you on how long to use the whitening tray and how many sessions will be needed to achieve your desired outcome. We’ll arrange a follow-up appointment once the treatment is complete, so we can check that you’re happy with the results and answer any questions you have.

We recommend a whitening kit supplied by our dentists over generic kits bought from stores, as over-the-counter kits aren’t tailored for your individual needs and can produce uneven results.

Have you had a dental emergency?

If you have a dental emergency—either severe pain requiring root canal (also known as endondontic treatment) or a lost tooth—call our surgery straight away and we’ll do our best to find a time to see you.