Laser Teeth Whitening

Not everyone is born with a bright, white, ‘Hollywood’ smile, in fact very few people are, but if you’re unhappy with discolouration or stains on your teeth, you could benefit from a laser teeth whitening procedure.

What is laser teeth whitening?

The word laser is actually a little bit misleading, as procedures at the Pearl Dental Clinic actually use a blue curing light to whiten the teeth, and not a laser – they were used in the past, but the new technology far surpasses it and is much safer. Laser teeth whitening is a treatment designed to bleach away stains on the enamel surface of the tooth and whiten them to a natural looking shade, without surgically enhancing the structure of the teeth. It’s a simple and effective way of obtaining a brighter, fresher smile.

When can laser whitening be used?

You can chose to undergo laser teeth whitening for lots of reasons, perhaps you drink too many cups of coffee and your teeth have a slightly brown tint to them, or you smoke and they have turned yellow as a result. Some people are just aiming for that perfect smile, and might see it as a stepping stone in an entire ‘smile makeover’, where they have their teeth straightened using orthodontics or veneers. Most patients who have had their teeth altered like this want to see their new smile at its whitest, so they chose a laser whitening procedure, which can lighten the teeth by eight shades or more.

A lot of people request this treatment as a way of reducing the natural discolouration of teeth that occurs over time. As with the rest of our bodies, our teeth are not immune to aging, they can develop dark areas or a greyish shade as the years pass – fortunately this can be bleached away with a simple whitening procedure, it can take decades off a smile in a matter of minutes.

How does it work?

Without using harsh abrasives or any surgical instruments, laser whitening can bleach the teeth to a natural, polished finish. After the teeth have been cleaned thoroughly, the dentist will place a shield over the gums to protect them, they will then apply a layer of bleaching gel to the surface of the tooth. A special blue curing light is shone onto the mouth, this reacts with the components in the gel and the bleach starts to break down the stains. After about fifteen to twenty minutes the gel is removed and the process repeated twice more, this is to get the best result from the gel and so that the patient can see an immediate change in colour. Overall, the treatment takes under an hour, but most dentists recommend a return to the surgery in about two weeks to see if any further bleaching is required. A follow up appointment is not always necessary if the patient has had their teeth whitened before, but it’s advisable just to make sure everything has gone smoothly.

What are the side effects?

There are rarely any major side effects to laser teeth whitening, mainly because it’s such a simple treatment and involves no invasive surgery. You might feel a small amount of sensitivity afterwards, particularly when the teeth are exposed to hot or cold temperatures. Other side effects include; tenderness around the gums, a sore throat, or discoloured gums – however, they are all relatively minor and should disappear after a few days.

Are whitened teeth easy to look after?

Very easy. There is no healing period or stitches to be removed because it isn’t an invasive procedure. After a few days you can begin to clean and floss as normal, but be careful not to slip back into old habits, such as drinking too much red wine or smoking, which may have resulted in stained teeth in the first place. With good care, your teeth will always be whiter than they were before the treatment, even if they slip back a few shades over time. In some cases, the discolouration can return quicker than expected – normally due to dehydration of the tooth during the curing process, patients might require a return trip to rectify this.

Do I need to come into the surgery to have my teeth whitened?

If you want to get the best results, making an appointment to have your teeth professionally whitened is the way to go. There are other options, such as home-kits, that you can try without making an appointment, they are cheaper but much less effective and won’t give you the dazzling smile you’re after. Most DIY treatments can lighten your teeth by one or two shades, but that’s their limit – and this could take months. This is because none of them use the curing light to break through tough stains; they rely on small amounts of bleach and tough abrasives, which most dentists consider too harsh for the enamel surface of the tooth. Although laser teeth whitening can cost a little bit more than other methods, it’s the only one that can give you the immediate results in a fraction of the time.

How safe is it?

Aside from some sensitivity or tenderness around the gums, there aren’t any major side effects – and there isn’t any danger of your teeth falling out if you have them whitened, it’s a very safe procedure, tried and tested by millions of people. If you have particularly sensitive teeth or gums, it might not be ideal for you to have the treatment, but your dentist will be able to advise you on your options. Whitening is not recommended for people under the age of sixteen, because of the enlarged size of the nerve chamber inside the tooth, bleaching it could damage the area and make it too sensitive. Pregnant women or those who are breast-feeding should also avoid laser teeth whitening.