Teeth Whitening

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a simple procedure that bleaches the enamel of the teeth, resulting in a lighter and brighter shade. It’s natural for our teeth to yellow over time due to age, foods and lifestyle habits, but teeth whitening provides a solution to discolouration.

Our professional in-office teeth whitening procedure is completely safe and effective, and performed by one of our expert dental practitioners. We believe in helping our patients achieve their best smiles, so teeth whitening is often recommended as a cosmetic procedure. It can also be done in conjunction with other restorative and cosmetic treatments in a smile makeover.

Who should consider teeth whitening?

Anyone who would love a good confidence boost can try this treatment! Although it won’t remove stains, teeth whitening can lighten your natural teeth by up to 8 shades and effectively corrects that yellow hue we tend to develop over time. This treatment is also ideal if you have discoloured teeth caused by age, smoking, alcohol or certain foods.

Our specialists will assist you in determining if teeth whitening is an ideal treatment during an initial consultation and examination. Teeth whitening can cause some slight sensitivity, so if you have naturally sensitive teeth, this may not be the best treatment for you right now.

Philips ZOOM® teeth whitening

The Philips ZOOM® teeth whitening method is a tried and tested professional bleaching treatment used by dental professionals everywhere. Unlike other bleaching methods that require trays and gels, the ZOOM® method is simple and stress-free. Due to the flexibility of this method, we can customise results to match your needs and wants.

With this method, we use LED technology and hydrogen peroxide to effectively whiten the teeth in an hour. Hydrogen peroxide combined with LED lighting helps to remove oxygen from the enamel, which is what gives our teeth that yellow hue. The result is shiny pearly whites!

What is the procedure for teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening sessions typically take up to an hour to complete, but if you suffer from tooth sensitivity, we can spread out the session over four 15-minute intervals to give your teeth enough time to adjust. Our first step is to determine your desired results. We will show you various shade options and aim to match your chosen shade. Keep in mind that it may take several sessions to achieve your desired shade.

We start the treatment by spraying the teeth and then drying them to remove any moisture. Once dry, we apply a coat of gel to the gums to keep them protected from the bleaching agent. Next, the whitening agent is applied to the front of the teeth and cured with a special LED light. You should notice a significant difference after the first session, and your teeth will continue to lighten in the days after.

How long do the results last?

Your results from teeth whitening can last for a few months or even years. It is very dependent on your lifestyle and how well you care for your teeth. We advise our patients to maintain a proper oral hygiene routine that includes brushing and flossing twice a day, as well as avoiding smoking, alcohol and foods and drinks that can discolour the teeth.

How much does teeth whitening cost?

The cost of the procedure varies depending on the length of the session and how light you want to go. We provide upfront quotations before treatments to allow patients to budget for specific procedures. As teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment, it is not covered by medical aids.