Tooth Whitening

Bleaching gels can be used to lighten the colour of all the teeth, if a general improvement is required, or one or two teeth only, if these have become particularly discoloured, perhaps because they have needed a root-treatment in the past.

In either case, bleaching is a much more conservative treatment, compared to crowning or veneering. Lightening can be done in the surgery or at home, and often patients choose to have both methods, as the surgery bleaching will deliver a 'kick-start' to the process which can be completed over the next week or so. Teeth can be unpredictable however, and occasionally perseverance is needed over several weeks or even months to achieve the desired effect!

Bleaching (Fig. 4)

This patient's tooth became discoloured after a fall. We carried out a root treatment and then restored the colour using internal and external bleaching. No crown or veneer was necessary.

Trays and Gel (Fig. 5)

This patient's teeth were whitened at home using trays and gel. Shade guide shows tooth colour before whitening.

Combination of whitening and composites (Fig. 6)

This patient was unhappy with the colour and worn grooves at the top of her teeth. We used a combination of tooth whitening and composite fillings to improve her smile.