One of the easiest and most effective ways of enhancing your appearance is to improve your smile. Lifestyle choices (drinking tea, coffee or red wine and smoking) can all take their toll on your teeth. We offer a complete range of cosmetic dental treatments, the most popular and simplest of which is teeth whitening.

Two types of discolouration can affect teeth. Discolouration and staining of the outer surface the teeth can be treated by simple scaling and polishing. Discolouration within the substance of the teeth is best treated using a teeth whitening (bleaching) system.

It is essential to have your mouth examined properly by a dentist before any form of teeth whitening, to identify problem areas that could affect the procedure. In the UK, teeth whitening may only legally be performed by a dentist. Teeth whitening is a safe and straightforward treatment in trained hands.

We provide a choice of two treatments to whiten teeth. Teeth whitening can either be carried out in a single session in the clinic using the Zoom whitening system. Alternatively, we can provide you with a teeth whitening kit for you to bleach your teeth at home. If you opt for Zoom whitening, we will also provide you with a teeth whitening kit and teeth whitening gel to ‘top up’ your treatment at home as necessary.

The Zoom whitening system has the advantage of convenience – the treatment can take as little as ninety minutes and you leave the clinic with your smile transformed. The treatment itself consists of the application of a teeth whitening gel (carbamide peroxide) to the teeth under controlled conditions for a period of 45 – 75 minutes. A blue light is shone on the teeth, which aids in activating the teeth whitening gel and increases its effectiveness. You will need to avoid highly coloured food and drinks for a few days after treatment. We have found, however, that some people find their teeth very sensitive and even painful for a few days after the Zoom whitening treatment. This responds to simple painkillers and resolves in a day or so.

For home teeth whitening, we use 10% carbamide peroxide gel as this is effective and causes little if any sensitivity, which can be a problem with more concentrated gels. The teeth whitening gel is placed in the tray and worn in the mouth for a minimum of 4-5 hours a day (often overnight). An appointment will be made about 1 week later to review your treatment. Some more difficult staining may need more time. The whiteness of your teeth may reduce with time and sometimes it is necessary for a “top up” after a year or two. More concentrated teeth whitening gel will whiten teeth more quickly but can cause your teeth to become sensitive.

Which is the right treatment for you? The Zoom whitening system is undoubtedly very effective and has the major advantage of speed and convenience. If you have a special occasion planned in the immediate future and want to look your very best, it is an obvious choice. It is more expensive as it is a more labour intensive and skilled procedure. Zoom whitening can take up to two hours from start to finish.

Home teeth whitening is a very good alternative. You will end up with exactly the same result as with the Zoom whitening process, but it will take longer and is slightly more inconvenient. The choice, as always, is yours.

Zoom teeth whitening costs £550 - this includes a set of trays for home use and a one year supply of bleach for 'top-up' treatment. A home teeth whitening kit costs £385.