A brighter smile is one of the more common things patients ask us about, and it makes sense: the shade of your teeth can affect how confident you feel every time you smile in a photo or a mirror. There’s a lot of information out there about whitening, and not all of it is accurate, so here’s a clear rundown of what professional teeth whitening actually involves.
Why teeth change colour in the first place
Teeth naturally vary in shade from person to person, but they can also darken or stain over time due to things like ageing, smoking, and regular consumption of tea, coffee, red wine, or other strongly coloured food and drink. It’s a completely normal part of having teeth, not a sign anything’s wrong.
How professional whitening works
Our in-office whitening uses Philips Zoom, an LED-activated system applied under controlled clinical conditions. A protective barrier is first applied to your gums to keep them comfortable and shielded throughout the appointment. A whitening gel is then applied to the teeth and activated using an LED light, left in place for a short period, then removed and reapplied across a few cycles until an appropriate shade is reached for that session.
Results can vary from person to person depending on your starting shade, the cause of any staining, and your individual teeth, so it’s not something we can promise a specific outcome for in advance, but many patients notice a visible difference in the shade of their teeth after treatment.
Is it right for everyone?
Whitening isn’t suitable for every patient. It’s generally not recommended for people with untreated gum disease, exposed dentine, certain existing dental work, or for those who are pregnant. A proper assessment helps determine whether whitening is a good option for your teeth, or whether another approach might suit you better.
What’s involved for you
Every treatment plan is individual, so rather than quote a general figure here, we’d rather talk it through properly during a consultation (including our Fees & Payment options) where we can also answer any questions about the process itself.
Considering whitening?
If you’re thinking about brightening your teeth, we’ll tell you honestly whether professional teeth whitening suits your situation, and what else in cosmetic dentistry might get you closer to what you’re after. Results vary from person to person, so we’d rather set realistic expectations first. Book a consultation with our Quakers Hill team. Feel better about making a change.
