Teeth Whitening Alternatives

These days we are bombarded with pictures of smiling faces showing us an incredible example of white teeth.

Movie stars, models, pop idols and TV presenters must have white and healthy teeth. People have a desire (particularly the young) to look like their heroes and pop idols.

People with yellow or stained teeth are conscious about their smile and in consequence, do not give a positive impression when meeting others. It could be considered that you may win or lose a job application if your teeth are yellow or badly stained.

According to a research, 92% of adults believe that a beautiful smile is an important social asset. 85% said that an unappealing smile makes a person less interesting to the opposite sex. 75% believe that an unpleasant smile can be disadvantageous to a person’s chances of career success.

Your smile can do miracles and a great smile requires great teeth.

Brush-On Gels and Sprays

The ingredient concentrations with these are very weak. Having applied a solution, the saliva will also assist in washing away the Gel. It can take a long time to achieve whitening results that are worthwhile.

“Chairside”

A client/patient can choose from a range of treatments. Most Practices will teeth whiten through the use of general, yet effective, hydrogen peroxide gel. Others may use non-peroxide products such as that used by ourselves being part of the DioxiCare System. Either treatment does require the use of a spectrum style light which activates the gel which is applied to 6/8 of the upper and lower teeth only (otherwise known as the "smile" teeth). Please be aware that teeth whitening only includes these teeth and none of the others.

The procedure usually involves three separate and consecutive 15 minute sessions during which time the light will oxidise the gel which aids the cleansing process. The results can last for a very long time although this depends on personal drinking and eating habits as well as how well a person looks after their own oral health, to include regular brushing and dental visits.

The cost of these treatments generally range upwards of £300. There are some Dental Practices that charge well in excess of £500 for the exact same style of treatment. However, the DioxiCare System is usually less expensive and does not require the same level of training and specialism.

Either procedure offers quick results with no side effects.

As a Practice we highly recommend the Dioxiwhite Teeth Whitening Treatment (DioxiCare) unless a client specifically wishes to receive the hydrogen peroxide procedure. In this instance. this would be administered by a more high level Therapist than that required for the DioxiCare treatment. The procedure is a quicker process and there is little, or no, sensitivity and usually provides highly effective results. Generally, it is offered at some £30 less than our normal advertised price for a BEYOND treatment.

Zoom: A Heat Lamp

This is a well known brand within the dentistry profession and involves a “chairside” procedure using Hydrogen Peroxide gel for whitening. Overall, the procedure takes around one hour involving three separate 15 minute sessions of gel applications. After applying the gel a heat lamp is used to accelerate the oxydisation reaction.

As Heat Lamps do NOT filter out harmful UV light, it is necessary to ensure that additional packing and protection of the gum and other sensitive areas is carried out. The only difference here with our procedure, is that we do NOT use a Heat Lamp and offer a 100% zero exposure to potentially harmful UV light or heat.

Preparation time is longer due to the additional protection which has to be applied to ensure that the whole of the mouth is covered other than the treatment area. Again, results can be long lasting although dependent upon an individual’s personal eating and drinking habits.

The cost of Zoom is high. Rarely will you find it available at less than £400 and it has in the past, until now, been preferred by some of the high profile celebrities.

Our treatments are the most modern, safe procedure, and is far less expensive than the cost of Zoom Teeth Whitening.

Teeth Strips

Again these contain a weak solution, particularly for someone who is seeking a quick and longer lasting teeth whitening result. A disadvantage of this method is that the strips only cover the front six teeth. Strips will need to be applied for a much longer period of time to show teeth whitening improvements.

The product comprises of a thin and easily wearable strip that contains enamel-friendly whitening ingredients that cause no harm to your gums. It is convenient to use and the strips are designed in such a way that you can control the amount of whitener used. Results can be seen in 5 to 7 days and the strips need to be worn for 30 minutes over a period of 7 days to achieve the best results.

This is an inexpensive, although somewhat inconvenient way to whiten your teeth. Sometimes strips can cause tooth sensitivity and certainly the results are not as effective as a “chairside” whitening treatment. You do not need to visit a Dentist to obtain the strips or to use them.

Take Home Kits: Mouth Trays/Gum Shields

Extremely useful for cleaning the enamel of a tooth. Generally the whitening gel used is of a lower-concentration level and initially barely penetrates the dentine layer, which is required for teeth whitening to occur. This is, however, a much less expensive option and is self administered at your own convenience. Results can be excellent.

The gel remains on the teeth for many hours which is the down side. Sometimes overnight usage is recommended. The trays used resemble mouth guards. After care is very important. We recommend that when using our own Take Home Kit, that patients also invest in using our Dioxirinse Mouthwash and "White Lasting" Maintenance Gel. These products help to prevent re-staining and are peroxide and sensitivity free.