Teeth whitening in the clinic

A whitening gel is applied to your teeth in the clinic, with the gums protected, in one appointment of 60 to 90 minutes.

In-office whitening uses a peroxide gel, stronger than products sold for home use, applied by the dentist while your gums and lips are protected. The gel breaks down stain molecules inside the enamel and lightens the tooth from within. It doesn’t remove enamel or change the shape of your teeth.

Who it’s for

Whitening suits adults with healthy teeth and gums whose teeth have darkened with age, coffee, tea, red wine or smoking. It works on natural enamel only. Crowns, veneers and fillings stay the colour they are.

Some conditions are treated first: decay, leaking fillings and gum disease, because the gel can make them sore. Whitening is usually postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Very sensitive teeth, or grey discolouration from certain medicines or a dead tooth, may respond less well, and we’ll discuss other options.

How it’s done

The dentist checks your teeth and records your starting shade. A protective barrier is painted over the gums. The whitening gel is applied to the front of the teeth and left for a set time, then removed and reapplied, usually in two or three rounds. The appointment takes 60 to 90 minutes in total. At the end we compare the new shade with the old.

If you are also having veneers, crowns or bonding, whitening is done first so that the new restorations can be matched to your whitened teeth.

Afterwards

For a day or two your teeth may be sensitive to cold, and the gum edge may feel tender. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth helps. For 48 hours avoid coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curry, beetroot and smoking, while the enamel is most likely to pick up stain. After that, the less you expose your teeth to strong colours, the longer the result holds.

Risks and alternatives

Sensitivity and gum irritation are common and temporary. Results vary and can be uneven on teeth with white spots, which can look more visible for a day or two. Overusing whitening products afterwards can make teeth sensitive without making them whiter.

Alternatives are a professional clean and polish for surface stain, composite bonding or veneers for teeth that don’t lighten enough, and treatment of a single dark tooth from the inside after root canal treatment.

Which option suits your teeth?

Send photos or an X-ray and we’ll write, tooth by tooth, what we recommend and why.

Get my treatment plan

Questions and answers

Does teeth whitening have side effects?

Teeth can be temporarily sensitive to hot and cold, and the gel can irritate the gum. Both pass within a few days. Whitening done under a dentist’s supervision doesn’t cause permanent damage to the teeth.

Will it whiten my crowns, veneers or fillings?

No. Whitening only lightens natural enamel. Crowns, veneers and white fillings keep their colour, so after whitening they can look darker than the teeth around them and may need replacing to match.

How long does the result last?

It depends mostly on what you eat, drink and smoke. The colour fades gradually; many people have a top-up after a year or two.

How white will my teeth get?

That varies from person to person. Yellowish teeth usually respond well, greyish or banded discolouration less so. We note your starting shade so you can see the change.