People get stains on their teeth when coloured molecules adhere to the the surface of their teeth, and this is exacerbated by the presence of plaque and tartar. With this in mind, we usually recommend a visit to the dental hygienist prior to professional teeth whitening. Once the plaque and tartar has been removed, we sometimes see that there are also stains in the layer below the tooth surface known as the dentin. Fortunately, the bleaching solution applied to the teeth during the whitening treatment, combines with oxygen from the air and carbon in the dentin to break apart the staining molecules. Professional teeth whitening systems work by oxidising the teeth, a process in which the oxygen molecules from the bleaching gel come into contact with the discoloured molecules attached to the tooth. Once this happens, you see a brighter, whiter tooth surface revealed. 

Extensive studies have proven the opinion of most dental professionals, that professional teeth whitening is harmless and causes no permanent damage to tooth enamel. For example, studies have shown that whitening products using 10% carbamide peroxide had no noticeable effect on the mineral content or hardness of the tooth enamel. 

It is important though that you choose a professional dental practice when undergoing teeth whitening treatment, to make sure you are getting legitimate whitening products from reputable vendors applied by professionally trained staff.

Professional teeth whitening is indeed very safe. Despite urban myths which say to the contrary – professional does not damage enamel or ruin teeth! Extensive research has demonstrated that there are no significant long-term effects associated with professional at-home whitening treatments containing 10%-16% carbamide peroxide or 6% hydrogen peroxide.

When you have professional teeth whitening at a dental surgery, you can rest easy in the knowledge that the treatment is being carried out in a strictly hygienic and safe environment. In advance, our dental professionals make are sure that your teeth are all healthy and suitable for a teeth whitening treatment. In the UK, safe, effective and long lasting teeth whitening can only be prescribed for you at a qualified dentist.

There are 2 factors to consider when buying retail whitening products – safety and effectiveness. Unfortunately you can still find online many illegal whitening formulations containing dangerous acids and abrasives. Add to that the possibility of poor-fitting generic trays which can lead to leakage and the associated tissue damage, and you definitely must question their safety in the short and long-term.

And when it comes to effectiveness, the plethora of images online posted by social media influencers can be very misleading. In reality retail whitening products are only legally allowed to contain 0.1% Hydrogen Peroxide (a massive difference form the dentist prescribed formulation of 6%) which gives you a good indication of what results you might expect in reality, when it comes to long-term whitening results. Other commonly advertised systems are various whitening strips, paint and UV lights, but with these systems, what they do is temporarily dehydrate your teeth (up to 48 hours) so they look a bit whiter and we don’t know much about their long-term safety.

Anyone with healthy gums and teeth, who is looking to brighten up their smile, can benefit from professional teeth whitening. Teeth whitening has been shown to be highly effective at removing stains from teeth, such as tobacco, coffee, tea, tetracycline etc, although results may vary from person to person, depending on the type of staining present. Whitening will not be effective on certain cosmetic restorations, such as bonding or crowns, so if you need dental work like this done, we recommend getting the whitening done first. At your initial whitening consultation we can assess suitability for teeth whitening treatment.

Furthermore, we always recommend patients go for a dental hygiene visit prior to having teeth whitening, because the treatment is more effective on teeth that are free from plaque and tartar.

We offer a choice of 2 different options when it comes to professional teeth whitening – either Boutique advanced home whitening or Zoom! in-surgery power whitening. The first gives you gradual results over a 2 week period, depending on your desired results, and the other gives you dramatic whitening results in just one 90 minute visit. With the Boutique whitening option, you can choose different formulas for use at day or night to best suit your lifestyle – wearing the whitening trays for a few hours during the day or wearing them overnight. You can find out more about the teeth whitening treatments in the main content of this page.

At The Hartley Clinic in Hartley Wintney we offer a choice of teeth whitening treatments – the at-home Boutique Whitening or the in-chair Zoom! Power Whitening. Boutique whitening costs £399 and Zoom! Whitening cost £599.

We often get asked “How can I get the best long-term results from teeth whitening treatment?” Our recommendation is that, once you have attained your desired brighter, whiter smile, just follow a few useful dos and don’ts to help ensure lasting whiteness.

During the actual whitening treatment journey (and for the next 48 hours ideally), you must avoid all staining foods and liquids eg: coffee, tea, red wine, berries, curry and tomato-based sauces. And then once you’re done with treatment, limit how often you consume these items, and always rinse your mouth with water whenever you do.

Additionally, on an ongoing basis, stay committed to excellent daily care, including twice daily brushing and flossing or similar. And remember to see your dental hygienist on a regular basis too so you don’t get a build-up of plaque and tartar.

Teeth whitening may cause sensitivity during or after treatment and occasionally slight discomfort in the gums. Both of these side effects are usually temporary and will disappear a few days after treatment. It is important to tell your dentist if you experience any of these symptoms as the dentist can then advise how best to cope in the meantime.

Your dentist may recommend a special toothpaste to use prior to and after the procedure, as well as suggest only certain types of whitening.  If you do experience sensitivity after treatment, an OTC pain reliever can usually help to reduce the symptoms.

Teeth whitening formulations are designed and created to work effectively on natural tooth enamel, and existing restorations, such as dental crowns or veneers, will not lighten in colour when you have your teeth whitened. This means that any pre-existing dental work may need to be replaced to match the new tooth shade achieved in the natural teeth, should whitening treatment be undertaken. Furthermore, if you are needing any dental work like this, we always suggest you get the teeth whitening done first, so that we can colour match the restoration to your lighter tooth shade.

Teeth whitening does not mean permanently whiter teeth and is dependent on your diet and how well you look after your teeth. People who expose their teeth to foods and beverages that cause staining may see the whiteness start to fade in as little as one month. Those who avoid foods and beverages that stain may be able to wait one year or longer before another whitening treatment.

If you choose Boutique whitening, you will be able to top up the whitening effect yourself after a few months if you feel the whiteness has diminished at all.

Zoom! whitening is a completely safe and pain-free treatment but occasionally clients experience slight tingling or sensitivity following the treatment. This feeling usually goes away quickly but if you are worried about your teeth being too sensitive, our expert hygienist may recommend an anti-sensitivity toothpaste in the days leading up to your whitening treatment. Furthermore, during the 90 minute treatment you will feel mild heat from the special Zoom! light but it is rare for this to present any significant discomfort.

As with all cosmetic dental procedures we invite clients in for a free, no-obligation teeth whitening consultation with our resident Zoom! teeth whitening expert Natasha Rubery. Natasha will assess your teeth for treatment suitability and discuss potential whitening results. Depending on the current health of your teeth and gums, you may be advised to book a dental hygiene visit to ensure your teeth are in a suitable state prior to the whitening procedure.