Teeth Whitening in Nottingham: a brighter shade, safely and gradually

Yes, when carried out by a GDC registered dental professional using regulated dental strength gel. Multiple clinical reviews have shown no meaningful change to enamel surface hardness or structure at the concentrations used in professional whitening. We assess your enamel, gums and any existing restorations at consultation before any gel is prescribed, ensuring treatment is appropriate for your individual oral health.

Take home whitening shows a gradual change over two to three weeks of daily use. You will typically wear the custom trays for 60 to 90 minutes during the day, or overnight where comfort allows. Your full course from initial consultation to final review is usually completed in around three to four weeks. We will give you a clear timeline at your consultation.

Whitening is well suited to adults aged 18 and over with healthy gums, no active decay and natural tooth surfaces that are simply darker than they would like. It is most effective on yellow tinged staining from age, food and drink and on smoking related staining. Active gum disease or untreated decay must be resolved first. We will confirm your suitability and any preparatory treatment needed at your consultation.

Results typically last between six months and three years, depending on diet, smoking, oral hygiene and whether top up gel is used periodically. Smokers and people who regularly consume coffee, red wine or black tea tend to see shade rebound sooner. Your trays are yours to keep, and we offer top up gel syringes so you can refresh the shade at home roughly every 6 to 12 months without paying for new trays.

Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity, particularly to cold, during and shortly after a whitening course. This is the most common side effect and settles within a few days of finishing the course. Sensitivity is more likely in patients who already had some sensitivity beforehand and is usually managed by spacing out gel applications and using a desensitising toothpaste during the course. We will guide you through managing any discomfort if it occurs.

Whitening can improve many types of discolouration, but results vary depending on the cause. Yellow tinged staining from age, diet and smoking tends to respond well. Greyish staining from tetracycline antibiotics taken in childhood, or from previous root canal treatment, responds more slowly to external whitening. Internal whitening or veneers may give a better outcome in those cases. We will assess your teeth at consultation and explain what to expect honestly.

Whitening treatments do not change the colour of crowns, veneers, composite bonding or white fillings. If you have visible restorations on your front teeth, there may be a mismatch between your newly whitened natural teeth and the unchanged restorations. We will discuss this with you upfront at consultation and confirm whether alternative approaches or replacement restorations might give you a better overall result.