What do I need to consider before whitening my teeth? (Part 2 of 3)

by | Dec 7, 2012 | Teeth Whitening | 0 comments

Welcome back to Hartwell Dentistry’s whitening blog. Today we will go though some common questions asking by patients before considering whitening.

WHAT SHOULD YOU CONSIDER BEFORE WHITENING?

Before you make the decision to chemically whiten your teeth, you should consider the following:

  • Have you consulted your dentist regarding your suitability for whitening treatment?
  • Has whitening been recommended by your dentist.
  • What are the side effects of tooth whitening?
  • Have you considered a professional scale and clean by Hygienist.

At Hartwell Dentistry we have a specialised hygiene depart to help our patients maintain good oral hygiene.

IS WHITENING RIGHT FOR ME?

Before undergoing any whitening treatment you should always consult your dentist first, so they thoroughly assess your suitability.

At our Hartwell Dentistry Dr Fleming or Dr Horng will assess the following things before advising whitening to our patients:

  • Diagnose the cause of any discolouration
  • Ensure that you mouth is healthy i.e., gum health or are there any decays present?
  • How many fillings, crowns or veneers you have.
  • What form of whitening would be best for you to get your desired result: i.e. internal whitening/ take home trays?
  • Advise on any factors that may influence the outcome i.e. antibiotic staining.

WILL WHITENING AFFECT THE COLOUR OF VENEERS, CROWNS OR FILLINGS?

 The simple answer is No, the colour of your fillings or crowns will not change.

This is an important fact when considering whitening your teeth. Whitening your teeth if you have multiple fillings, crowns may result in uneven colour as your natural tooth will become whiter while your crowns and fillings will remain the same.

ARE THERE ANY SIDE EFFECTS TO WHITENING?

The most common side effect while undergoing tooth whitening is heightened tooth sensitivity.

There is also the chance of gum problems developing and uneven colour.

Some side effects are irreversible and can be the result poor assessment by an untrained individual.

Hydrogen peroxide and bleaching agents on tooth enamel can have an irreversible effect, which may even lead to gum inflammation, change in tooth enamel, that may require further dental treatment and in some more severe cases chemical burns or blisters.

To prevent these detrimental results only see you dentist to diagnose whitening, any other individual is too unsafe.

So now we understand possible effects of whitening our teeth, we can discuss the different forms of whitening. Stay tuned for our final part of this whitening series where we will outline the different forms.