Frequently asked questions about teeth whitening

1. How long does whitening last?

Thinking about whitening?
Visit us for a complimentary 15 min whitening consultation. We will check the suitability of your teeth, give you an idea of shade and sensitivity and answer any questions you may have.
Call us on 3263 2677 to book now.

The biggest deciding factor on how long a dental whitening treatment lasts for is your lifestyle.

Red wine, tea and coffee, and darker coloured foods are all examples of things which will affect your whitened smile. Smoking and age are also big contributors. We usually say 1- 2 years however we do have some maintenance options to help you prolong your white smile after this. To get a better idea for your own teeth please feel free to come in for our complimentary 15 minute assessment.

2. How white will my teeth go?

Every patient is different and each patient’s teeth will only lighten to a particular point. You may not get a big white Hollywood smile (most of these are porcelain veneers which we are happy to talk to you about if you are interested).

Lifestyle, age and the colour of your teeth pre-whitening will contribute to how light they will go. To get a better idea for your individual situation we offer a 15 min complimentary consultation to discuss whitening with our hygienist and she can give you a more realistic idea of how much your teeth will lighten. Our hygienists have also had their teeth whitened so it is a great opportunity to see the results first hand!

3. Does tooth whitening hurt?

Everybody’s teeth are different with how they react to things like cold water, air and whitening is no different.

If you are already a sensitive person then you may experience some sensitivity but there are things we can do to reduce this. Take home trays usually result in less sensitivity and using de-sensitising products like Sensodyne and Pronamel toothpastes prior to your whitening can also help.

We take every precaution to ensure you experience no sensitivity but the hygienist is the best person to chat to regarding this at your complimentary appointment.

4. Why don’t we use a light or laser?

We have trialled and tested several market leading whitening systems on patients and our own staff – both with and without a light!

We have found the KöR Whitening Deep Bleaching System to be the most safe and effective to lighten your teeth. By eliminating the need for the light we can reduce sensitivity, damage to the tooth and also getting a false positive whitening result all meaning longer lasting whitening.

Laser whitening is different again to light whitening and is not as common. Most dentists that claim to do laser whitening are not actually using a laser, but the light machine. Unless you have purple or grey teeth where laser has an advantage, most people will get excellent results using standard dental whitening procedures.

5. How does teeth whitening work?

Whitening works by lightening the middle layer, also known as dentine, of our teeth. The hard outer coating of our teeth has small pores in it similar to our nose and the gel opens these pores and draws staining out from the layer underneath.

This is most commonly what causes the sensitivity. It is important to avoid dark coloured food and drinks (usually anything that can stain a white shirt will do the trick!) for 72 hours after whitening until these pores in your enamel are closed again.

6. Can whitening damage my teeth?

When used correctly, our whitening systems will not damage your teeth. If overused or used incorrectly, whitening can actually lead to your teeth becoming darker and whitening will no longer work. We have trialled and tested these systems on your own staff and have found them to be the safest and effective. Our hygienist will explain in great detail how to use the whitening trays and ensure you do no damage to your teeth.

We give you all the options – you decide

It is our policy to give you open and honest advice on all your options, alternatives and the associated costs, allowing you to make the most informed decision. Following your treatment we will then continue to work with you to ensure you enjoy the maximum amount of time from your treatment.

We have whitened the teeth of patients from all areas of Brisbane and invite you to call our friendly reception staff in Brisbane to find out our prices on 3263 2677 or Contact us. They are never too busy to talk to you about teeth whitening, the costs involved, or any other cosmetic dental procedures that you may have questions about.