Teeth whitening in Bendigo

Teeth whitening treatment can lighten and brighten your smile. It is a popular dental procedure designed to remove the stains and discolouration on teeth, as well as lighten pigmentation within tooth enamel.

Here at McCrae Dental Bendigo, we aspire for our patients to feel confident in their smiles. We offer take-home teeth bleaching to restore shine and lustre to teeth affected by staining agents in food, beverages, and tobacco.

How long does the home whitening take?

The total length of the home bleaching treatment can vary depending on how discoloured your teeth are and the shade you want to get to. It can usually be finished within two to four weeks. You will have trays made specially to fit into your mouth like a thin mouthguard.

Your dentist will need to make a thin mouthguard and will take impressions for this at the first appointment. The whitening gel is then put in the trays and you will be given a routine to follow at home. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for either one hour at a time or overnight daily depending on the type of product used. The dentist will discuss with you exactly how long you should keep the tray in your mouth. It is important to follow the instructions that you are given to get the best result.

How can I look after my teeth once they have been whitened?

You can help to keep your teeth white by cutting down on the amount of food and drink you have that can stain your teeth. Don’t forget, stopping smoking can also help prevent discolouration and staining.

We recommend the following tips to care for your teeth:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes, twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste.
• Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.
• visit your dentist regularly, as often as they recommend.

When might teeth whitening not work?

Teeth whitening can only lighten your existing tooth colour. Also it only works on natural teeth. It will not work on any types of ‘false’ teeth such as dentures, crowns and veneers.

If your dentures are stained or discoloured visit your dentist and ask for them to be cleaned.

What are the side effects?

Some people may find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or after the treatment. Others may have discomfort in the gums, a sore throat or white patches on the gum line. These symptoms are usually temporary and should disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing.