Teeth Whitening

The General Dental Council (GDC) advise that in order to deliver the safest results only a suitably trained dentist/dental professional should carry out teeth whitening treatments. There have been many instances where they have taken illegal teeth whiteners through the legal system to protect patient safety. As dental professionals, this is a view which Oakmead Dental Care in East Grinstead supports.

Before your teeth whitening treatment is started, firstly, the diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan needs to be made. Before any whitening can begin, its essential you are dentally fit with any existing dental concerns addressed before you can begin to apply sensitive whitening chemicals to the teeth. Failure to do this could lead to sensitivity, discomfort, and more serious complications.

You also need to be aware of the pros and cons of the system being recommended. Only someone with a thorough understanding of the anatomy and physiology of teeth and the soft tissues etc. can make this judgement.

The choice of teeth whitening product is important. It must be safe, effective and give good results. Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide have the best track record (in both safety and effectiveness), however if the concentration is too low it will not be effective. The only people who are allowed to prescribe it in concentrations that are effective are dentists. If it is too high, it can cause discomfort and damage to the teeth and gums.

Warning: Some of the systems used by non-dentists give immediate spectacular results. Chlorine Dioxide for example makes teeth very white, but it is very acidic and strips the enamel from the teeth. It is NOT reversible. It damages the surface of the teeth such that they pick up staining very rapidly, and this is very difficult to remedy. They are left rough and often permanently sensitive.

We know a number of dentists who have asked at teeth whitening booths in shopping centres what they use and have never had an answer. Some have even been escorted out by security! It concerns us greatly as a profession that people are allowing unknown chemicals to be applied to their teeth, by non-dental professionals.

Oakmead Dental Care provides professional teeth whitening to patients across East Grinstead, Crawley and Royal Tunbridge Wells. As well as a wealth of experience in different systems, our team have carried out extensive training in teeth whitening to ensure we can offer care which puts your health and well-being at the core of everything we do.

If you are interested in teeth whitening at Oakmead Dental Care, or any of our cosmetic dental services, then give us a call on 01342 325363 or email reception@oakmeaddentalcare.co.uk.