19 October 2015
Teeth Whitening Manchester -What Is It And How Does It Work?
Teeth whitening is by far the most popular dental cosmetic treatment in the UK with over 100,000 people undergoing the procedure last year alone. With treatments such as home-use kits for and ‘in clinic’ procedures such as laser teeth whitening, Manchester residents looking for brighter, whiter teeth are spoilt for choice. However for anyone new to teeth whitening what exactly is it? What does it entail? and does it actually work? Here’s what you need to know.
As briefly mentioned earlier our Cheadle Hulme orthodontics and cosmetics practice offers two teeth whitening techniques. First there is the home teeth whitening kit which the patient can purchase and take away. Costs are usually somewhere between £100 and £150 and treatment involves placing a bleaching solution (hydrogen peroxide) into custom trays which are worn over the patient’s teeth (usually at night when sleeping) for around two weeks. Home bleaching kits can lighten the teeth by up to eleven shades giving the wearer an all round brighter, whiter smile.
Secondly there’s residents who opt for this process will have to attend a cosmetic dental practice to have this treatment. Just like the home kits it involves the same hydrogen peroxide solution being applied directly to the teeth. However the teeth are then subjected to a strong beam of light which speeds up the process. This process costs around £600 and can lighten teeth by up to eleven shades.
So what’s the difference between the two processes?
Aside from the costs and the method of the treatment the only real difference is the speed of treatment. For example, with home teeth whitening, Manchester patients may need up to two weeks to achieve results, whereas with laser teeth whitening, the same results can be achieved in as little as 30 minutes so you really can get brighter, whiter teeth in your lunch hour.
So do they actually work?
On the whole results are very good. Studies suggest that the vast majority of people achieve great results. However there is also some evidence to suggest that bleaching techniques such as these won’t work for everyone. Tooth staining caused by antibiotics such as tetracycline (a drug used to fight bacterial infections) is a prime example. Because long-term use of the drug has a tendency to discolour the tooth enamel itself, it can be very hard to remove through teeth whitening techniques alone. In fact it’s suggested that there’s only a 10-20% chance of bleaching techniques working in this case. Instead these patients might want to seek other cosmetic treatments such as veneers.
The other thing to remember, of course, is that whether you opt for home use teeth whitening in Manchester or laser teeth whitening, it isn’t a permanent solution. For those who expose their teeth to large amounts of food and drink that cause teeth staining such as red wine and coffee, then the treatment can fade in as little as a couple of months. However if foods and beverages that stain the teeth are limited or totally avoided, then the process can last for up to a year. Most patients who have had teeth whitening treatment and want to retain their great smile, are advised to revisit the dental clinic for touch-ups every six months.
So there you have it! If you’re interested in either home teeth whitening Manchester or super-fast laser teeth whitening Manchester, then come and talk to our and cosmetics centre today. At Church Road Dental and Cosmetics our highly experienced team will talk to you about your options. To book your consultation you can visit our website at or contact us directly on 0161 486 0743. Why not start the ball rolling towards a healthy and happier smile right now!
