Teeth Whitening

The first impression we make is often a lasting one and the feature most remembered in that first impression is our smile. If your smile is filled with bright, white, healthy teeth, then your first impression is likely to be that you are successful, happy, and have a good personality!!

Shiny, white teeth help you to make a great first impression, as proven in a 2012 survey conducted by Kelton, a market research consultancy firm with offices in Los Angeles and New York. This survey showed some thought-provoking perceptions:

• One-third of people surveyed said the first aspect of a person’s appearance that they noticed was their teeth.
• People with straight, white teeth were perceived by 58% of participants as more likely to land a job, or be successful and wealthy.
• Half of those surveyed would rather have a nice smile than clear skin – and nearly 90% would give up a luxury, such as desserts or a vacation, to gain a sparkling, memorable smile.

At Oatlands Dental Lounge, we have a range of treatment options to give you a beautiful, bright smile.

We believe the benefits of a bright, white smile are multitude – and are delighted to offer you teeth whitening treatments that are affordable (no need to forgo vacations!), quickly completed with little or no discomfort, and produce stunning results. We recognise that all the options available nowadays can confuse our patients and we help explain and choose the most suitable system for each individual.

Our teeth whitening systems are, in some cases, able to lighten teeth by several shades within an hour’s visit, giving you a sparkle and brightness to your smile you might have thought was only reserved for those in the public spotlight.

Many staining factors can cause your teeth to become discoloured, such as:

• Smoking or using chewing tobacco
• Eating certain foods known to cause tooth enamel staining, like blueberries
• Drinking certain beverages, such as red wine, tea and coffee
• Poor oral hygiene
• Damage to the tooth root or nerve or deep decay can darken the tooth from within
• Medications – some are known to cause tooth staining as a side effect
• Age

Any teeth whitening product can only whiten natural tooth substance. It will not work on any types of ‘false’ teeth such as dentures, crowns and veneers. At your whitening consultation, we will discuss any such issues with your false or replacement teeth.

Some stains, especially those caused by certain medications, are so resistant to professional whitening treatments that your dentist may recommend the use of dental veneers.

We offer various tooth whitening systems, ranging from take-home kits to in-surgery techniques, or a combination of both. Together we can discuss what will suit your teeth and your lifestyle best – explaining the differences and answer any questions. Your teeth whitening treatment can be scheduled once fillings are completed.

Oatlands Dental Lounge is an accredited Enlighten tooth whitening centre and uses the Enlighten B1 advanced teeth whitening system and DayWhite / NightWhite home whitening systems.

Enlighten teeth whitening is an option that is guided by your dentist and has been proven to be safe and truly effective, offering you beautiful, dazzling results. The Enlighten whitening process involves:

• A whitening assessment and consultation to determine which whitening option will work best and to discuss treatment methods, side effects, and to take photos
• Taking impressions of your teeth for custom-fit whitening trays which will return in 2 weeks. During your 2 week wait, you will be directed by your dentist to use a tooth de-sensitising serum in preparation for your teeth whitening.
• Your 2nd appointment, where your dentist will check the fit of your whitening trays, ensuring a snug, perfect fit. Your dentist will also instruct you on the proper way to wear your trays with the whitening gel.
• Wearing your whitening trays for 14 days, with the gel concentration stepped up in the second week of your whitening treatment.
• Your final appointment, following your 14 day whitening treatment, is where a final, 40-minute in-surgery whitening treatment is done. You will need to bring your whitening trays with you. Your treatment progress is then evaluated and you are given maintenance instructions.

Daywhite and Nightwhite home kit options (By Philips oral healthcare):

One of the methods for whitening teeth uses a ‘tray’. First of all, impressions are taken from which a study model is made. This is painted with a special material which increases the thickness of the tooth area. When the tray is prepared, a small pocket is produced. The whitening solution occupies this pocket ensuring that it only comes into contact with the required surfaces and that no damage is done to the soft gums.

At-home teeth whitening may be patient-preferred or recommended by your dentist as follow up or maintenance to your in-chair whitening treatment. Oatlands Dental Lounge uses the DayWhite and NiteWhite at-home whitening system and will provide detailed instructions on its use for optimum results.

Tray Whitening

An additional advantage of at-home whitening products is that they are a fully customised system. From creating a custom-fit tray from an impression of your teeth to tailoring formula concentrations and wear times to suit your sensitivity and lifestyle, at-home whitening can provide dramatic results.

Some over-the-counter whitening kits often contain inferior whitening products or even mild acids or abrasives. We encourage all our patients to obtain professional advice to get a safe and predictable result. We can advise which system may suit you best and help you compare prices and anticipated results. Remember that at Oatlands Dental Lounge, teeth whitening is affordable, dentist-supervised and safe for you and your teeth.

We understand your desire for a bright, white, youthful smile and are delighted to offer predictable teeth whitening with appointments that can fit your busy lifestyle which can often improve one’s confidence to smile. So, get with your trusted Oatlands dentist today and ask about teeth whitening for your smile – it’s the simple solution to a more desired smile!

Zoom Whitening

Oatlands Dental Lounge also recommends the Zoom WhiteSpeed which is an advanced teeth whitening system, where a light-activated whitening gel removes stains after being applied to your teeth. Zoom WhiteSpeed is the only in-office system that has variable intensity setting so each treatment can be customised to maximise patient comfort. The system also includes desensitizers to help minimise sensitivity and protect your enamel.

The Zoom Whitening system also includes a home kit including whitening trays and gels to maintain the lighter shade.

Your teeth whitening process will cover several steps:

• Your dentist will carefully remove any gum-line plaque
• An impression will be taken of your teeth in order to create a customised “tray”, much like a mouth guard only thinner, more flexible and of a clear material
• A protective covering, or rubber “dam”, will be set in place over your gums to protect soft tissues from the bleaching agent in the gel
• The whitening gel is then precisely applied to your teeth and a whitening serum is applied to the inside of your customised tooth tray
• Your customised tray is placed over your teeth
• A special ‘blue’ light is pointed at your gel-coated teeth, activating the bleaching agent

The whitening gel used in the Zoom WhiteSpeed teeth whitening system is a scientifically formulated, pH balanced Hydrogen Peroxide that, when activated by the special blue light, gently penetrates your teeth enamel to remove stains and discolouration. With proper home care, your new, whiter smile will sparkle for years to come.

Before any teeth whitening treatment is recommended, your dentist will need to examine your teeth to ensure your teeth are cavity and decay-free. The teeth whitening gel can cause pain if it leaks into untreated decay fissures in your teeth. Your pre-whitening examination will also allow your dentist to determine the extent and type of staining on your teeth and whether teeth whitening treatments are appropriate for you.