Professional teeth whitening in Bundaberg
Whitening is the simplest way to refresh your smile. Acclaim Dental offers in-chair whitening for a fast result in a single visit, and custom take-home kits for gradual whitening on your own schedule. Both use professional-strength products that aren't available over the counter, applied with care to protect your gums.
Your options
- In-chair whitening. About an hour in the practice. The gums are protected, whitening gel is applied in cycles and you leave with a noticeably brighter smile.
- Take-home whitening. Custom-fitted trays made from a digital scan, with professional gel to use at home over one to two weeks. Great for maintaining an in-chair result.
Before you whiten
A check-up and clean first gives the best result. Decay, gum disease and heavy calculus need treating before whitening, and a clean removes surface stain so the gel works evenly. If the goal is a bigger change, or your front teeth have old fillings, see our cosmetic dentistry options.
What causes teeth to discolour
Surface stains come from coffee, tea, red wine, curry, smoking and some mouthwashes. A professional clean removes most of these. Deeper discolouration is within the enamel and dentine, from ageing, genetics, some antibiotics taken in childhood, or trauma to a tooth. Whitening treats this. A single dark tooth is often a tooth whose nerve has died, and it needs assessment before any whitening.
Realistic expectations
Most patients lighten several shades. Yellow tones respond best; grey or brown tones respond less. Results vary between people, and your dentist will give you an honest idea of what to expect after examining your teeth. Whitening doesn't change the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers, so if you have visible dental work at the front, it may need replacing after whitening to match.
Keeping teeth white
- Drink staining drinks through a straw, or rinse with water afterwards
- Don't smoke
- Keep up six-monthly cleans
- Use your take-home trays for a top-up every six to twelve months
Whitening safely
Over-the-counter kits, whitening strips and salon whitening use low concentrations or no gum protection, and results are unpredictable. Under Australian law, high-strength whitening can only be applied by a registered dental practitioner, which is why in-chair whitening at a dental practice is both more effective and safer. We examine your teeth first so decay, cracks and gum disease are treated before whitening rather than being made worse by it.