It’s not unusual to feel daunted or worried about the prospect of undergoing cosmetic dentistry surgery, especially if you’re unsure about what the procedure involves. And of course, just like any medical procedure, there are some elements of risk involved in teeth whitening.
Let’s face it, your smile is one of your best features and is often the first thing you will notice or remember about a person. Therefore, if you are unhappy with your smile and find yourself hiding it on a daily basis, it’s inevitable that this will have an impact on your confidence and self esteem in all aspects of your life.
But that’s not all, a set of bright pearly whites will also give the immediate impression of youthfulness, vitality, health, and happiness!
With teeth bleaching continuing to increase in popularity as more and more patients strive to emulate their favourite celebrity’s gleaming white smile, we decided to take a look at some of the risks involved with treatment.
But first of all… what is teeth whitening?
There are a number of different teeth whitening treatments available that will instantly allow you to reap the many benefits that come hand in hand with the perfect set of pearly whites!
And although some teeth whitening toothpastes can work to remove some surface stains by polishing your enamel, they tend not to be a long-term solution.
If you’re looking to achieve a long lasting pearly white smile, there are a number of professional tooth whitening procedures that can improve the colour of your teeth!
So what does the teeth whitening procedure involve?
There are two common types of teeth whitening – home whitening and in-surgery whitening.
In surgery whitening (also known as laser and power whitening) is renowned for achieving rapid, high impact results. The procedure involves your dentist applying a bleaching agent onto your teeth – they might even use a light to enhance the procedure.
Another type of professional teeth whitening treatment that your dentist can provide involves making you a home teeth whitening kit so you can whiten your teeth at home. Offering the flexibility and freedom to whiten your teeth at a time that is convenient for you, home whitening is accessible and highly effective.
Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth in order to make a customised mouth guard for you to use at home. You will use the mouth guard to apply the bleaching gel, day or night, over the course of two to four weeks.
Who can perform teeth whitening?
Although it’s highly likely that you would have seen a number of beauty salons advertising treatment, it is in fact a form of dentistry that should only be performed by a professional dentist or other regulated professional.
It is actually illegal if no dental professional is present, and the procedure comes with a number of risks if it is not performed in a professional environment. With this in mind, you should also only ever go to a registered dental professional!
What are the risks of teeth whitening?
Like any medical procedure, whitening procedures do carry some risks.
For example, some patients have reported increased levels of sensitivity following treatment. And although this is likely to be only temporary, it can cause your teeth to become sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks. Of course, there are a number of sensitive toothpastes and desensitising products that can be used as an effective form of treatment.
But that’s not all; tooth-whitening products can also cause temporary irritation to your gums, especially if you are using a home whitening kit. This is often caused by the whitening gel coming into contact with your gums.
And finally, you may also find that when you are whitening your teeth after your initial treatment, they may be more prone than usual to picking up stains from your diet. During this period, you should make a conscious effort to avoid any food or drink with strong colourings such as red wine, pasta sauce and curry.