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Laurence Bohan 
Content Writer
Laurence Bohan 
Content Writer

Laurence is a copywriter and trained journalist. His passion is creating insightful and educational content for dental professionals of every level. Outside of work, he enjoys watching sport, quizzing and spending time with his family.

It is no secret that the demand for teeth whitening has increased substantially over recent years as more people look to brighten their smile. Knowing what questions are already on the mind of potential patients can help you advertise whitening in your practice more effectively and equip you with all the information needed to confidently respond to any query. Here are the 6 of the most common questions people have on teeth whitening.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

For many patients, teeth whitening can be simply explained as the process of bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. For those who want to know a bit more about the science behind this, it is worth explaining the role hydrogen peroxide (HP) and carbamide peroxide (CP) play in the process. Hydrogen peroxide is water (H2O) with an extra oxygen molecule (H2O2). The extra oxygen molecule oxidizes and gives peroxide its germ killing and bleaching power. The release of oxygen molecules penetrates the colour pigments inside the tooth, altering the shade of the teeth without effecting tooth structure. HP breaks down quickly and works fast to whiten teeth, releasing most of its whitening power within the first 30 to 60 minutes of application. Carbamide peroxide works the same way, but breaks down at a slower speed compared to HP. CP's oxidizing power releases in the first 2 hours, then continues to work for up to 6 more hours. Because it spends more time in contact with the teeth, it is often used in whitening products that are worn overnight.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe?

Safety is one of the most important things to communicate with patients in your marketing and consultations. Professional teeth whitening overseen by a dentist is the only way patients can guarantee that what they are putting on their teeth is safe. When you quote a price to your patient, don’t be surprised if they mention a much cheaper product they’ve seen on the internet.

Let your patients know that DIY home whitening kits can be dangerous, uncomfortable, illegal and in most cases inferior to professional whitening treatment. In worst-case scenarios, DIY home whitening kits can cause burns, scarring and even tooth loss if too much hydrogen peroxide (HP) or carbamide peroxide (CP) is used in the product.

How to Prevent Tooth Sensitivity After Whitening?

No matter what type of tooth whitening product you use, there is always a chance that the patient’s gums will be sensitive to the chemicals in the products. Some patients will experience zero sensitivity following treatment while others will. How long this sensitivity lasts depends on the existing state of the patient’s teeth. Postoperative sensitivity can last a few hours, a few days or for several months. It is important to carry out a few assessments of the patient’s teeth prior to agreeing to treatment. This way you can give them the best idea of the likelihood of any potential side effects.

One of the best ways to mitigate against this is to use a less harsh whitening product that has been designed to minimise sensitivity. White Dental Beauty premium whitening gel for example has a unique formula containing desensitisers and with optimum water content to hydrate the teeth during treatment and avoid sensitivity. Applying Vaseline to the lips can also help prevent sensitivity for patients when whitening at home. It is also important to remind patients that using too much gel in the tray can increase the likelihood of the bleaching agent spilling onto gums and creating sensitivity and potentially the temporary bleaching effect on the skin.
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Whitening | Kent Express
Whitening

Explore our most popular professional tooth whitening gels from White Dental Beauty, DEHP, SDI, Voco and more.

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

There is no one size fits all answer to this question as the longevity of the whitening effect varies from patient to patient. One thing that is guaranteed and that patients should be made aware of is that no tooth whitening treatment is permanent. Typically speaking at, take-home whitening gels and in-office tooth whitening should last from anywhere between 3 months to a year, provided the patient practices good oral hygiene and doesn’t have too many bad oral habits.

Certain oral habits, such as smoking, drinking red wine, tea and coffee, can re-stain the teeth and reduce the lifespan of the whitening effect. These stains are known as extrinsic stains. As most of the population have the one or more of the above habits, some dentists recommend that whitening treatment be repeated every 6 – 12 months.

 

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

This is perhaps the most common question patients ask when discussing teeth whitening. The cost of private tooth whitening in the UK ranges from anywhere between £300 and £1000, with the exact figure varying according to location, local competitor prices etc. To keep your own fees down, it is worth shopping around for whitening products that offer the best all-round value.

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