Teeth Whitening: Your frequently asked questions

Rouel Vergara • June 2, 2020

According to recent studies, the eyes and teeth are the first things that we notice 80% of the time. Smiling provides an improvement on an individual’s health, stress level and attractiveness.

No wonder in this day and age, more and more people are getting their teeth whitened. Well…why not?

Teeth whitening is considered as one of the least invasive procedures in dentistry. This common dental procedure involves altering teeth shade by breaking down teeth stains through chemical means.

While many people have fearlessly jumped on board, there are still some who are reluctant due to some lingering questions in their minds.

Let’s try to answer some of the frequently asked questions about teeth whitening:

Question: Is teeth whitening painful and can it be harmful to your mouth?

Answer: If done professionally, a teeth whitening procedure is one of the safest treatments that can be provided by an oral healthcare provider. Although hypersensitivity of the teeth is the most common side effect, this can be minimised with ease if handled by a trained dental hygienist or dentist.

Question: Can teeth whitening damage and weaken your teeth?

Answer: The most common material used in whitening teeth is Carbamide Peroxide (CP). When applied to tooth surfaces, CP breaks down stains resulting in whiter teeth appearance.

Recent studies have also shown that Carbamide Peroxide is an effective solution in controlling plaque, thus minimising dental decay, gum disease and promotes good oral health.

Question: What is the best teeth whitening method to use?

Answer: There are many different methods of whitening teeth. The most common method is a customised take-home teeth whitening treatment. This involves a dentist-prescribed teeth-whitening material with a customised tray to be worn by the patient every day or every night.

Even though most of the teeth whitening systems available in the market work to a certain degree, the dentist-supervised method provides a safer and more predictable whitening result.

Another highly effective method is the in-chair teeth whitening treatment, performed on the chair by a trained dentist or hygienist. This uses a higher concentration of whitening agents leading to instant results up to 10 shades whiter.

Again, this is a method that is best administered by a trained professional as they know how to protect your gums from these chemicals.

Question: Can teeth whitening also whiten fillings and crowns?

Answer: Contrary to many beliefs, crowns and fillings will not whiten. Only teeth will. Patients requiring major dental procedures such as crowns, veneers or composite fillings involving front teeth should consider teeth whitening procedure first. This will provide a better aesthetic result in the end.

Question: How long do the teeth whitening results last?

Answer: We use clinically-proven, professional teeth whitening systems that are exclusively available to dental professionals. To maximise the longevity of your newly whitened teeth, we recommend having a comprehensive check-up and clean prior to any teeth whitening treatment.

That way, any existing stains (such as from coffee, tea, food, smoking, to name a few) will be removed prior to the treatment.

Your dental professional is the best person to know what kind of stain they are dealing with. Provided that you keep up with your oral hygiene and get regular 6-monthly cleans, your teeth whitening can last for up to 2 years.

Question: Is teeth whitening suitable for everyone and all ages?

Answer: Due to the chemical components of the whitening agents, this treatment is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding women and children under the age of 16.

Is there anything else you’d like to know more of about teeth whitening?

Please don’t hesitate to comment below, or connect with us via our website chat, or on Facebook and Instagram, via email or by simply calling us on 02 4367-6222 during office hours.

Any of our Erina-based dentists will be happy to help you achieve the brilliant smile that you desire and deserve!

Sincerely,

Dr. Rouel Vergara DMD

Article by Dr Rouel Vergara DMD

Dr Rouel Vergara DMD – Principal Dentist & Director New Leaf Dentists.

Rouel obtained his Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the University of the East in 1998. He holds a Certificate in Training and Assessment from Macquarie College in Sydney.

He is a member of the Australian Dental Association (ADA and ADA NSW), a committee member of ADA NSW & a mentor for the ADA NSW Professional Transitional Support Mentoring Program.

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Dr Rouel

New Leaf Dentist

DMD, Gen. Dent. Cert., P.G. Dip. Digital Orthodontics, FPFA, FICD, FICCDE, FADI

Rouel is the Principal Dentist at New Leaf Dentists in Erina, NSW, known for his gentle, patient-focused care. He holds a Doctor of Dental Medicine and a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Orthodontics, with interests in endodontics, prosthodontics and minimally invasive dentistry. Rouel is committed to ongoing education, contributes to CPD training, and currently serves as President (2024–2026) of the Filipino Australian Dental Association.

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