Teeth Whitening in Richmond
At The Richmond Dentist, we offer professional teeth whitening services designed to enhance the natural brightness of your smile. Our treatment involves applying a peroxide-based solution to the surface of your teeth, effectively lightening them to a whiter shade.
How is it done?
A peroxide solution is applied to the exterior of teeth to change the teeth to a natural whiter shade. An impression of the teeth is taken and a mouth tray made. Peroxide gel is put in the tray and the patient is asked to wear it overnight. The peroxide agent then soaks into the teeth. The time taken to achieve the desired results varies.
If your bite is unbalanced muscles of your head/jaw/neck may hold your jaw in unnatural positions. This can overload the muscles which results in discomfort in the muscles and eventually lead to headaches.
Initially this would involve a detailed history of your headache and associated problems. I would then perform the comprehensive examination which is a detailed analysis of the whole masticatory system. Once a bite problem is diagnosed the usual treatment is splint therapy.
- You can potentially have sensitive teeth due to the effect on the nerve.
- Pain can be caused if you have open dental tubules.
- You may have mild irritation of the tender tissues in the mouth.
- Your gums can also be irritated if the chemical comes into contact with the gums.If you are overly obsessed with teeth whitening Surrey you can also be at risk of bleachorexia.
It is totally safe to the tooth structure. High concentration bleaches can be caustic to the gums, lips, etc. Some whitening systems involve applying protection to these areas. Poorly fitted whitening trays may also lead to the swallowing of bleach and irritation of the gums. Poorly fitting trays are the biggest problem with DIY kits and other techniques not supervised by the dentist.
Bleaching must NOT be carried out during pregnancy or if you have large cavities in your teeth.
How does teeth bleaching actually whiten teeth?
Oxygen penetrates the tooth structure and breaks down the long-chain staining molecules (these are dark), resulting in short chain molecules, which are light in colour.
Achieving a brighter, whiter smile with teeth whitening in Richmond depends on four key factors:
1. The tooth’s permeability to oxygen – This can be enhanced using an advanced technique known as Deep Bleaching.
2. The duration of gel contact – The longer the whitening gel remains in contact with the tooth surface (while maintaining a high oxygen concentration), the more effective the results.
3. The use of a chemical accelerator – Some bleaching gels contain accelerators to enhance their effectiveness.
4. The strength of the whitening gel – Higher-quality gels release more oxygen, leading to better whitening results.
Among these factors, the most crucial is the tooth’s permeability to oxygen. This permeability increases the longer the bleaching gel is in contact with the teeth, allowing the whitening process to be more effective. For optimal results, a consistent and stable concentration of oxygen must be maintained throughout the treatment. This can only be achieved using a specially designed bleaching tray, which prevents saliva from diluting the gel. The most effective option is the Deep Bleaching™ Tray, a system developed over 15 years by Dr Rod Kurthy, a globally recognised expert in teeth whitening.
For a truly bright and long-lasting smile, a steady concentration of oxygen must be maintained throughout the whitening process. This can only be achieved with a high-quality bleaching tray, which seals in the gel and prevents dilution by saliva. The most effective solution is the Deep Bleaching™ Tray, a breakthrough system developed over 15 years by leading U.S. dentist Dr Rod Kurthy, an internationally recognised expert in teeth whitening.
Another crucial factor is the presence of a chemical accelerator in the whitening gel. This ingredient helps oxygen release more quickly, mimicking the effect of a higher-strength gel. However, there’s a trade-off—while faster oxygen release enhances initial whitening, it also shortens the treatment time, reducing long-term effectiveness. Finally, peroxide content is essential for successful teeth whitening. Without peroxide, the gel cannot alter the tooth’s natural colour—it can only remove surface stains. For patients seeking professional teeth whitening in Richmond, choosing a peroxide-based treatment under expert supervision ensures the best and safest results.
At our Richmond clinic, we offer advanced whitening solutions tailored to your needs, helping you achieve a brighter smile with clinically proven techniques. Contact us today to find out more!
Bleaching techniques
The Richmond Dentist offers 2 options which are themost predictable ways of whitening your smile:
Full deep bleaching system
Historically the biggest problem with bleaching teeth was predictability and sensitivity. You could just never predict who was going to whiten and who was going to be in pain. Dr Kurthy’s Deep Bleaching has dealt with both these issues.
Sensitivity has virtually been eliminated with the incorporation of a sealant as part of the Deep Bleaching protocol. Again, I will review you half way through the process.
There are 3 visits to the dentist altogether:
- To take impressions for the Deep Bleaching trays
- To condition the teeth with stronger bleach, after which you would then do 14 nights of home whitening
- To return to the dentist for the final teeth whitening session.
Home teeth whitening with deep bleaching trays only
The dentist takes impressions of your teeth and then some deep bleaching trays are made. These trays are loaded with the bleach and you would sleep with them in overnight, usually for 14 nights. You may also be given a regime to assess sensitivity. I would tend to see you half way through the process to see how you are getting on and that there are no problems.
