Improve Your Holiday Memories With A Whiter Smile!

Why not consider our popular teeth whitening procedure before you go on holiday this year?

The advent of cameras on our ‘phones means that we are taking more and more pictures, not only of our everyday lives but of important events too. Memories are digitally stored to share around and also as a reminder of our own holidays and other events. Given that you will inevitably appear in some of them, you might want to consider ways that you can look your best. For example, you might want to leave the holiday bikini shots until you have built up a bit of a tan on the beach. Other things you might need to change before you go and this is where your local Burton dental clinic can help you.

Cosmetic dentistry is chosen by our patients for a variety of reasons. For some, it is because they want a general improvement in their appearance. Some treatments can be carried out once for almost permanent results whilst others, like the teeth whitening procedure, need to be ‘topped up’ over time to maintain the whiteness, as, although it will last a long time, it is not permanent.

This treatment is also very popular with people looking to give their appearance a lift for a one off occasion. This can include events such as a wedding, family gathering and even a holiday. As there are some signs that the weather is warming up now, we are sure that many of you will be already planning your holidays so now could be a good time to consider whether you would like a whiter, brighter smile for your holidays.

When should you have the treatment?

As mentioned previously, the results of a tooth whitening procedure don’t last forever. Teeth become stained again and the inner part that has been lightened will also darken again over time, especially if you are older. In order to get the maximum benefit from the treatment for your holiday photos then, it is important to have this done at the right time.

In general, we would suggest that you come to us for a consultation probably around two or even three months before your holiday. The treatment itself doesn’t take this long to work but it is important that we ensure your teeth are healthy before the treatment begins. This could mean that you need prior fillings or gum disease treatment for example, so it is best not to leave it too late. Indeed, the sooner you have your consultation, the better. If you explain to the dentist why you are having this treatment, they will be able to recommend the most appropriate timing of it.

Generally speaking, if your teeth and gums are in good health, you should allow five to six weeks before your holiday for maximum benefit. The first thing we will do is to take impressions of your teeth. These are sent off to a dental laboratory where the trays will be produced that the active whitening ingredient will be put into before they are fitted over your teeth. You should allow one to two weeks for these to be returned to the SG Dental and Implant Centre.

The actual whitening process generally takes around two to three weeks for the full beefit to be seen. Although most people suffer no side effects from this treatment, a small number do experience additional sensitivity. This will soon subside but it is worth bearing this in mind as we wouldn’t want your holiday to be spoiled because you found it uncomfortable to drink your iced poolside pina colada, so make sure to allow a week or so after the treatment, just in case.

Restrictions

While most people can have a teeth whitening procedure, the General Dental Council advises that patients under 18 should not have this done. Pregnant and breastfeeding women are also currently not allowed to have this for safety reasons, although there is little research indicating any dangers from it.

Men too….!

Remember that cosmetic dentistry is not just for women. Indeed, an increasing number of men are having their teeth whitened too. We are confident that even if your partner is reluctant to have the procedure, they will be very pleased with the results if they do. If they are concerned about having to walk around with teeth that are too bright and white, we can reassure them that we can adjust the level of whiteness to one that they are happy with.

We also offer a range of other cosmetic dental procedures, such as orthodontics and veneers. Some of these treatments are less immediate than teeth whitening though, so please contact us as soon as possible if you are hoping to see the results in time for your holiday.

If you would like to discuss your smile improvement requirements with one of our friendly Burton dental team, please call SG Dental and Implant Centre today on 01283 845345.