Is A Teeth Whitening Procedure Painful Or Unsafe?
Whitening teeth is often a first step into cosmetic dentistry for many. Are there any concerns?
If you ask most people to name a cosmetic dental treatment, the likelihood is that most will say ‘teeth whitening’. This isn’t surprising as it is widely used by a lot of people in the media, such as actors and singers etc. This obviously creates publicity. It is probably also likely that you know someone who has had the procedure and have been impressed with the improvements in their smile. Perhaps you are also wondering how your teeth could be improved with the treatment too.
If this is the case, you will no doubt have some questions that you want addressed. These are best answered at a pre-treatment initial consultation with one of our dentists who can discuss this with you in detail. Two of the most common concerns though are around how safe the procedure is and what level of discomfort might be felt. Our Burton dental team answer these points in today’s blog.
Safety considerations
First of all, teeth whitening is a very safe procedure. That is, providing that it is carried out by trained professionals who are regulated, as we are, in the UK. There have been cases of less qualified or unscrupulous dentists abroad who have provided this treatment using overly strong bleaching solutions and have caused permanent damage to the patient’s teeth. This is why we always advise our patients not to opt for a treatment abroad just because it seems to be cheaper than here in the UK. It really isn’t worth the risk.
There is only really one real ‘risk factor’ relating to this treatment and that is from the bleaching itself. This is necessary to lighten the inner part of the tooth which becomes darker as we grow older and makes the teeth look dull.
This bleach, usually hydrogen peroxide, is also found in teeth whitening toothpastes too, but at such a low amount as to be completely harmless. It also makes it fairly ineffective. Toothpastes are allowed to contain only 0.1% concentration. Trained professionals, such as our SG Dental and Implant Centre dentists, can use up to 6% for a much more significant improvement. Even at this higher concentration, there should be no concerns. The bleach is placed into trays which are worn over the teeth for a few hours a day for a couple of weeks or so. The trays that you are supplied with are made from impressions that are taken of your own teeth. This not only makes them more comfortable but minimises the possibility of bleach coming into contact with the soft tissues of the gums etc.
It should be noted that while this is a perfectly safe procedure if done correctly, it is only available for over 18s. Pregnant women or those who are breastfeeding are also strongly recommended to avoid this treatment for this period of time, although there is little or no scientific evidence that any harm is likely to occur.
Treatment comfort
The trays are designed for you and you alone and this enables this treatment to be carried out in comfort in your own home. There is little cause for concern about any discomfort providing that you have this done under the guidance of an approved dental practice. Going abroad potentially increases the risks and, as mentioned earlier, ‘overbleaching’ your teeth could cause pretty serious pain and damage. Some people don’t enjoy impressions being taken of their teeth but this is not painful and perhaps just feels a little strange. You might find that when you put the trays in initially, they feel a little strange too, but you should quickly adjust to that, especially as they are only worn for a few hours each day.
It doesn’t happen to every tooth whitening patient, but some do experience some heightened sensitivity following the treatment. This is usually relatively mild and short lasting and normal sensitivity should return quite quickly. The fact that this treatment can be repeated at regular intervals for as long as you wish is a good indication of the safety of this popular cosmetic dental treatment when performed professionally in the UK.
We hope that our blog has addressed some of the more common points that are often raised but we are aware that each patient has individual questions too. If you are interested in looking into having your teeth whitened, why not book an initial consultation with us? You can do this by calling the SG Dental and Implant Centre today on 01283 845345 and we look forward to hearing from you.