2. How long does the treatment take?
    That varies according to the cause and degree of discolouration. Usually the bleaching effect becomes visible after a few applications (usually 5).Discolourations caused by certain types of food and drinks will normally disappear within 10 to 12 days.Discolouration triggered by medication or by diseases can call for prolonged treatment that can take months.Teeth with a yellowish hue usually bleach well, brownish ones less so; greyish teeth may not bleach at all.

3. How long does professional teeth whitening last?
    This is very much related to your lifestyle, the bleaching effect normally lasts between one and four years. The kind of food and drinks you consume, smoking habbits, age and dental hygiene strongly influence the duration of the bleaching effect. Frequently drinking coffee, tea or red wine as well as smoking can bring discolourations back quite quickly.

4. Is professional teeth whiting safe?
    According to the latest scientific findings it does not damage teeth, gums or existing fillings you may have, infact we have noticed a marked improvement in the gums of patients who have advanced chronic periodontal disease (periodontitis).
    NOTE: We do not advise patients to buy teeth bleaching products by mail order or over the counter shops. We also do not carry out chair-side 40 minute bleaching, as we do feel the results are not as long lasting. You usually need to carry out further home bleaching anyway! So why go through the added expense.

5. Is teeth whitening bad for my enamel?
    There is no permanent damage caused to the enamel or any other tooth structures by teeth whitening.
 
6. Does teeth whitening cause permanent tooth sensitivity?
    Sensitivity from teeth whitening is always transient. That means if there is any sensitivity caused by the whitening, it goes away within one to two days after the treatment, and the patient returns to the state of sensitivity he or she had prior to starting the whitening process.

7. Should I expect side effects?
    During the course of the treatment, some increased sensitivity of the teeth and irritation of the gums can occur. These effects will disappear at the end of the treatment. With the home bleaching kits you could stop for a few days and then continue when the sensitivity is reduced, using sensodyne toothpaste continuously should help. In case of extreme sensitivity apply the sensodyne toothpaste on your teeth via the trays for up to an hour, for mild sensitivity apply the toothpaste with your finger.

8. Can I avoid or at least reduce these side effects?
    Yes, avoid citrus fruits and acidic drinks for the duration of the treatment. A well fitted and carefully filled tray also helps to make the treatment comfortable. Please follow the instructions given by your dentist.