Teeth Whitening in Parramatta, Sydney

Why Teeth Darken

Surface staining builds up on the outside of the enamel from coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curry and tobacco. Much of it lifts with a scale and clean, and whitening then works on what is left underneath.

Internal discolouration sits inside the tooth. Enamel thins with age and the yellower dentine beneath it shows through more. Some antibiotics taken while teeth were forming leave grey or brown banding. A tooth that was knocked hard can darken years later as the nerve inside it dies.

The two respond differently. Surface stain lifts readily. Age related yellowing usually improves well. Tetracycline banding is the stubborn one, often needing longer treatment for a partial result, and sometimes better handled with veneers. A single dead tooth does not respond to external whitening at all and needs internal bleaching after root canal treatment, or a crown.

In Chair and Take Home

In chair whitening uses a stronger gel in a single appointment of roughly an hour. The gums and lips are isolated first, because the gel at that concentration burns soft tissue. Most of the change is visible on the day, which suits a fixed deadline, and it is the more expensive option.

Take home whitening uses custom trays made from impressions of your teeth, loaded with a weaker gel and worn for a set period each day over one to two weeks. The trays fit the tooth shape closely, which keeps the gel on the teeth and off the gums. It reaches a similar end point more gradually, gives you more control over how far to take it, and the trays can be reloaded later for a top up.

The two are often combined, with an in chair session to make the initial change and trays to refine and maintain it.

Sensitivity and How Long It Lasts

Short lived sensitivity is the most common side effect, usually sharp twinges with cold air or cold drinks. It comes from the peroxide passing through the enamel, it does not mean damage has been done, and it settles within a few days of finishing. It is managed by using a desensitising toothpaste in the lead up, shortening each session, or leaving a day between applications rather than pushing through.

Results typically hold for one to three years. What decides the number is diet and habits rather than the treatment. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking pull the shade back fastest. A rinse with water after staining drinks, and an occasional top up with take home trays, keeps the result where it landed.

Common Questions

Does whitening damage enamel?

Whitening at the concentrations used by a dentist, over the recommended time, does not soften or thin enamel in any lasting way. The risks come from overuse, from gel sitting on the gums in a poorly fitting tray, and from whitening a mouth that had an untreated problem in it.

How many shades will my teeth lighten?

It depends on the starting shade and the cause. Yellow tones respond best, grey tones least. Nobody can promise a number in advance, which is why the starting shade is recorded and compared afterwards.

Can I whiten if I have sensitive teeth?

Usually yes, with adjustments. Sensitivity that is already present should be investigated first, because exposed root surfaces, cracks and worn enamel each need a different answer.

What should I avoid straight after whitening?

For the first day or two the teeth pick up colour more readily than usual, so it is worth avoiding coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curry, beetroot and tobacco during that window.

Will whitening work on a crown or a filling?

No. Only natural tooth structure changes shade. Restorations stay exactly as they are, and may need replacing afterwards to match the new shade of the teeth around them.

How often can I top up?

Most people use their take home trays for a night or two once or twice a year. More frequent use raises sensitivity without adding much to the result.