Professional teeth whitening is a dentist-supervised or dentist-prescribed procedure that uses peroxide-based agents to lighten the colour of natural tooth enamel. It is effective on natural tooth tissue only and does not alter the colour of existing restorations such as fillings, crowns, or veneers.
When May Whitening Be Considered?
- External staining from coffee, tea, red wine, or tobacco
- General age-related yellowing of natural teeth
- Preparation before restorative work (timing is important)
Internal discolouration (antibiotic staining, trauma-related) may respond differently and is assessed individually during examination.
Whitening Options
In-office whitening: Applied chairside under dental supervision using a higher-concentration agent. Typically completed in one or more sessions.
Take-home whitening: Custom-fitted trays are provided with a lower-concentration agent for use at home according to a prescribed protocol.
Which option is appropriate depends on clinical assessment, the nature of the discolouration, and individual factors.
Important Considerations
- Whitening is not permanent; re-staining may occur over time depending on habits.
- Existing restorations (fillings, crowns, veneers) are not affected by whitening agents — plan timing carefully if restorative work is also planned.
- Active decay or gum disease must be treated before whitening.
- Certain internal discolourations may not respond to external whitening.