Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is more about teeth brightening! Everyone has a natural colour to their teeth and this is close to the biological limit for how bright a tooth will become with whitening. Over years of the good stuff, like coffee, tea, red wine etc, we know that teeth are able to absorb some of this staining!
It’s like having a favourite coffee cup that you drink out of for 10 years, even though you clean the cup, stains are able to permeate the material over time. Teeth work a lot like this! We always advise getting your teeth cleaned before a whitening treatment, but once they are clean, if you think that they used to be brighter, then whitening is an amazing treatment to reverse the staining that may have permeated the tooth.
Obviously, we would only whiten healthy teeth. We always whiten teeth using a home kit. Those blue lights are close to useless and what we really want is a really good result with limited sensitivity and to give you the ability to re-whiten your teeth for years to come.
Simples.
How Does Teeth Whitening Actually Work?
The science behind it is actually quite straightforward. The whitening gel we use contains a peroxide-based agent (either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) that penetrates the enamel and breaks down the stain molecules trapped inside. It’s not stripping anything away from the tooth – it’s lifting the discolouration from within.
The reason we prefer home whitening kits over in-chair treatments is simple: better results, less sensitivity, and they give you more control. With custom-made trays and professional-grade gel, you can whiten gradually over a couple of weeks, which is far gentler on your teeth than blasting them with a light for an hour. And honestly, the research backs this up – a widely cited review in the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice (Carey, 2014) concluded that peroxide-based whitening delivered in custom trays is among the most studied and well-established cosmetic treatments in dentistry, with transient sensitivity being the main side effect.
Our Teeth Whitening Process
It’s really straightforward, and that’s part of what makes it such a great treatment.
Step one: we check your teeth are healthy. Before we whiten anything, we need to make sure your teeth and gums are in good shape. Any decay, cracks or gum issues need to be sorted first – whitening unhealthy teeth isn’t something we’d ever do.
Step two: a professional clean. We’ll send you to our hygienist first to remove any surface staining and plaque. This ensures the whitening gel can work directly on the tooth surface without anything in the way. We explain why in should you get your teeth cleaned before whitening?, and our guide to biofilm therapy with EMS AIRFLOW covers what that clean involves.
Step three: custom trays. We take impressions of your teeth and have custom whitening trays made that fit your mouth perfectly. These aren’t the generic trays you’d get from a shop – they’re made to fit you precisely, which means better contact between the gel and your teeth, and less gel leaking onto your gums.
Step four: you whiten at home. We give you professional-grade whitening gel and clear instructions. You wear the trays for a set amount of time each day (usually a couple of hours, or overnight, depending on the product) for around two weeks. You’ll start seeing results within the first few days.
What Results Can You Expect?
This is where we like to be really honest, because managing expectations matters.
Teeth whitening will brighten your teeth back towards their natural colour – the colour they were before years of coffee, tea, wine and everyday life took their toll. For most people, that’s a noticeable difference and one that makes a real impact on how they feel about their smile.
But here’s the thing – whitening won’t make your teeth unnaturally white. If your natural tooth colour is more of a warm ivory, whitening will get you back to a bright, clean version of that, not a Hollywood white. And honestly, that’s a good thing. We want your teeth to look naturally bright, not fake.
It’s also worth knowing that whitening works on natural teeth only. If you have crowns, veneers or fillings on your front teeth, those won’t change colour with whitening. We’ll talk you through this during your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
Will It Make My Teeth Sensitive?
This is probably the most common question we get about whitening, and the honest answer is: it can, but it’s usually mild and temporary.
Some patients experience a bit of sensitivity during the whitening process, particularly to cold. This is completely normal and typically settles down within a day or two of finishing treatment. The home whitening approach we use is specifically designed to minimise sensitivity – it’s much gentler than in-chair treatments.
If you’re someone who already has sensitive teeth, let us know. We can adjust the whitening protocol – lower concentration gel, shorter wear times – to make it as comfortable as possible for you.
How Long Do Results Last?
This depends a lot on your lifestyle. If you’re a big coffee or red wine drinker, the staining will gradually come back over time. That’s just the reality. But here’s the brilliant thing about our approach – because you have custom trays, you can do top-up whitening whenever you like. Just grab some more gel from us and do a night or two. It’s that easy.
Most patients find that a quick top-up every 6 to 12 months keeps their smile looking bright. It’s one of the reasons we love home whitening – it’s not a one-and-done treatment, it’s something you can maintain for years.
What About Shop-Bought Whitening Products?
We get asked about this a lot, and we’re always straight with people. Over-the-counter whitening strips, toothpastes and kits can make a small difference to surface staining, but they’re nowhere near as effective as professional whitening. The concentration of the active ingredient is much lower (by law), the trays don’t fit properly, and the results are generally underwhelming.
If you’re going to invest your time in whitening your teeth, it’s worth doing it properly. Professional whitening gives you better results, in less time, with less risk of sensitivity. It’s one of those treatments where the professional version really is worth the difference.
What Does Teeth Whitening Cost?
Teeth whitening is one of the most affordable cosmetic dental treatments we offer, and the value is excellent when you consider that your custom trays last for years. A complete custom-tray home whitening kit is €350 — you can see exactly what that includes and how it compares to other treatments in our guide to teeth whitening cost in Dublin. It’s also on our price list, and don’t hesitate to ask us about payment options.
Ready to Brighten Your Smile?
If you’ve been thinking about whitening and want to know if it’s right for you, come in and chat. We’ll take a look, give you our honest opinion, and if whitening is a good fit, we’ll get you set up. It’s one of the simplest treatments we offer and the results always make people smile (literally).
Our team at Docklands Dental is at 1 Forbes Street, Grand Canal Dock, Dublin 2, D02 FN53. Call us on 01 636 0192, email hello@docklandsdental.ie, or book online below.
