WHICH TEETH WHITENING TREATMENT IS BEST FOR ME?

TEETH WHITENING IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR DENTAL TREATMENTS AND WITH EXCEPTIONAL PRODUCTS, PATIENTS CAN ATTAIN A SPARKLING AND SEVERAL SHADES BRIGHTER SMILE.

CONTENTS

YOUR TEETH WHITENING OPTIONS 3

IS IN-CHAIR WHITENING BETTER THAN AT-HOME WHITENING? 4

TEETH WHITENING COMPARISON CHART 5

TEETH WHITENING OPTIONS FROM MULLUMBIMBY DENTAL CENTRE 6

DECIDING WHICH TREATMENT IS BEST FOR YOU 9

CONTACT US TODAY 10

3

YOUR TEETH WHITENING OPTIONS

Most people want to improve their smile. Teeth

whitening is one of the simplest cost effective ways to do

that but it’s important to understand what is causing the

discolouration in the first place as that determines which

treatment will give the best result.

Discolouration can easily be split into two distinct types.

1. Extrinsic stain which is caused by a discolouration

on the surface of the tooth; the best examples are

stains from tobacco, red wine & coffee.

2. Intrinsic stains where the whole tooth is inherently

dark. This can be either a simple age change,

a natural variation in tooth colour or it may be

caused by medication that was taken while the

tooth was developing.

Individual tooth discolouration may be due to a non-vital

(dead) tooth or a discoloured restoration.

Treatments available are:

• In surgery tooth whitening

• Take home kits with professionally made trays

• Over the counter treatments such as tooth

whitening toothpastes and gels.

4

IS IN-CHAIR WHITENING BETTER THAN AT-HOME WHITENING?

What many patients don’t realise is the need to assess the cause of your discolouration. Depending on the

nature of your stains, teeth whitening may not be successful or the best solution for you. Teeth whitening

products will not change the colour of existing restorations such as crowns or white fillings. These

restorations have been specifically made to match the colour of your teeth and if you whiten the other

teeth the result may be very poor aesthetically and require extensive and often expensive treatment

to rectify.

This is why it is important to visit a dentist before purchasing any general whitening treatments. Buying

a teeth whitening product from a chemist, supermarket or online means you don’t get that professional

medical opinion on whether teeth whitening is the appropriate treatment for you or not. Buying a teeth

whitening product from someone other than a dentist means you are buying a product from someone

who is unqualified to assess your individual situation and provide appropriate advice.

When it comes to certified teeth whitening products from your dentist, you usually have a few different

options, the most common ones being in-chair whitening and take-home options.

But how do you know what the differences are, and which treatment is best for you? We have created a

comparison chart outlining the different benefits so that you can choose the best treatment for you.

TEETH WHITENING COMPARISON CHART

In-chair whitening Take-home kit

How do the results

compare?

The Best: predictable, effective and

quick results.

Very good still effective but takes much

longer to achieve the desired result

How long will it take? Usually completed in a one-hour

appointment.

Five or six 20-minute at-home

applications (maximum of one per day).

How long does it last? If post-treatment instructions are

followed, results can last for up to

two years.

If post-treatment instructions are

followed, results can last for up to two

years.

Does it give a natural

appearance?

Yes both methods result in a natural

looking whiter smile

Yes, both methods result in a natural

looking whiter smile.

What process does the

system use?

35% Hydrogen peroxide activated

gel applied after gum protection has

been placed by the dentist.

Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide

peroxide gels; no gum protection is

required as the gels are much weaker

and will not burn the tissue.

Does the system whiten

stained teeth eg. anti-biotic

brown tetracycline staining?

Yes. in-chair whiteningtargets and

penetrates even the most resistant

stain molecules within the tooth’s

enamel.

At-home teeth whitening may not

penetrate blemishes as effectively as

in-chair bleaching procedures.

How does the system

create the whitening effect?

Photodynamic light which is

selectively absorbed by the gel.

The active ingredients of the gel break

down the discoloured molecules.

Is the whitening gel acidic

or alkaline?

Alkaline. Acidic gel comes with a risk

of damaging gums and tooth roots.

Slightly acidic.

Does it dehydrate the

teeth during the whitening

process?

No. There is no dehydration of the

teeth.

There is potential for dehydration

with incorrect application.

Can it treat dark teeth that

have had a root filled?

If there is only one dark tooth there

are other more suitable treatments

that your dentist can discuss with you

If there is only one dark tooth there

are other more suitable treatments

that your dentist can discuss with you

What are the costs involved

and will I get a health fund

rebate?

Total cost is $600. Most health funds do

not pay towards tooth whitening unless

you have absolute top cover. Item code

is 118 per tooth ($600 divided by the

number of teeth treated).

$130 per arch so $260 for both upper

and lower arch. Item code is 119 per

arch. Some funds pay towards this

but you will need to check with your

individual fund.

6

TEETH WHITENING OPTIONS FROM MULLUMBIMBY DENTAL CENTRE

During your initial appointment, we will carefully assess the current condition of your oral health while

assessing your suitability for whitening. The following factors are pivotal to the success of your treatment:

• Gum health

• Existing restorations

• Presence of disease and decay

• Tooth sensitivity and thickness of the enamel

The above factors will also influence which treatment option will work best for you, the take-home kit or

the in-chair procedure.

It is important to realise that the gel needs to be in direct contact with the enamel to be effective so a

professional clean and polish is often required before commencing any tooth whitening procedure to

achieve optimal results.

7

Take-home teeth whitening kit including custom made trays

Our take-home teeth whitening kits let you perform the treatment in the comfort of your own home and at

your own convenience. We will take impressions of your teeth so that we can fabricate custom-made trays

for you. You then use these trays to apply our professional teeth whitening solution to the teeth for 20

minutes per day. This method is much more gradual than the in-chair whitening, but it will achieve a similar

result though this time frame will vary depending on the starting shade of the teeth and patients need to

have realistic expectations but the dentist will discuss the expected results at the initial consultation.

8

In-chair teeth whitening in our practice

Improve the colour of your smile while you relax in the dental chair. This is a one-hour professional teeth

whitening treatment that is performed by one of our dental professionals in the comfort of our modern

dental practice. It is a fast, simple and often remarkably effective treatment that helps to whiten your teeth

dramatically. It is completely harmless to tooth enamel, composites, and all other dental work.

Unlike the take-home kit, our dentists perform every aspect of the process which means no fuss for you.

The process is quick and follows these steps:

• Your gums soft tissues are protected with an isolation barrier

• The dentist applies a series of teeth whitening gel to your teeth

• The applications work at 3×15 -minutes over a one-hour period while you can rest comfortably in the

dental chair

• After roughly an hour, your treatment is complete, and you will have a much whiter smile.

The in-chair whitening process is sometimes preferred by patients as it is a faster process and our

dentists perform every aspect of the treatment in a one-hour appointment with immediate results.

9

Get it right with Mullumbimby Dental Centre

The best way to discover if and which teeth whitening treatment is right for you is to arrange a

consultation with one of our dental professionals. They will be able to assess the state of your teeth,

identify any extreme sensitivity, determine enamel thickness and any presence of tooth decay and assess

previous restorations which might make you unsuitable for this particular treatment but can discuss other

more appropriate treatments with you.

As one of the premier dental clinics in the Northern Rivers area, we offer a vast range of treatments at

our contemporary facility. When it comes to practicing excellent dentistry, for us it isn’t simply about

the end result; it’s about the process. The comfort of our patients is paramount, which is why we focus

on dentistry that is as comfortable and pain-free as possible. We strive to perform even the simplest of

procedures with the highest level of care, so that you can look forward to your visits with us.

One last word of warning

It is important to note that teeth whitening products should always be administered by a professional as

they can assess your discolouration and prescribe you with the whitening treatment that suits you best.

Legislation means that only dentists can issue the more powerful whitening products. These are not

permitted to be sold over the counter or dispensed by beauty therapists. This means a more effective

teeth whitening treatment and better results without endangering your smile.

DECIDING WHICH TREATMENT IS BEST FOR YOU

CONTACT US TODAYCall our office on

02 6684 2644

mullumdental.com.au

100 Stuart Street, Mullumbimby NSW 2482