Teeth Whitening – An Affordable And Effective Way To A More Attractive Smile

Ask a Canterbury dentist about this popular cosmetic treatment

There was a time when we simply accepted that our teeth looked less attractive as we grew older. Most people’s teeth would discolour and take on a yellowish shade.

This was often accentuated by the fact that, at one time, many people in the UK smoked.

Times change though and whilst some still do smoke, it is in ever declining numbers. People too, are generally more aware of their appearance and are prepared to take action to improve it rather than simply leave it to the ravages of time.

Whilst sweating it out in a gym or pounding the early morning streets can help to tone the body and improve our fitness, there is an easier way to give yourself a more youthful appearance by whitening those teeth that are not as bright as they once used to be. The most effective and safest way of doing this is to have a teeth whitening procedure at Bradley and Partners Dental and Implant Clinic.

What are the benefits?

There are clear and obvious benefits to having a whiter set of teeth; namely, their appearance. A whiter, brighter smile in itself is enough to lift our spirits a little, especially after what has been a difficult time for many of us. Others will notice the improvement too and, as it is said that people are attracted initially to a nice smile, you may find yourself attracting new friends.

Although most people do have a teeth whitening procedure to improve their smile, many of our Canterbury patients have told us that they have also found a new self confidence and no longer felt the need to avoid smiling in public for fear of revealing a set of dull and discoloured teeth.

How affordable is it?

All cosmetic dental treatments have to be paid for privately and are not available on the NHS. Whilst this may be unfortunate, it is the realities of economics and the priority of the NHS has to be on health issues and not improving how we look. Having said that, teeth whitening is affordable for a growing number of people and especially if you take advantage of the finance plans that we offer to our patients, providing that they meet certain criteria.

For those wondering whether to go ahead or not, it is worth remembering that the results of a teeth whitening treatment will last for several months or more and can make a significant difference to your life. We are always happy to talk to our patients about any concerns, including financial, that they may have when considering this popular cosmetic dental treatment.

How much improvement will I see?

To some degree, this will depend on the initial colour of your teeth and your expectations.  Before any treatment starts, we will examine your teeth and discuss what you hope to achieve and find the best way to help you do that. In some cases, where discolouration or staining is too severe, we may suggest that porcelain dental veneers are fitted instead as a longer term solution. Generally though, the whiteness of your teeth is likely to be improved by up to eight shades and this will make a significant improvement to your smile. If you are concerned that your smile will be too white and unnatural looking, don’t worry. This treatment can be adjusted and if you wish for a more subtle improvement, we can amend the treatment to achieve just that.

Are there any side effects?

There is only one known side effect to this treatment, and where it occurs  it is usually relatively mild.  Some people do find that they have extra sensitivity in their teeth for a short period following the treatment. Even when this does occur, you should expect it to be fairly mild and also temporary, with your teeth returning to normal in a short period of time.

It should be noted that whilst there is no evidence that teeth whitening is harmful for pregnant women or anyone breastfeeding, legislation has been passed which prevents this treatment from being carried out where this situation applies.

Bradley and Partners Dental and Implant Clinic is pleased to be able to provide this treatment for our Canterbury patients and our team is always happy to arrange a consultation should you wish to discuss any aspect of it with us. We can also discuss finance plans to help you repay the cost of the treatment over a period of time to help you spread the cost of having whiter teeth and an improved smile.

If you would like to find out more, or to book a consultation with one of our cosmetic dentists, please call us today on 01227 463529.