Teeth Whitening in High Wycombe | Castle Street Dental

Professional whitening uses a peroxide-based gel that is held against your teeth in custom-made trays. The gel penetrates the enamel and breaks down the chemical bonds in stain molecules, lightening the colour of the tooth without removing or damaging the enamel itself. The process is gradual, controlled and supervised by a dentist.

Both are professional take-home whitening systems using custom-made trays. Boutique is an excellent choice for general teeth whitening and typically achieves significant brightening over one to two weeks. Enlighten is a higher-strength system designed to achieve a guaranteed shade of B1, the lightest natural tooth shade, and uses a specific protocol that concludes with a final in-practice session. We recommend the most appropriate system after assessing your teeth and discussing your goals.

Yes, when carried out under dental supervision using professional-grade products. Before recommending whitening, we check for any decay, gum disease or other issues that could cause problems during treatment. Some patients experience temporary sensitivity during whitening, which typically resolves within a day or two of completing treatment. Over-the-counter products carry a higher risk of gum irritation because they are not fitted to your specific teeth.

Results depend on your starting shade, the system used and how consistently you follow the protocol. Most patients achieve a noticeably brighter result, typically several shades lighter. Enlighten is specifically designed to achieve a guaranteed B1 shade. We will give you an honest, realistic indication of the results you can expect at your consultation based on your individual teeth.

Results typically last one to two years before a top-up is needed, though this varies depending on your diet and lifestyle. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco all contribute to re-staining over time. Because we make you custom trays that you keep, maintaining your result is straightforward; you simply need replacement whitening gel for occasional top-ups.

Professional whitening is suitable for most healthy adults with naturally stained or discoloured teeth. It works best on organic staining from food, drink and lifestyle habits. It is not effective on crowns, veneers or composite restorations, which will not change colour with whitening gel. Whitening is not recommended during pregnancy or for patients with untreated decay or gum disease. We assess suitability at your consultation.

Over-the-counter whitening products sold in the UK are limited by law to a very low peroxide concentration, which produces minimal results. Stronger products available from unregulated online sources are illegal to use without professional supervision and can cause serious gum and enamel damage. Professional whitening from a dental practice is both safer and significantly more effective.

Contact the practice to arrange a cosmetic consultation. We will assess your teeth, discuss your goals and recommend the most suitable whitening system. If you are ready to proceed, your custom trays can usually be made within a week or two of your consultation appointment.