Cosmetic dentistry

There are two approaches. In-office whitening is done in a single session, supervised, with the gums protected. At-home whitening uses custom trays made from an impression of your teeth, worn a few hours a day for one to two weeks.

One point is often misunderstood: whitening acts on natural enamel only. It does not change the colour of a composite, a crown, a veneer or a bridge. If you have restorations on your front teeth, they will look darker once the teeth around them are lightened, and may need replacing to match. Better to know that before starting.

Sensitivity to hot and cold during treatment is common and usually settles within a few days.

Results vary from person to person depending on the starting condition, oral hygiene and lifestyle. No result can be guaranteed in advance. Whitening is not indicated during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or where there is untreated decay or gum disease.

A veneer is a thin shell of ceramic or composite bonded to the visible face of a front tooth. It is used to correct a shade that does not respond to whitening, a chipped tooth, an irregular shape or a small gap between two teeth.

Fitting one generally requires removing a thin layer of enamel so that the veneer does not overbuild the tooth. That step is irreversible: a tooth prepared for a veneer will always need to carry one. It is the main thing to weigh before choosing this route.

Veneers do not correct a significant alignment problem. Where the position of the teeth is the issue, orthodontics gives a more stable result and preserves the tooth — and we will tell you plainly if that is your case.

Results vary from person to person depending on the starting condition, oral hygiene and lifestyle. No result can be guaranteed in advance.