A brighter smile, without compromising on health
Over time teeth can lose their brightness: coffee, tea, red wine, smoking and the natural ageing of enamel all leave their mark. Professional tooth whitening restores a lighter, more even smile in a safe, controlled way — without harming or altering the enamel.
Why teeth darken
Discolouration has several distinct causes, and they do not all respond to treatment in the same way:
- external staining from food, drinks and smoking, deposited on the enamel surface;
- internal discolouration linked to age, trauma, excessive fluoride exposure during childhood, or certain medications (such as some antibiotics) taken during the second half of pregnancy or by children under 8;
- the natural yellowing of age, as enamel thins and the underlying dentin shows through.
This is why whitening always starts with a clinical assessment: understanding the origin of the discolouration is the first step in choosing the right technique and setting realistic expectations.
Professional techniques
At the practice we use professional whitening gels at controlled concentrations, applied while protecting your gums. Depending on the case, in-office treatment can be combined with — or replaced by — at-home whitening using custom-made trays, worn for defined periods under our supervision. Combining the two techniques often gives the most stable result.
Safety first
Performed by professionals on healthy teeth and gums, whitening is a safe treatment: the protocols we use do not damage enamel. Temporary sensitivity to cold during the treatment period is normal and resolves on its own. Aggressive do-it-yourself products or the improper use of home remedies, on the other hand, can cause real damage: a check of your teeth and gums before any whitening treatment is essential.
Before proceeding it is important to treat any carious lesions: the whitening solution could penetrate them and sensitise the innermost parts of the tooth. It is also worth knowing that whitening has no effect on exposed roots, which have no enamel, nor on existing fillings, crowns or bridges, which will keep their original colour.
