Teeth Whitening in Toorak
CHOOSE TOORAK DENTAL STUDIO
Professional whitening can address tooth discolouration caused by lifestyle factors and aging. If you've noticed changes to your tooth shade, professional teeth whitening may be suitable for you.
Lifestyle habits, age, and genetics can all contribute to tooth discolouration. Toorak Dental Studio offers professional teeth whitening treatments to address these concerns. Results vary between individuals, and your dentist will discuss treatment suitability and realistic expectations during your consultation.
This cosmetic dental procedure is elective in nature and may not be appropriate for all patients. Individual results and restoration longevity differ significantly between patients. For comprehensive Treatment risks and considerations, please visit our Treatment risks page here
Choose laser whitening for immediate results
The process includes a thorough clean, an LED light and the application of a dental grade teeth whitening gel. While the in-char teeth whitening procedure is 90 minutes, the complete treatment process includes pre-treatment assessment, the procedure, and post-treatment sensitivity management over several days. We’re committed to making simple cosmetic enhancements more accessible, and also experts in gum lifts, to help you achieve your aesthetic objectives.
The industry’s most convenient in-chair teeth whitening
Toorak Dental Studio offers ZOOM! professional teeth whitening, an in-chair treatment that may help address tooth discolouration and staining. Treatment results vary considerably between patients based on your starting tooth shade, the type of staining present, and how your teeth respond to whitening. Some patients see improvements of 3-5 shades, while others experience more subtle changes. The treatment is completed in a single 90-minute appointment. Your dentist will assess your suitability and discuss realistic expectations during consultation.
Teeth Whitening before and after
The treatment outcome shown above is unique to this patient. Results, risks, complications, and recovery timeframes differ for each individual and depend on the specific procedure. Only an in-person dental consultation can determine treatment suitability based on your personal needs and circumstances. For detailed Treatment Risk Information & Considerations, please visit here.
Are you a good candidate?
Professional teeth whitening is a common cosmetic dental treatment, though it's not suitable for everyone due to the bleaching agents used.
You should avoid or postpone whitening if you:
- Are under 16 years old
- Are pregnant or breastfeeding
- Have untreated tooth decay or gum disease
- Have severe tooth sensitivity
- Have extensive dental restorations on front teeth (these won't whiten)
- Are allergic to peroxide
Book a consultation with Toorak Dental Studio to determine whether you're a suitable candidate and to address any dental health issues before treatment.
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What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that uses bleaching agents to lighten the color of tooth enamel. The treatment addresses surface stains and some deeper discoloration caused by foods, drinks, tobacco, aging, and certain medications.
Professional teeth whitening uses hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide as the active ingredient. These chemicals penetrate tooth enamel and break down stain molecules through oxidation, making teeth appear whiter and brighter.
When might someone need teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is an elective cosmetic procedure, not a medical necessity. It's a personal choice based on aesthetic preferences.
Tooth color naturally varies and changes due to age, diet (coffee, tea, wine), tobacco use, genetics, and certain medications. Many people are satisfied with their natural tooth color, while others prefer to lighten it.
People commonly consider whitening when they're dissatisfied with their tooth shade, notice increased yellowing over time, or have significant color variation between teeth.
If you're interested in whitening, consult with a dentist to determine whether you're a suitable candidate, understand what results are realistic for your tooth type, and discuss whether the investment aligns with your goals.
What causes teeth to turn yellow and tooth staining?
Tooth yellowing is a natural part of aging as enamel thins and reveals the yellowish dentin beneath. Several factors can accelerate discoloration:
- Tobacco - Tar and nicotine cause significant yellowing and brown stains
- Diet - Coffee, tea, red wine, berries, curry, and dark-colored foods contain staining compounds
- Genetics - Natural tooth color varies; some people genetically have darker or more yellow-toned teeth
- Trauma - Dental injuries can cause internal bleeding, darkening affected teeth
- Grinding - Chronic teeth grinding wears enamel and exposes yellower dentin beneath
- Medications - Tetracycline antibiotics, antihistamines, and some blood pressure medications can cause discoloration
- Dental work - Root canals and certain dental materials may darken teeth over time
The type and cause of discoloration affects whether whitening treatment will be effective for your specific case.
Extrinsic staining
Two different types of staining can appear on teeth - extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic staining refers to the environmental factors that can affect your teeth, such as plaque build-up from food, drinks and smoking. Long-term dental plaque can lead to more than just discolouration, as it can wear down the enamel on your teeth and leave them fragile.
Other types of extrinsic staining include tobacco/tar build-up from smoking, when a brown/black stain forms around the neck of your teeth, and tannin staining, which is from the consumption of drinks such as coffee and tea.
Intrinsic staining
Intrinsic staining refers to staining that occurs while your teeth are still developing, and quite often, these stains cannot be removed by mechanical means and may lead to more yellowed teeth as a person ages.
Examples of intrinsic staining include tooth wear or erosion, a continuous loss of enamel, and dental trauma, which can cause discolouration by pulp necrosis, which is essentially the ‘death’ of some nerves inside your tooth causing discolouration.
Treatment options
In-chair tooth whitening
There are many different ways you can treat discoloured teeth, with teeth whitening treatment coming in the form of ‘in-chair’ treatments at your local dental practice, take-home treatments and even tooth whitening toothpaste.
Professional teeth whitening uses dental-grade formulas applied by qualified practitioners. Your dentist carefully protects your gums and lips during treatment and monitors the procedure to ensure minimal discomfort, and effective results.
Take-home tooth whitening
If you don’t go to your dentist to have your teeth whitened, there are several options on the market in the form of take-home teeth whitening kits. These can vary in form, from teeth whitening strips to various polishes or gels you can apply to your teeth.
Home teeth whitening solutions remove surface stains on your teeth through abrasion or through the use of chemicals, while others use silica as a way of polishing the surface enamel of your teeth.
Take-home whitening kits can be effective if done properly but are better suited to maintaining and reduced discolouration after having them professionally whitened by your dentist.
Tooth whitening toothpaste
Another option that has boomed in recent years on the market is tooth whitening toothpaste, which can remove surface stains on your teeth - though this can be abrasive.
The toothpaste contains chemicals that can remove stains and make your teeth appear whiter, but it’s important to note that only using toothpaste to whiten your teeth isn’t the best solution. Toothpaste cannot alter the natural colour of your teeth the same way that professional teeth whitening can, and continued use may make your teeth more prone to staining.
What is Zoom In-Chair Whitening?
Zoom is a teeth whitening process widely recognised as one of the best in the world, used in multiple countries as an industry-leading practice. Zoom in-chair whitening uses the Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp to accelerate the whitening process and activate the hydrogen peroxide whitening solution.
Activating the hydrogen peroxide begins a chemical procedure where the dentin and enamel of your teeth are bleached while maintaining the structure of your teeth for maximum safety and security.
The Zoom in-chair whitening process
The process doesn’t last longer than an hour, but before your teeth whitening procedure, you must have your teeth professionally cleaned to ensure the best results. Your teeth and gums are protected in the first instance before applying the Zoom hydrogen peroxide.
The hydrogen peroxide solution then works together with the Zoom Power Lamp to break down the stains and discolouration in your teeth, with the solution remaining in place on your teeth for 15 minutes with the lamp concentrated on you - during which time you could watch TV or listen to music if you like!
The gel is applied for 3 separate 15-minute sessions, which may prove difficult for people who struggle with their gag reflex and anxiety. Once the procedure is completed, sensitivity-reducing fluoride paste is applied to your teeth.
What to expect after a teeth-whitening procedure
After your procedure, you will be sent home with a special aftercare kit to look after your teeth. At the same time, your dentist will provide you with aftercare instructions, likely involving avoiding certain food and drinks such as coffee, red wine and carbonated drinks.
You’ll also have a touch-up kit that will maximise the effects of your teeth whitening procedure, which your expert dentist will give you instructions on how to use.
Maintaining your freshly gleaming teeth is also important, so you may be instructed to use whitening toothpaste and stick to a sound oral hygiene regimen.
How long will whitening results last?
Every person is different, and the results of your teeth whitening procedure can vary depending on several factors, environmental and otherwise. If you’re a smoker and regularly drink tea, coffee and red wine, you’re more likely to see a reduction in the length of your white teeth.
Zoom teeth whitening procedures usually last anywhere between 6 and 12 months, which of course, you can maximise if you take good care of your teeth and maintain your whiteness at home.
How can I maintain my white smile after my treatment?
You can do plenty of things to maintain your white smile after your teeth whitening treatment.
- Avoid tea and coffee - even if it’s a vital part of your daily life, try as much as possible to cut back and substitute these drinks as they’re a common source of teeth staining
- Avoid dark cooking sauce - even tomatoes contain pigments that can stain your teeth, so limit how much you have tomato pasta sauce, soy sauce and barbecue sauce
- Avoid acidic foods and fruits - Fruits and juices such as lemons, oranges and mandarins can stain your teeth and break down your enamel, making you more susceptible to staining
- Quit smoking -
- Good oral hygiene - brushing and flossing regularly goes without saying, and also consider using teeth whitening toothpaste to remove any new stains before they take hold
- Maintain your teeth - as well as maintaining your teeth at home, ensure you have consistent check-ins with your dentist, and consider touch-up treatments every six months or so
Have a question about teeth whitening?
Laser teeth whitening is a fast, professional whitening treatment carried out by our qualified and accredited dental team. It is a popular treatment in Melbourne and across the world, thanks to its ability to remove staining and discolouration caused by aging or lifestyle factors like smoking and drinking dark-coloured drinks.
Depending on the individual, results can last between six months and one year, and patients can repeat the process once the teeth begin to dull again.
Laser teeth whitening uses a therapeutic dose of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide-based gel to provide more effective results than those achievable by over-the-counter whitening products.
The entire process takes just over an hour and includes applying a protective barrier gel using a mouthguard and activating the photoreceptors with an LED light, which helps the gel to penetrate the teeth more easily. The process yields immediate, dramatic results, depending on how stained the teeth were before the treatment.
ZOOM! teeth whitening isn’t suitable for everyone - and the safety of our clients is our number one priority. The whitening gel used in ZOOM! treatments contain hydrogen peroxide, which isn’t suitable for nursing or pregnant women.
Over-the-counter products contain this ingredient in smaller quantities, but it is still advisable that pregnant women or those nursing should avoid them.
Professional teeth whitening is considered safe, and while many of our patients don’t experience side effects after laser teeth whitening, there are some outcomes you should be aware of. Some possible side effects include:
- Tooth sensitivity - your teeth may feel more sensitive after the treatment, especially when you eat or drink hot or cold things. Your dentist can recommend some products to treat sensitivity.
- Gum irritation - sometimes, gums can react to the whitening gel, although every precaution is taken to ensure this does not occur. This side effect tends to go away quickly, but if you’re experiencing prolonged gingival irritation, get in touch with your dental professional.
While it varies between each dental practice, the average cost of professional, in-chair teeth whitening in Melbourne is between $600-$2000. Take-home solutions cost around $300-$500, and over-the-counter products (considering the cheapest would be tooth whitening toothpaste) could be anything from $5 to $200.
Teeth whitening success can sometimes be determined by how many shades whiter your teeth end up being after your procedure. While some people see their teeth up to 10 shades whiter, the average results see between 3 and 7 shades difference.
Zoom! whitening can lighten your teeth by 5-8 shades, frequently proving to be the best choice on the market and worldwide.
The simple answer is no - standard whitening procedures should not be used on porcelain crowns, veneers or any bonding materials once in your mouth.
The whitening would make no real difference and could have a negative effect. A common practice is to whiten your natural teeth before your crowns are fitted, offering a better shade match and whiter-looking teeth.
While costs vary across dental practices, Zoom! teeth whitening costs between $500-$1000 for an in-chair treatment session that lasts around an hour. The Zoom! take-home treatment costs around $350.
Contact your local expert at Toorak Dental Studio for pricing information - and don’t forget we offer individual payment plans for our cherished customers.
Whitening your teeth can be done in various ways, from in-chair professional treatment at your dental surgery, which involves professional grade whitening gel and the most innovative light (or laser) technology, to using over-the-counter products such as tooth whitening toothpaste.
The most effective way to have and maintain a healthy, white smile is to have a professional procedure at your dentist, then maintain your white teeth at home with frequent top-up treatments.
While the utmost care is taken when whitening your teeth with a dental expert, there are always some risks related to teeth whitening products as you may be sensitive to some ingredients.
It’s important to remember that some over-the-counter and take-home products could leave you more at risk of potential side effects. Sensitivity and burns to your gums and lips are particular risks, which is why it’s important to enlist your dentist's assistance and expert advice.
The active ingredient in teeth whitening solutions is almost always hydrogen peroxide, although it is sometimes delivered as carbamide peroxide. Carbamide peroxide is an ingredient that breaks down in contact with water to release hydrogen peroxide.
It is a safe and effective ingredient that helps clean and whiten teeth and remove stains, and is used in professional solutions around the world.
Whitening toothpastes often contain small amounts of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide in addition to abrasive ingredients, which help break down stains on your teeth but may cause enamel damage with continued use.
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