Teeth whitening, Raleigh
Whitening that is planned, not just sold.
Professional whitening uses a peroxide gel, stronger than the drugstore kind, to lighten the colour inside the enamel. It works on most natural teeth and on no fillings, crowns, veneers or bonding at all, which is the first thing to know and the thing most advertising leaves out.
At Larkspur whitening is planned around sensitivity and around whatever else you are considering, because if veneers or bonding are coming, the whitening comes first so the porcelain is matched to the final colour. Results vary.
- In the studio in one visit, or custom trays at home over two weeks
- Who it works for, and who it does not, below
- Sensitivity managed with a plan, not an apology
- Done first when veneers or bonding are coming
- No restorations whiten; we check yours before you start
Or call (919) 555-0137 Monday to Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
Who it works for
Whitening is for enamel. Nothing else changes colour.
Not for
Crowns, veneers, bonding and fillings
They are the colour they were made. Whitening around them makes them stand out, so we plan their replacement or leave the whitening.
Grey or banded staining from inside the tooth
Tetracycline bands, a tooth darkened after an injury or a root canal. These lighten little with gel and are usually veneer or internal-bleaching cases.
Very sensitive teeth, untreated
Not a no, but not yet. We treat the sensitivity first and use a slower protocol.
Gum disease, decay or cracks
Gel finds its way into any opening and hurts. These are treated first.
Good for
Yellow or brown surface colour
From coffee, tea, wine and years. This is what whitening does best.
Teeth that have simply darkened with age
Enamel thins and the yellower layer beneath shows through. Whitening lightens it well.
Before bonding or veneers
So the composite or porcelain is matched to the colour you will keep, not the colour you are leaving.
Before a date on the calendar
A single in-studio visit about two weeks before, with trays to top up.
In the studio or at home
Two ways to do the same thing, compared plainly.
| Question | In the studio | Custom trays at home |
|---|---|---|
| Time | About ninety minutes, one visit | Thirty to sixty minutes a day for about two weeks |
| Gel | High strength, applied by Keisha with the gums protected | Lower strength, placed by you in trays made from a scan of your teeth |
| Result | Visible the same day; settles over a week | Gradual; the same end point, in our experience, for most people |
| Sensitivity | More likely for a day or two | Less likely; easy to pause |
| Top-ups | Trays and gel provided to keep the result | The same trays, for years |
| Best for | A date on the calendar, a strong start | Sensitive teeth, control, a slower budget |
Many people do both: a studio visit, then trays. We say which we would choose for your teeth at the consultation. In-studio light-activated systems such as Zoom are one option among several; we do not name a system as our service.
Sensitivity
Sensitivity, in plain words.
What it is
Peroxide passes through the enamel and briefly irritates the nerve. It shows up as short, sharp zings to cold, usually in the first day or two.
Who gets it
People with thin enamel, exposed root surfaces, recent cracks or a history of sensitive teeth. We look for all four before you start.
What we do
A desensitising paste for two weeks beforehand, a lower gel strength or shorter sessions where it is likely, and gel in the trays that calms the nerve afterwards.
What you do
Tell us. A pause of a few days costs nothing. Pushing through does not make the result whiter.
Whitening before veneers
Why the whitening comes first when porcelain is coming.
Porcelain and composite are made to a shade and stay that shade. Your own teeth around them can still whiten. So if you are considering bonding on two teeth or veneers on four, we whiten the whole smile first, let the colour settle for two weeks, and only then match the porcelain at the window with Anders.
Done the other way round, the new work looks right on the day and wrong a year later. This is a sequencing decision and it is written into the plan.
Wondering whether your teeth will whiten at all? Call. Priya will ask three questions and tell you whether to book a whitening visit or a consultation.
(919) 555-0137Monday to Thursday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Friday 8:00 am to 2:00 pm
What to expect
How far it goes and how long it stays.
Results vary, and we would rather under-promise. Here is what is typical.
How white
Several shades lighter on most natural teeth. Not paper white, and not the same for everyone: enamel has a natural limit and we stop there.
How long
A year or more for most people, less with coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco. Trays and a tube of gel bring it back in a few evenings.
The first two days
Avoid anything that would stain a white shirt. The enamel is more porous than usual for about 48 hours.
Afterwards
Keisha checks the colour at the next hygiene visit and tells you honestly whether a top-up is worth it.
Before you book
Questions people ask about whitening before they book.
Anything else, call (919) 555-0137. Priya answers.
Is professional whitening worth it over strips?
Strips use a weaker gel on a one-size strip, so they lighten a little and unevenly. Professional gel is stronger, the trays fit your teeth exactly, and someone has checked your enamel, your gums and your fillings before you start. If your teeth are sound and you want a shade or two, strips are reasonable. For more than that, the studio is faster and more even.
Does whitening damage enamel?
Used as directed, with sound enamel, no. The gel does not remove enamel; it lightens colour inside it. Overuse, high strengths on thin enamel, or gel on a cracked tooth causes sensitivity and sometimes more. That is why it is planned rather than sold.
Can I whiten if I have a crown or a filling on a front tooth?
You can, but the crown or filling will not change and may then look darker than the teeth around it. We say so first and, if you want, plan to replace that restoration to the new shade afterwards.
How long before a wedding should I whiten?
About three weeks. A studio visit, a week for the colour to settle, and time to use the trays if you want a little more. Not the week of: sensitivity and a settling colour are not what you want in the photographs.
Do you whiten teeth before veneers?
Yes, always, if whitening is wanted at all. Porcelain is made to a shade and cannot be whitened later, so the natural teeth are lightened first and the veneers matched to the result. It is written into the plan as a step, not a suggestion.
Next step
Find out first whether your teeth will whiten.
Book a consultation, or a whitening visit if you already know. Either way you are told plainly what to expect before you start.