Archive for the ‘Q. Teeth Whitening’ Category

Am I being charged the correct amount for my whitening treatment?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Q.

You very kindly answered my question regarding not receiving Enlighten product but said that the cost quoted was significantly less than Enlighten. Can you advise, whether all things considered the cost of £450 represents value for money. For this I have received to date/will receive:
Initial visit to dentist when impressions were taken
1/2 hour initial treatment at dentist (assume with stronger product)
10 syringes of 16% Polanight to be used for 14 nights
Further visit to dentist after 1 week with potential for further 1/2 hr treatment at this visit
Further visit to dentist after 2 weeks with further 1/2 hour treatment.
Polanight can be purchased on line for £70 for custom made mades and £30 for 10 syringes of 16%. Therefore being charged £350 for total of 4 visits and provision of stronger gel (prob 2 syringes worth). As I have never had private treatment before at a dentist I am not sure if this charge is reasonable?


Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

Should I be concerned by Hydrogen Peroxide used in whitening systems?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Q.

Dear Dr

I had my teeth whitened at my dentist and she used the reputible company Voco system on me. I was concerned because i wasnt aware that Hydrogen Peroxide was used which is an acid…my question is why do dentists use an acid to whiten teeth? Do your teeth reminilize? I thought enamel didnt heal and i found out that the PH used was 4 and this was in house for 20 mins is this bad? Im worried? Have i got a right to be?

Would appreciate your best advise thankyou for your time,


Dr Safeer Butt S3 Dental – Synergistic Smile Studios Clinics in Kent, Surrey & Sussex Web: www.s3dental.co.uk Tel: 020 8398 6322 View My Profile Dr Butt

Brushing my teeth doesn’t seem to make them any whiter, should I have me teeth whitened?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Q.

hello, i have a problem with my teeth, i brush my teeth twice, sometimes even three times a day however i cant get my teeth to look white, i am not bothrered if it look just a bit white or really white but i just dont understand why i cant get it to look white after brushing my teeth so many times, can you find a solution for me please or tell me what i can do, i changed my toothpaste and always change the brush but dont seem to make any difference, i am thinking to get my teeth whitened but can i avoid that and use something to make it look whiter, i really need your help


Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

I have had white spots on my teeth since I was little, can I do anything about them?

Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Q.

I have two white spots on my front two teeth. I’ve had them ever since my permanent teeth grew in, so they are not due to wearing braces or anything. I would really like to get rid of these white spots. I’ve tried crest whitestrips at home and they do help to make my teeth whiter and they do help blend them a little but I feel like I need to use the strips continuously but I do not wish to damage my teeth. So, I was wondering if there were any methods of doing so at the dentist which aren’t that costly.I’ve heard of microabrasion.. Is that a good option for me? What would be the cost of doing microabrasion on two teeth? And also, do you think these spots are too deep to be rid of? I do not know why I got these spots in the first place. Advice would be much appreciated.


Dr Sunita Verma Sparkle Dental Boutique 311 Boston Road, Hanwell, London, W7 2AT Web: www.sparkledentalboutique.co.uk Tel: 020 8567 4344 View My Profile Dr Verma

My dentist hasn’t given me my full Enlighten Whitening Kit

Thursday, August 18th, 2011
Q.

I have been to my local dentist for teeth whitening and he recommended Enlighten. Cost £450. I have had the specially made trays made and I went back today to collect. They are very comfortable. However, the gel I have been provided is not Enlighten but Polanight at 16% strength. Am I being mis-sold? When I queried the product, my dentist advised that Enlighten is more about the well made trays (which I have) and the gel products are the same. I am starting my 2 weeks overnight treatment from tonight and the dentist has asked to see me in 7 days to assess progress. Any advice gratefully received.


Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

What is the best way for me to whiten my smile?

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011
Q.

Hi, I am interested in some information about teeth whitening. I am only 19 years old but my teeth have a slightly discoloured yellow appearance. I have had problems with enamel erosion, mainly on the four teeth in the front of my mouth, I have read enamel eroision can affect the colour of teeth as it wears away the whiter enamel. I also have translucent areas in a few places and a couple of small chips in these areas. One of my front teeth has a small area of composite bonding that replaced a more significant chip. I have made significant changes in my diet and eating habits to stop the erosion becoming worse and my dentist has said that the teeth will be okay as they are, however the appearance bothers me, particuarly the yellow discolouration. Honestly I can not really remember if my teeth used to be any whiter as i assume discoloration is a slow process and i only became aware of it recently, I have also read that some people have naturally more yellow coloured enamel which could be the case for me.
I have done some research on the different methods of tooth whitening and have read about lumineers. These seem good however the price seems to be very high, (only being 19 price obviously is an issue) I assume these can be used to cover the small chips as well as changing the colour of the teeth. I would rather steer clear of conventional veneers as they are more destructive to the tooth and i am still very young. I have also looked at home teeth whitenng kits available from dentists however I have read about possible nasty side-effects including increased risk of cancer…? Also what would the effect be of this on my area of composite bonding, would it lighten aswell? Having a hollywood smile is not important to me, i would really just like my teeth a few shades whiter, and possibly have the couple of chips and translucent areas sorted out, I have become very strict with my self about my teeth and now take very good care of them, however damage has already been done. I would like to have these things sorted out so i can start looking after a nice set of teeth!
Your advice would be very helpful, thank you for your time. 


Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

I’m worried that teeth whitening will ruin my teeth.

Friday, June 17th, 2011
Q.

Dear Dentist

My question is regards to whitening � Is Hydrogen Peroxide bad for your teeth or whitening in general does it cause cavities if you used say 30% in house bleaching?
I am confused because it is a weak acid so why do we use it on whitening?

Does a high percent of Hydrogen Peroxide not cause cracks in teeth or make them matte/loose their shine?

How does whitening work? thank you for your time 


Dr Safeer Butt S3 Dental – Synergistic Smile Studios Clinics in Kent, Surrey & Sussex Web: www.s3dental.co.uk Tel: 020 8398 6322 View My Profile Dr Butt

Can I whiten my cap with a home whitening kit?

Monday, June 6th, 2011
Q.

I have a cap on my front tooth due to a childhood prank,I have slightly stained teeth with the cap tooth being a slightly different colour.I am thinking about buying a home whitening kit to imrove the teeth,will the product affect this tooth? is there a chance that the cap will never be the same colour as the rest of th teeth?I was also told that any teeth whitening products cause long term damage to the tooth,is that so?

Many thanks


Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

My daughter’s tooth is grey, can teeth whitening help?

Monday, June 6th, 2011
Q.

Dear Dr I recently asked the following question Q. One of my 15 year old daughter’s front teeth is dark grey. Her dentist says it is as a result of bleeeding inside the tooth, but it is still alive and recommended tooth whitening (smile-x) on just that one tooth. The tooth is not stained; the discolouration has happened inside of the tooth and so I don’t see how whitening the outside of the tooth will help. Is there any method of possibly whitening the inside of the tooth? I do not want her to have veneers. What is your opinion? Thank you for your time.
A. You cannot have internal bleaching on a tooth that has not had root canal treatment. I recommend you have this tooth x-rayed and ask your dentist to do a pulp test. If the reason for the tooth discolouration is internal bleeding, the tooth is definately dead. In this case it need to have a Root Canal, you then can try internal bleaching.

Thank you very much for your reply. 

Our dentist says the discolouration must be as a result of a knock, possibly some years before. However, my daughter has never fallen or hit that tooth. It was the same colour as all her other teeth before orthodontic treatment started and the discolouration only became apparent the day her fixed retainers were removed. During treatment, following tightening of the retainers, she often had pain for a few days and also experienced occasional bleeding around the gum line in that area. Could it be the orthodontic treatment itself that caused this problem?

The dentist has x-rayed the tooth and tested it by blowing cold air on it. I am not sure whether a pulp test was done, but the dentist assures me that the tooth is not dead and that a root canal is not necessary. Therefore I presume that internal bleaching is not an option. I am suspicious that the whitening suggested by our dentist would just make the tooth look a brighter grey and possibly show up even more. Also, the dentist said she would have to do this treatment every two months for the rest of her life, which is quite a daunting commitment for someone so young.

I would very much appreciate any advice you could give me. Thank you.


Dr Mark Hughes Harley Street Dental Studio 52 Harley Street, London W1G 9PY Web: www.harleystreetdentalstudio.com Tel: 020 7636 5981 View My Profile Dr Hughes

Can I have a veneer put on my sharp canine tooth?

Monday, June 6th, 2011
Q.

Hello Doctor

I have a sharp canine tooth which is not aesthetically pleasing and I wondered if it would be safe to have a porcelain veneer put on it?

Additionally, my two front teeth are longer than I’d like them to be and wondered if it was safe to have they filed down and I wondered how much that would cost on average and if it would cause any future problems?

Lastly, is teeth whitening safe?

thank you for your time 


Dr Sunita Verma Sparkle Dental Boutique 311 Boston Road, Hanwell, London, W7 2AT Web: www.sparkledentalboutique.co.uk Tel: 020 8567 4344 View My Profile Dr Verma