Teeth Whitening – Kenmore Dentist Says Beware

The Risks Of Tooth Whitening 

Teeth whitening and its risks when done at beauty salons or using DIY kits explained by Kenmore dentist Dr Rachel Hall.

Tooth whitening should be provided by a dental professional, tooth whitening carried out by none dental personal carries risks of harm.

“A routine teeth-whitening procedure at a local beauty salon left an Adelaide woman bruised, blistered and unable to brush her teeth for a month.”

Unfortunately, this lady is one of many victims of untrained retailers who offer cheap whitening procedures to lure customers, dentists say.

Even though she was in instant pain the beautician told her it was normal so the bleach was put back over her teeth while the lady sat there in pain for 30minutes. The procedure, which she had performed after being given a gift voucher at work resulted in badly cut gums and it was a month before she could brush her teeth properly.

Dental Associations are warning consumers that they are putting themselves at risk by having their teeth whitened by non-dentists and are calling for tighter legislation and regulations when it comes to tooth whitening.

Teeth Whitening Kenmore Dentist

For me, tooth whitening should either only be carried out by a dental professional or by a highly trained registered person following a full dental check-up that certifies that the teeth and gums are dentally fit and suitable for whitening.

The use of peroxide at unsafe levels could result in laceration and blistering of gums, damaged enamel and discolouration of the teeth.

If you have an untreated cavity and bleach gel is applied to your teeth this can result in severe pain and an increased likelihood of complications such as the need for root canal treatment.

It is very important that any potential dental issues are addressed prior to tooth whitening being performed to avoid complications.

Are My Teeth Suitable For Whitening?

Be aware not all teeth are suitable for or respond to tooth whitening and results can be variable.

For example, if you have fillings or large composite facings on the front teeth these will not change colour like your teeth do which can result in patchy looking teeth.

Crowns and restorations made out of porcelain do not respond to whitening.

Some teeth such as those that have had a root canal and are internally dark or are heavily discoloured do not normally lift in colour and need to be treated with alternative methods which only your dentist can provide.

Teeth Whitening At Evolve Dentist Kenmore

At Evolve Dental Healing in Kenmore, we prefer the use of professional home bleach kits as it is a more gradual and gentle technique which is less likely to lead to pain and complications.

Remember when you are deciding where to have your teeth whitened – if you’re getting bargain basement prices, you’re probably getting a bargain basement service as well.

The profession is seeing more and more people come in with more problems with industrial use of teeth bleachers.

If you do decide to have a whitening procedure done at a beauty shop then the lack of an oral examination and or use gum protectors should ring alarm bells for consumers. Ask lots of questions and if you do not feel comfortable or satisfied with the answers seek a second opinion.

If you feel any pain at all it is not normal, terminate the procedure and go to a dentist for advice.