Esque | Beauty Health Wellbeing

Laser Teeth Whitening

Kathy Romback – Sparkling Teeth - Laser Teeth Whitening

Kathy is a highly experienced teeth whitening specialist and has been holding clinics at Esqué for nearly 2 years. Founder of Sparkling Teeth, Kathy works throughout the Midlands transforming smiles by taking away years of staining and discolouration to return teeth to their original, sparkly state. Sparkling Teeth use the latest, non-invasive, hi-tech equipment that is also used by dentists and orthodontists to safely and painlessly whiten teeth by up to 13 shades and is much more powerful and effective than any ‘off the shelf’ whitening system. Unlike some teeth whitening treatments, Sparkling Teeth do not use any form of peroxide but instead use chlorine dioxide which is safe, non-toxic and non-carcinogenic. With over 3 years experience in the industry, Kathy has treated well over 400 clients.

“I love my job,” says Kathy “I love to make a difference and see the look on my client’s faces when they look in the mirror after the treatment is finished. It really makes it all worthwhile. Teeth whitening is becoming very popular in the UK now and prices are starting to come down as the treatment becomes more widely available which is making it affordable for everyone.”

NEXT CLINIC DATES
Tuesday, 27th May 9-7.30pm

EVERYTHING YOU WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT TEETH WHITENING

Everyone wants whiter teeth, but if you haven't been blessed with a perfect set you can give nature a helping hand with the latest technology.
In a recent survey, a staggering 99.7% of those asked believed that a smile is one of our most important social assets. Further more, 96% believe an attractive smile makes someone more appealing to the opposite sex. Most people smile about 50 times a day, so working on that ‘perfect smile’ is more important than you might think!

When asked what makes a smile unattractive, the top answer was, “discolored, yellow, or stained teeth.” There’s a lot of help out there for our skin, body, soul and mind…….but isn’t it about time we spent some time turning back the clock for our teeth?

What causes our teeth to stain & discolour?
Your genes determine the colour of your teeth, but they do darken with age and become stained by certain foods & drinks like coffee, tea, red wine – and let’s not forget cigarettes. Teeth can also darken as a result of injury and, while it is less common, some prescription medications, if taken when the teeth are forming, have been shown to cause staining of the tooth structure.

Cosmetic dentistry has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and television programmes like ‘10 years younger’ have helped to change the face of our traditional image of the dentist. The weekly makeovers show amazing transformations with the help of veneers but with costs between £150 and £750 per tooth, this is not an option for many of us.

Help is at hand however as cosmetic tooth whitening is on the increase and you can now find the solution at your local salon, dentist or pharmacy with many different methods suiting all budgets.

Laser Teeth Whitening:
Available at salons and dentists, this intensive whitening treatment takes about an hour and uses special, high strength lightening gels with a gentle, blue laser light to activate the ingredients quickly and safely. A protective barrier is applied around the gumline and then the gel is painted onto the front of your teeth. The blue light is placed in front of your teeth for about 10 minutes to activate the whitening process. This is repeated 3 or 4 times depending on the amount of staining on the teeth to start with. Your therapist will use a colour chart to identify the colour of your teeth prior to the treatment and will do this again at the end of the treatment so you can see the difference for yourself. Lightening by up to 13 shades is possible with this treatment method. Approximate cost £300-£600.

Home Whitening Kits:
These work in basically the same manner as the treatment described above but without the use of the laser light and you perform the treatment at home. A lightening gel is placed into a mouth tray and worn for a period of time - from 30 minutes to overnight. These kits can be provided by your dentist, with custom mouth trays made especially for you to ensure the best fit and the most comfort. The cheaper option is simple, off-the-shelf kits, which are self-fitted as you place them in hot water and then press them into your teeth. The poor fit can allow the gel to seep out, irritating the gums and mouth and reducing the effectiveness of the whitening process

There are however, three primary differences to the professional laser teeth whitening. The first is that home kits mostly use gels with a low concentration of peroxide. Professional treatments are allowed to use much stronger gels. Home whitening kits can lighten teeth between 1 and 4 shades. The second detractor to ‘off-the-shelf’ bleaching kits is that the bleaching tray is normally worn for multiple hours per day or overnight for some weeks while the whitening process take place. The results are gradual and great care must be taken not to consume any potentially staining food or drink throughout the treatment process. Thirdly, the kit option is of course less comfortable than a one hour treatment and requires you to ensure you follow the instructions and stick with application of the full course. Approximate cost: £20-£50 off-the-shelf or £150-£350 for a personal kit from your dentist.

Toothpastes:
Until quite recently, many whitening toothpastes were mildly abrasive, but most now use enzymes and chemical formulations to help reduce staining of the outer layer of the teeth. Lightening between 1 and 2 shades is possible so this process is not nearly as effective in brightening teeth as other options. New toothpaste formulations come out all the time, but when the British Dental Journal published a paper comparing whitening toothpastes last year, Aquafresh Whitening, Macleans Whitening, Rapid White and Super White came out on top. Beverly Hills Formula Natural White performed well in similar independent tests. In each of these trials the five brands above outstripped more expensive ones like Rembrandt. Approximate cost: £2.50-£8

Just how white can your teeth go?
The treatments mentioned above can do no more than return your teeth to their orginal, natural and unstained colour. For most of us, this is more than enough but for sparkling, ‘hollywood’ white teeth, you need to look to veneers to make the difference. The least invasive veneers are made of composite resin, which is bonded to the front of the existing tooth to create an even, white smile. Porcelain veneers (the most expensive option) are placed on a tooth that has been filed down, a little like a false fingernail. Veneers do mean committing to a life-long course of treatment as they will stain over time, usually at a different rate to existing enamel. Bear in mind that filing teeth down can cause tooth sensitivity, or problems if the tooth is already weak.

Possible Side Effects caused by Teeth Whitening:
A small percentage of users experience increased sensitivity, or minor gum irritations but these symptoms usually subside within 24-48 hours after the whitening process. Whitening toothpastes often have an alternative ‘sensitive’ option for those already prone to sensitivity.

What About Veneers, Crowns, Bridges or Fillings?
The whitening products and treatments will not whiten crowns, veneers, bridges or fillings. However, they will clean them to their original colour. It is important to remember that whitening treatments could restore your own teeth to a brighter, whiter colour than before you had any veneers, crowns, bridges or fillings and these may need replacing to match the colour of your newly whitened teeth.

What should I do prior to whitening?
Do make sure you are having regular checkups with your dentist. Any dental or oral hygiene problems should be taken care of prior to any whitening treatment. For healthy teeth, a scale & polish at least once a year is the very least you should be doing. For laser whitening, make sure you have has a scale & polish performed between 2 weeks and 6 months before the treatment to get the best results.

How long do the results last?
Laser teeth whitening results can last from 18 – 24 months depending on your diet and lifestyle. The more staining food & drink you consume the shorter it will be. Cigarettes also have a staining effect and will also shorten the life of the treatment. The results of home kits and whitening toothpastes will vary dramatically depending on the individual brand and application technique.