Teeth Whitening FAQ

For more information on the SpaWhite Express teeth whitening system, please browse the teeth whitening frequently asked questions below.

Q - How does teeth whitening work?

A - Teeth whitening is principally a cosmetic procedure that removes stains and gives your teeth the appearance of a whiter and brighter smile. Like all cosmetic procedures, you cannot change your natural DNA. The colour of your teeth cannot change to a different colour than what you had when your adult teeth replaced your baby teeth. You can alter the natural base colour of your teeth only by having a cosmetic dentist replace your natural tooth structure with synthetic materials such as veneers, crowns or implants.

Q - How does the SpaWhite teeth whitening system work?
A - SpaWhite uses five key elements to achieve the perfect smile.
1. Peroxide: When peroxide combines with the moisture in your mouth, it releases hydroxyl radicals that penetrate the cellular structure of the teeth to release stains that have built up over time.
2. Light: Exposing your teeth and the suspended peroxide to the save “cool blue” light of the WhiteScience DayLight 5K accelerates the conversion of hydrogen peroxide into powerful, whitening hydroxyl radicals. Our flexible mouth tray acts as a lens to focus the light.
3. Pressure: Pressure and contact are required to force hydroxyl radicals into the enamel of your teeth. Once inserted in the flexible mouth tray, mild pressure conforms the patented peroxide strip to the shape of your teeth.
4. Heat: Heat is applied via the exclusive WhiteScience DayLight 5K light system. Barely noticeable to you, the DayLight 5K light assists in releasing the powerful hydroxyl radicals.
5. Exposure: Length of exposure is key to effective whitening. WhiteScience’s revolutionary technology will brighten your smile in as little as 15 minutes, with incredible results.

 

Q - What causes staining on teeth?

A - Acidic and strongly pigmented food, drink, tobacco as well as normal aging cause the staining that makes your teeth appear discoloured. WhiteScience's products remove stains by penetrating the tooth structure, erasing stains and rejuvenating the colour of your teeth.

 

Q - How white will my teeth get? 
A - Most customers will see an improvement of 2 to 6 shades on the Vident scale, through either a SpaWhite or SolarWhite session. As with any cosmetic treatment, the degree of improvement is greatly influenced by the customer's age, dental health (particularly in the health of tooth enamel), thickness of enamel, general health, genetics, and personal or dietary habits. Regularity and quality of dental care, brushing and flossing habits as well as diet, smoking and use of certain prescription or recreational drugs can have significant effects on how white an individual's teeth will get.

Q - How long will the whitening last?
A - In most cases, a SpaWhite treatment can last up to a year when observing good dental hygiene. You may notice fading anywhere from three months to a year after treatment, depending on your use of staining agents. Most customers find that repeating the process two to four times per year keeps their teeth consistently white. Additional use of the WhiteICE maintenance product and whitening toothpaste will extend and even improve the whitening results.

 

Q - Are the WhiteScience products safe and will they hurt my enamel?
A - Classified as a cosmetic product by the FDA, hydrogen peroxide is the active ingredient in teeth whitening and has been safely used for centuries. WhiteScience's patented process is designed to be very safe and effective without causing any harm to healthy enamel. Some individuals have demineralised enamel (sometimes inaccurately called calcium deposits). This is a weakening in the enamel and is usually due to insufficient brushing and flossing. This condition is often seen after braces have been removed, since the braces "mask" the teeth from the dentifrice. Teeth that have demineralised areas will be whiter than the normal tooth structure causing a "spotty" type of appearance. This will normalize in a few days. Demineralised enamel is very porous, so it absorbs whitening and stains far faster than healthy enamel. Cosmetically this condition can be minimized by aggressive use of the WhiteICE maintenance product.

 

Q - Is the SpaWhite teeth whitening treatment suitable for everyone?
A - For the most part, yes, however standard dental and medical protocol is that anyone in their third trimester of pregnancy should avoid any elective procedures. Additionally, anyone considering dental restorations, periodontal or endodontal procedures should complete their treatment before whitening their teeth.

 

Q - Will the treatment work on caps and crowns?
A - SpaWhite will remove stains on caps and crowns, but it will not change their original colour. It is not intended to lighten artificial teeth, caps, crowns, veneers, porcelain, composite (white) fillings, or other restorative materials. The colour of these structures will remain the colour they were when installed.

Q - Will I experience any sensitivity?
A - WhiteScience's products have been developed in such a way that the vast majority of customers will experience mild to no sensitivity. With the mild sensitivity, you may experience a sensation of 'scrubbing bubbles' on their teeth. Peroxide is an antiseptic and reacts to germs and bacteria. All cleansing and whitening products will have a few customers who will feel a sense of discomfort or tooth sensitivity. A small percentage of customers will experience 'blanching', where the peroxide in the pads affects sensitive portions of the customer's gums causing them to turn white. This may result in irritation or sensitivity for a short period of time. In rare instances, a customer may wake up the next day with a blister caused by the interaction of the peroxide with their gums. This is not harmful, but rather a healthy healing process to cure gums. If a customer's discomfort persists for more than one hour, they can rub vitamin E oil on the sensitive areas. Please note: sensitivity due to the use of peroxide products is actually highlighting an area that needed antiseptic attention and is an alert for the customer to seek periodontal treatment.

 

Q - How long after my treatment should I refrain from eating or drinking?
A - It is best not to eat or drink any dark coloured food or beverage for 24 hours after treatment. If you must drink a dark coloured beverage, use a straw to avoid soaking the teeth in the liquid.

 

* Please note that all prices may be subject to change without notice.
* No free vouchers on Saturdays or Sundays.