I'd like Whiter Teeth!

Professional Teeth Whitening in Hertford

• Are you self-conscious about your teeth when you smile?

• Are your teeth yellow or stained?

• Would you like a bright, confident, white smile?

If you answered 'yes' to any of the above questions Hudson's Dental Care can help.  Week in, week out, we help people to transform their smile and often their self confidence too with our professional teeth whitening products.  You don't even need to be a regular patient of ours to come along and take advantage of our expertise, but you will need a dental examination first to make sure it's safe to proceed..  

Who is teeth whitening for?

Teeth whitening is suitable for most people aged over eighteen who'd like a whiter, brighter smile. Only GDC registered dentists can prescribe and supply the whitening product that's right for you and you will need to have your teeth and gums quickly checked to make sure that the whitening gel is safe to use.

Does it really work?

Yes. When prescribed by a dentist using the products that are only available from dentists under presciption, teeth whitening will whiten your teeth. It will not whiten fillings, crowns and veneers and some teeth may require specialist cleaning / bleaching before whitening is advised.  That's why you need a dentist to check you over first.  It only takes a few minutes. Results can vary from person to person because just like eye shades, people teeth shades differ.

How does it work?

After your dentist gives you the 'all clear' to proceed we'll take moulds of your upper and lower teeth (allow 15 mins) and then about a week later invite you back to give you your unique whitening 'trays' and 'Boutique' whitening gel. Teeth whitening trays are like flimsy rubber mouthguards that sit snugly on your upper and lower teeth and into which you squirt a small amount of a special whitening gel which contains 6% hydrogen peroxide (the active ingredient)   You wear them for an hour a day and of course we give you full instructions to ensure you use them correctly.

How long does teeth whitening last for?

Results will vary from person to person and are affected by the foods you eat, the drinks you consume and whether you smoke.  For example, tea, coffee, red wine and curries all contain agents that can stain teeth over time but don't worry: once you've got your trays you can always pop back in six months or after a year or two and pick up some new gel and do an inexpensive 'top up' whitening.

I've seen whitening kits in the shops, online and at my beautician's.  Are they safe?

Our advice is "Don't touch them with a barge pole", but we would say that wouldn't we? So let us refer you to BBC Watchdog who, in response to complaints, tested a range of over-the-counter whitening kits. All were found to be useless.  Online vendors, meanwhile, can put your health at serious risk:you don't know who they are nor what's in their so-called kits.  At best, many on-line whitening products won't work whilst those that might have been found to contain illegal concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. The legal, 'safe' maximum is 6% and this concentration can only be supplied by dentists after carrying out an examination.  

'Beauticians' who whiten teeth are breaking the law and are now being prosecuted for practising dentistry without being qualified to do so.  Some, unable legally to access hydrogen peroxide based whitening products, have even resorted to painting their clients' teeth with sodium perborate -  an agent proven to cause cancer in humans and one which risks permanent harm to teeth and gums.

You wouldn't go to a greengrocer for an eye test or ask a Kwik-Fit Fitter to fix a sore throat, so if you want whiter teeth see a dentist.

Cool, ok, how do I get an appointment?

Call our friendly Reception team on 01992 505828. Tell them you'd like a dentist to assess you for teeth whitening.  If you're not a regular patient of ours you will need a private dental examination first which costs £85.