Tooth Whitening in Kitchener

Tooth whitening lightens the natural colour of your enamel using a peroxide gel. At Highland Kitchener Dentist in west Kitchener, the method we use most is take-home whitening with custom trays made from impressions of your teeth. It’s simple, it works on most kinds of yellow and brown staining, and because the trays are built for your mouth, the gel stays on your teeth and off your gums.

Why teeth change colour

Teeth darken for different reasons, and the cause affects how well whitening works.

• Surface stains from coffee, tea, red wine, cola and smoking build up in the outer enamel. These usually respond well.
• Age. Enamel thins over the years and the yellower dentin underneath shows through more. Whitening helps, though results vary.
• Medication staining. Some antibiotics taken during childhood, such as tetracycline, cause grey or banded stains deep in the tooth. These are stubborn and may only lighten partway.
• Fluorosis. Too much fluoride while teeth were forming can leave white or brown patches. Whitening can make them blend in somewhat.
• A single dark tooth. A tooth that turned grey after an injury or a root canal usually needs a different approach, so tell us if one tooth stands out.

Who whitening suits, and who should wait

Whitening works best for adults with healthy teeth and gums who want a brighter version of their own smile. Before we make trays, we check your teeth at an exam. Cavities, cracked fillings or receding gums should be dealt with first, because peroxide on an open cavity or exposed root can be painful.

We recommend waiting if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, and we don’t whiten teeth for young children. If you have very sensitive teeth, it’s still often possible, with a gentler gel and a slower schedule.

What whitening can’t change

Peroxide only lightens natural tooth structure. Crowns, veneers, bridges and tooth-coloured fillings stay the shade they were made. If you have one of these on a front tooth, whitening the teeth around it can make it stand out. We’ll look at your existing work and plan around it. Often the best order is to whiten first, let the colour settle for a couple of weeks, then replace any old fillings or crowns to match the new shade. If you want to change shape as well as colour, porcelain veneers may be worth a conversation.

How tray whitening works at our office

1. Exam and shade check. We confirm your teeth are healthy, note your starting shade, and talk about the result you’re hoping for.
2. Impressions. We take impressions of your upper and lower teeth to make thin, clear trays that fit closely.
3. Fitting visit. At the second visit you try the trays, we trim anything that rubs, and we show you how much gel to use. A thin line along each tooth is enough. Too much just spills onto the gums.
4. At home. You wear the trays with gel for the time we recommend, usually once or twice a day over a couple of weeks, depending on the gel strength and how your teeth respond.

Most people see a change within the first few days, with the full effect after the whole course. Keep the trays. They’ll fit again for touch-ups later, as long as you don’t have major dental work that changes the shape of your teeth.

Sensitivity and other side effects

The most common side effect is temporary sensitivity, usually a zing with cold drinks. Gum irritation can happen if gel leaks out of the trays. Both fade when you stop. To keep things comfortable:

• Brush with a toothpaste for sensitive teeth for a week or two before you start and during treatment
• Wipe away any gel that squeezes onto your gums
• Skip a day or two if your teeth feel sore, then carry on
• Call us if sensitivity is strong or lasts after you’ve stopped

Keeping your results

Whitening isn’t permanent. How long it lasts depends mostly on what you eat and drink. Coffee, tea, red wine, berries and smoking bring stain back faster. Rinsing with water after dark drinks, using a straw for iced coffee, and keeping up with regular cleanings all help. Many patients do a short touch-up with their trays every so often instead of repeating a full course.

A realistic whitening timeline

Here’s roughly how it goes for most of our Kitchener patients, from first visit to finished smile:

• Week one: exam, cleaning if you’re due, and impressions for your trays. Getting surface stain polished off first gives the gel a clean start.
• About a week later: tray fitting and instructions. You start at home that evening.
• The next two weeks or so: daily wear. Many people notice the biggest jump early, then smaller gains after that.
• Two weeks after you finish: the shade settles. This is the point to replace any front fillings or crowns that no longer match.

If your schedule is tight, tell us your date when you book, and we’ll plan backward from it.

Whitening as part of a bigger plan

For some people whitening is the whole plan. For others it’s the first step. If you’re also thinking about straightening with Invisalign, it usually makes sense to finish the aligners first, because whitening trays are made to fit the final position of your teeth. If old fillings on your front teeth are stained at the edges, we can talk about replacing them after the colour has settled. And if a single tooth is dark from an old injury, we’ll check it on an x-ray before deciding what to do. Our Kitchener team will walk you through the order that gives the best result with the least work.

Store kits versus custom trays

Pharmacy strips and one-size trays can work for some people. The difference with a custom tray is fit: the gel stays in contact with the front of each tooth, including the curved ones at the corners, and it doesn’t pool on the gums. Having an exam first also means we catch anything that whitening could aggravate. If you’ve tried store kits and found them patchy or painful, that’s worth mentioning when you come in.

Insurance, direct billing and CDCP

Whitening is cosmetic, so most dental plans don’t cover it, and the Canadian Dental Care Plan doesn’t include cosmetic treatment. The exam and cleaning beforehand are often covered. We bill most plans directly, though some specialist work may be billed differently, and we’ll explain fees before anything starts. For anything your plan doesn’t cover, we accept credit cards and cash.

Whitening questions

Does whitening damage enamel?

Used as directed, dentist-supervised whitening gels don’t harm enamel. Problems tend to come from overuse, so stick to the schedule we give you.

How white will my teeth get?

It depends on your starting colour and the type of stain. Yellow tones tend to lighten more than grey ones. We’ll give you a realistic idea at your exam.

Can I whiten before a wedding or event?

Yes. Start at least a few weeks ahead so there’s time for the trays to be made and for any sensitivity to settle.

Start with a whitening consultation in Kitchener

Come see us at 140 Highland Rd W, close to Forest Heights and Westmount, and we’ll check whether whitening is a good fit for your teeth. Call 519-885-1598 or send us a message. If you also need a checkup, ask about same day appointments.

Related treatments

• Porcelain veneers
• Dental exams and cleanings
• Invisalign clear aligners

Questions or ready to book? Contact our Kitchener office or call 519-885-1598.