Professional Teeth Whitening
Whiter teeth that don't look fake
Yellow or brown staining making you hide your smile? Professional whitening can lift your teeth several shades lighter, safely and predictably.
Custom-fitted trays, professional-strength gel, and supervised treatment. Much more effective than drugstore strips or expensive toothpastes. Results usually last 2-3 years.
Most people see results within 2 weeks • Not all staining responds to whitening
Will whitening actually work for you?
Whitening works brilliantly for some types of staining. For others, it does nothing. Here's how to know which category you're in.
Whitening works well for:
- Yellow or brown staining
From coffee, tea, red wine, or just age - Surface discoloration
From smoking or strongly colored foods - Natural tooth color you want brighter
Your teeth are healthy but just not as white as you'd like - Aging teeth
Teeth naturally yellow over time, whitening reverses this
What to expect: Most people see their teeth lift 3-5 shades lighter over 2-3 weeks of treatment. Results are natural-looking, not Hollywood-white unless that's specifically what you want.
Whitening won't work for:
- Grey or purple staining
Often from tetracycline antibiotics or root canal work - Dead teeth
Teeth that have darkened after trauma or root canal - Crowns, veneers, or fillings
These don't change color with whitening gel - White spots or patches
Whitening can actually make these more visible
If whitening won't work: We'll tell you during the consultation and suggest what would work instead. For grey staining or dead teeth, veneers or bonding are usually better options.
"I'd tried every whitening toothpaste and strip you can buy. Nothing worked. Dr. Jandoo explained my staining was grey, not yellow, so whitening wouldn't help. Saved me money and pointed me toward something that would actually work."Thomas G.
Professional vs drugstore whitening
The difference is in the strength of the whitening agent and how precisely it's applied to your teeth.
Professional whitening:
- Custom-fitted trays made from molds of your teeth
- Professional-strength gel (up to 6% hydrogen peroxide)
- Even coverage with no gel touching your gums
- Supervised by a dentist who checks your teeth first
- Results in 2-3 weeks, lasting 2-3 years
- Top-up gel available to maintain results
Drugstore kits and strips:
- One-size trays that don't fit your teeth properly
- Weak gel (0.1% hydrogen peroxide by law)
- Gel leaks onto gums causing irritation
- No professional assessment beforehand
- Minimal results that fade quickly
- Often causes uneven whitening
The honest difference:
Drugstore products use gel that's 60 times weaker than professional treatments. They technically "work" but the results are so subtle most people can't see a difference. Professional whitening uses stronger gel applied more precisely for predictable, noticeable results.
What happens during whitening treatment
Two appointments to get you started, then you whiten at home on your own schedule.
First visit: Check your teeth are suitable
Not everyone is a good candidate for whitening. We check your teeth and gums are healthy, look at what type of staining you have, and explain honestly whether whitening will give you what you want.
- Examine teeth and gums for any issues
- Assess your current shade and staining type
- Explain what results are realistic for you
- Take impressions for your custom trays
Takes about 30-45 minutes. If we think whitening won't work for your type of staining, we'll tell you and suggest alternatives.
Second visit: Collect your trays and gel
Your custom trays are ready (usually within a week). We fit them to make sure they're comfortable, show you exactly how to use the whitening gel, and answer any questions.
"The trays fit perfectly. Dr. Jandoo showed me exactly how much gel to
use and how to avoid getting it on my gums. Made the whole process easy."
— Claire S.
Takes about 15-20 minutes. You leave with everything you need and clear instructions for whitening at home.
At home: Whiten on your own schedule
You wear your trays for 1-2 hours a day (or overnight if you prefer) over 2-3 weeks. Most people see noticeable results within the first week, with full results by week three.
- Apply a small amount of gel to each tooth section of the tray
- Wear for the recommended time (we'll tell you based on your teeth)
- Remove, rinse, and clean the trays after each session
- Stop if you experience sensitivity (it usually passes)
Typical timeline:
- Days 1-3: Getting used to wearing the trays
- Week 1: First signs of whitening becoming visible
- Week 2: Noticeable difference from starting shade
- Week 3: Full results achieved, stop treatment
Follow-up: Check you're happy with the results
After 3-4 weeks, we check in to see how you're getting on. If you're happy with the shade, you're done. If you want to go a bit lighter, you can continue for another week.
Keep your trays. When your teeth start to yellow again (usually 2-3 years), you can buy more gel and top up at home without needing new trays.
What patients say about whitening
Real experiences from people who've had professional whitening at West Dental.
"I'd been self-conscious about my yellow teeth for years. Whitening lifted them about four shades in three weeks. Wish I'd done it sooner."— Rachel M.
"The trays were so much better than strips I'd tried. No sensitivity, even whitening, and results that actually lasted. Two years later still looking good."— David K.
"Was nervous about sensitivity but Dr. Jandoo gave me a lower strength gel to start. Worked perfectly, no issues at all, and my teeth are noticeably whiter."— Emma H.
Questions people ask about whitening
Everything you need to know before deciding if whitening is right for you
Only if you go overboard. Most people whiten to a natural-looking shade that's 3-5 shades lighter than where they started. This looks healthy and bright without looking fake.
If you want Hollywood-white teeth, you can keep whitening beyond that point. But most people stop well before then because they like how natural it looks.
The key is you control how far you go. If you're happy with the shade after two weeks, you stop. If you want to go lighter, you continue.
Some people experience mild sensitivity to cold during whitening. It's temporary and usually goes away within a day or two of stopping treatment.
If you know you have sensitive teeth, we can use a lower-strength gel that works more slowly but causes less sensitivity. Or you can whiten every other day instead of daily to give your teeth a break.
Most people have no sensitivity at all. For those who do, it's mild and manageable. If it becomes uncomfortable, you just pause treatment for a day or two.
Most people get 2-3 years before they notice their teeth starting to yellow again. How long it lasts depends on what you eat and drink. Coffee, tea, and red wine will stain your teeth over time regardless of whitening.
The good news is you keep your trays. When you notice your teeth starting to darken, you can buy more whitening gel and top up at home for a few days. No need to start the whole process again or pay for new trays.
Top-up gel is inexpensive and most people only need to do this every 2-3 years to maintain their results.
You can whiten your natural teeth, but the whitening gel won't change the color of fillings, crowns, veneers, or any dental work. This can create a mismatch if you have visible dental work on your front teeth.
If you have large fillings on your front teeth, we'd need to whiten your natural teeth first, then replace the fillings to match your new shade. Otherwise, the filling will look darker than the whitened tooth around it.
During your consultation, we'll check what dental work you have and explain whether it will affect your whitening results.
Yes. Professional whitening has been used safely for decades. The whitening gel (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) temporarily opens up the pores in your tooth enamel to remove stains. These pores close back up within a few days.
The gel we use is regulated and has been extensively tested. As long as it's done properly, there's no permanent damage to your teeth or enamel.
Whitening toothpastes only remove surface stains. They can't change the underlying color of your teeth the way professional whitening does.
Professional whitening uses a gel that penetrates the enamel and breaks down deep stains. Toothpaste just polishes the surface. If you have yellow teeth from coffee or aging, toothpaste won't make much difference.
That said, whitening toothpaste is useful for maintaining your results after professional whitening. It helps prevent new stains from building up.
Over-the-counter strips use a much weaker gel than professional whitening, and they're not custom-fitted to your teeth. This means uneven coverage and slower results.
Most people who use strips see 1-2 shades of improvement at best. Professional whitening typically gets you 4-6 shades whiter in the same timeframe.
The biggest advantage of professional whitening is the custom trays. They ensure even coverage, prevent gel from leaking onto your gums, and you keep them forever for future touch-ups.
Professional teeth whitening at West Dental is £350. This includes custom trays made from impressions of your teeth, whitening gel for 2-3 weeks of treatment, and follow-up appointments if needed.
The trays are yours to keep. When you need to top up your whitening in a year or two, you just buy more gel (around £40-50) and use your existing trays.
Payment plans are available if you'd prefer to spread the cost. The consultation itself is £95, which goes toward your treatment if you proceed.
Want to know if whitening will work for you?
Book a consultation and we'll assess your teeth honestly. If whitening won't give you the results you want, we'll tell you what would work better.