Teeth whitening (bleaching) lightens the discolouration teeth pick up over time using enamel-preserving, controlled methods. There are two approaches — in-office (professional) and home (take-home) whitening; which one suits you depends on the cause of the discolouration, your tooth structure and any sensitivity. It is not a surgical or invasive procedure.
Which method is right for you is decided by an in-person examination and an assessment of your gum health — no plan is confirmed before that.
Bleaching is an aesthetic treatment that aims to reach a lighter, more vital shade while preserving the natural structure of the tooth. In broad terms, the mechanism is this: once the peroxide gel is applied to the tooth surface, the particles causing discolouration deep in the tooth are broken down and removed by the oxygen released. The result depends on how each tooth responds to this reaction and so varies from person to person — which is why a promise of "always brilliant-white teeth" is not realistic. It is, however, the most conservative, tooth-preserving way to reach a brighter smile.
In a review of clinical studies, the shade lightening achieved with home (take-home) whitening was reported to stay stable for approximately 1 to 2.5 years (systematic review, Clinical Oral Investigations, 2023). The result varies from person to person depending on diet, smoking and oral care.
Excessive, unnecessary whitening is avoided; without forcing the natural tooth structure, we aim for a healthy, balanced, natural-looking tone. The quality of the result is directly related to the quality of the material used, which is why evidence-based, quality whitening materials are preferred. Because not every type of discolouration suits the same method, the right assessment is what determines the result.
The points below are general guidance; exact suitability is confirmed only by an examination. Not every type of discolouration suits the same method.
Both methods are applied with enamel-preserving, controlled agents; which one is preferred is decided by your individual needs and expectations.
| Feature | In-office (professional) | Home (take-home) |
|---|---|---|
| Applied by | Dentist-supervised | Custom-made trays |
| Onset | In a short time | Gradual |
| Sensitivity | Controlled | Usually low |
Which step happens where, so you know before you travel. Assessing the health of the teeth and gums before whitening matters for a healthy result.
Share photos of your teeth and what you would like to change. We give an initial, honest view of whether whitening is appropriate for the discolouration you have.
We agree what is realistic and what to expect — no plan is confirmed without an in-person examination.
A detailed oral and dental examination reviews your current situation, checks the health of the teeth and gums, and identifies the cause of the discolouration.
Where necessary, a surface cleaning is carried out before whitening.
The whitening method suited to you (in-office or home) is chosen and applied. In-office whitening is completed in a short chair time.
For home whitening, custom-made trays let you continue gradual, controlled whitening or top up the tone at home. You also leave with aftercare recommendations to help keep the result — see Aftercare below.
Mild, short-lived sensitivity is possible after whitening and usually passes quickly. How long the brightness lasts depends on diet, oral hygiene and aftercare; a natural-looking result is the aim, and excessive, unnecessary whitening is avoided.
Staining factors such as tea, coffee and smoking play a part in the brightness fading over time.
Regular brushing and interdental cleaning help the result to be kept for longer.
With the aftercare recommendations given after treatment, the tone you achieve can be maintained for longer.
Colour change can usually be addressed with the most conservative method. The foundation of our approach is to begin with the least intervention to the tooth.
The right sequence starts with the most conservative option. Discolouration from external factors usually responds well to whitening; for some intrinsic discolouration, whitening alone may not be enough, and more durable, tooth-colour-matched aesthetic solutions are considered. Good planning starts by avoiding unnecessary treatment.
Results are individual and vary from person to person. We publish before/after images only with each patient's explicit written consent and under the advertising rules of your home country — with no filters or editing. That is why you will not find a stock gallery here: we would rather show you real, relevant whitening examples on request than a set of anonymous, over-edited photos.
Individual results vary. Any images are shared only where the patient has given explicit written consent and the legal conditions of the target country are met.
The whitening method that suits you best is decided together at an examination. Before you decide, you can also ask for an academic, evidence-based first opinion.
