Ah, something I know about...makes a change! It used to be an impressive sideline for dentists, to get people in the chair and 'get' them white teeth in about an hour. Until recently, 'Chairside gel' could be 25% - 32% Hydrogen Peroxide and required isolation along the gum margins as it could burn soft tissue - but the bleaching effect was good, and fairly impressive. Current EU legislation restricts the maximum strength of ANY bleaching gel (In-surgery OR to be used in trays) to 6% Hydrogen Peroxide or its equivalent as Carbamide Peroxide eg: 16% (which converts to approx 5.96% HP etc) As a consequence, while it is possible to get a decent result "in the chair", shade regression happens quite quickly, and for the best results, one still has to use trays - applying the 'take-home' gel as directed "by the dental professional" blah blah...
The General Dental Council (GDC) are gunning for beauty salons that are offering this service because teeth whitening is "the practice of dentistry" There is some blurb
here Beauticians trying to make a living can expect to get their collars felt...
like this.
There is so much fancy packaging out there, but essentially it is bleach. 6% Our stuff has a "patented additive" and we make "patented trays" (ffs!) Any application of a decent product will get your teeth whiter. Stick to the protocols advised and there will be an improvement. Your teeth may have dense enamel, which will take longer to bleach, or they may be absorbent and require only a few applications before gleaming satisfaction prevails...All prices vary, particularly for the chairside bit...and it'll only be good with follow-up tray bleaching, so might as well persevere with trays from the start. The retail bit associated with where I work ranges from £1400 to £350 - but it varies apparently...a bit like picking up a groupon offer... Your dentist should take a 'before' photo with a matching identifiable shade guide, and then an 'after' photo a couple of weeks later, using the same shade guide - to show you how much the teeth have whitened.
I am unlucky enough to work for a supplier - my boss is tighter than the bolts on my fixed wheel axle, I wade through bull**** every day, take my life in my hands riding the 15 miles each way and my teeth are rubbish - the ones that remain...
Apart from that - keep smiling!
