It is important to Regularly brush and floss the teeth to maintain oral health, and it can help prevent teeth from becoming stained or yellowed. Sometimes, however, brushing and flossing are not enough to keep a smile beautifully white.

Teeth whitening is now viewed as the easiest and fastest way to improve a person’s smile. Many of our patients do not realize the impact that the shade of the teeth has on the overall appearance of their smile — that is, until they have their teeth whitened. Teeth whitening, among our Leicester practice, has rapidly become our most popular cosmetic procedure.

We offer two types of whitening:

enlighten

Enlighten teeth whitening system
Professional home whitening kits

Both procedures are based on a bleaching process that uses a peroxide-based bleaching gel of varying strength. The higher the concentration of peroxide in the gel, the more powerful it is.

A higher concentration of gel is more effective at whitening the teeth, but also has greater potential to cause side effects such as sensitivity and damage to the surrounding gum tissue and your lips.

Why should I whiten my teeth?

There are many reasons for whitening your teeth, including:

Boost to your confidence and self-esteem that comes from a great smile.
A younger appearance
A special event such as a wedding or job interview etc.

To make a positive first impression on others
A younger appearance
To simply reverse years of everyday staining and yellowing

Boost to your confidence and self-esteem that comes from a great smile.
A younger appearance
A special event such as a wedding or job interview etc.
To make a positive first impression on others
A younger appearance
To simply reverse years of everyday staining and yellowing

“Teeth whitening, among our Leicester practice, has rapidly become our most popular cosmetic procedure.”

Our Team

Initial consultation

Before carrying out the procedure we will invite you the practice to have a consultation to make sure that you are suitable for teeth whitening and to explain possible risks and side effects of the procedure.A teeth whitening consent form will have to be signed to confirm that you have fully understood the procedure and all risks.

Before we carry out the teeth whitening we will carry out a thorough scale and polish of all the teeth to remove and stains and plaque
We will then record the shade of the teeth before the procedure.

The teeth whitening systems we use at 44 Dental care provide more permanent results over a longer time scale.

Professional home whitening kits

shutterstock_111721961 To make a professional home whitening kit, we will take a impression of your teeth. Which is then sent to the dental technician. They will make your custom teeth whitening trays from this.

Once these trays have been made (usually takes 5-10 days) you use them in combination with professional whitening gel which we will provide until you are happy with the results. The bleaching gels we provide are safe to use and highly effective.

Depending on the teeth whitening system, some trays need to be worn overnight while others for only 1-2 hours a day.

Enlighten teeth whitening

The difference with Enlighten Evolution bleaching and other systems is the results. If the teeth whitening protocol is followed the teeth will whiten beyond any other system. Enlighten Evolution bleaching works by using a combination treatment meaning that there is a 2 week home treatment followed by a 1 hour visit at the dentist.

Enlighten Evolution 3 is the only whitening system in the world to guarantee VITA shade B1 on every case irrespective of starting shade. Enlighten’s signature home system is acknowledged as the technology leader in professional teeth whitening. Every aspect has been fully optimised for predictability and ease of use. Enlighten has featured in numerous press articles and TV makeover shows.

Enlighten products have been used by a number of celebrities and they are routinely called by media companies for their expert opinion.

Why use the Enlighten tooth whitening system as compared to other systems?

Guaranteed B1 shade end result
Convenient for patients to use.
Results in just 2-4 weeks from start of treatment.
Only system in the world that will whiten up to 16 shades easily and safely.
Compared to other systems there is minimal pain and sensitivity.

Whitening products refrigerated all the way from manufacture to surgery ensuring optimal effectiveness of whitening gels.
There is no need for any lights, gingival protection or dehydration whitening.
Teeth whitening kit contains an anti-sensitivity serum to reduce sensitivity
Customised, high quality whitening trays according to case.

The Enlighten Teeth Whitening is completed after three visits:

Visit 1

“We will first take impressions of your teeth, using special impression material supplied by Enlighten. These are sent to an Enlighten state of the art laboratory, who will then construct high quality sealed bleaching trays for you. This will take about 2 weeks to be ready. During this time you will need to use special tooth paste twice a day every day, which contains a material called Hydroxyapatite (HAP) which is what your Enamel is made of, 97% of it in fact! This HAP will not only improve the whitening effect but it will also protect your teeth and reduce any sensitivity.

Visit 2

On the next visit you will pick up your bleaching trays and teeth whitening gel from the dentist.

You will need to use the gel for 14 CONSECUTIVE NIGHTS.

Visit 3

On the last visit you will return to your dentist for a 60 minute treatment in the surgery. Rememeber to bring your whitening trays with you.

This final treatment will not only boost the colour but will ensure the whitening is even and natural looking and help the colour to be more stable i.e. the whitening will last longer.

After care

shutterstock_102758000 If the teeth are still sensitive, it may be advisable to use anti-sensitive toothpaste, such as Colgate Pro relief or Sensodyne.

To maintain the whitening effect we recommend that a tube of enlighten whitening gel is purchased from the practice once a year and used for a few days in your existing bleaching trays. This will ensure that your teeth will remain the original white colour achieved.

FAQS about teeth whitening

What are the common side effects?
Teeth whitening is a safe, effective, non-invasive and popular method of brightening all natural teeth. Some patients experience sensitivity during the whitening process, however this is minimised with the use of anti-sensitive toothpaste. It is vital that the procedure is followed strictly as this will ensure the best overall results are achieved.
Will Enlighten teeth whiting whiten my crown and veneers and previous fillings?
Enlighten teeth whitening only whiten your natural teeth. It does not whiten porcelain or white composite restorations and these may need to be changed if you wish to have the colour matched to your new whitened teeth.
How long will Enlighten last for?
The great news is that with Enlighten whitening you can keep your teeth whiter forever, you may need a whitening top up for a few days every year year or two, so it is advisable to keep your trays safe and you can purchase more home gel at a fraction of the price when you feel the need to.
Am I Suitable for tooth whitening?
Many people are not suitable for teeth whitening we will assess your suitability during a consultation. If you have gum disease or other dental health problems, you may not be suitable.
How much whiter will my teeth look?
This varies from individual to individual, and also depends on the type of whitening system used. Some people respond very well to teeth whitening and have dramatically whiter teeth as a result, whereas others may notice very little difference at all.

People with heavily stained yellow teeth tend to have more dramatic results than those with slightly discoloured teeth.
Does it hurt: and what are the side effects?
Some people experience no pain or sensitivity with their teeth. However, the majority of people will experience some kind of sensitivity either during and/or after the initial treatment.