The final countdown is on for my girlfriend C who’s tying the know in six weeks!
Frankly, it’s been one hell of a thrilling journey for her as much as for myself. From being her Superhero-esque wingwoman to her fearless maid-of-honour, I lost count on how many times I pulled a few tricks along the way to get her ready for the first date and now the wedding. I’ve got her onto start using rosehip oils in her beauty routine to prep her skin and avoid beauty melTdown on the day (literally). The next mission I got sent was to hunt down the most effective way to get her a gleaming smile with whiter-than-Snow-White teeth.
That works out quite well as I’ve been really keen to test out in-dentist teeth whitening treatment myself. So I called out for expert’s advice and got the chance to speak to Dr Cai from Pitt Street Dental Centre in Sydney, who generously shared his expert tips on professional teeth whitening with us all. Psst – I also got you a reader’s special, $50 off treatment in their Sydney dental place, just for you beauties in our Lace n Ruffles tribe! Read on to find out more:
J: Hello Dr Cai, could you explain how the latest technology for in-dentist teeth whitening works?
It’s called Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed which is the world’s most requested and most effective, safe in-office instant teeth whitening system. Using LED technology and a hydrogen peroxide gel, results from this treatment are instant and dramatic. Teeth and gums are isolated and a gel is applied four times for 15 mins a time during the one appointment.
J: What is the expected result and how long does it last?
In 90 minutes, this treatment can whiten your teeth 8 to 15 shades whiter. Results are instant and dramatic as mentioned, and in most cases delivers the ‘wow factor’! The results can last indefinitely provided you maintain the results with a take home system we provide. If you consume coffee, red wine and other staining beverages, foods and smoke, you may need to touch up more frequently than someone who doesn’t.
The take home system is made by Zoom as well. Their products are designed to be fast, effective, safe and easy to use.
J: Is this treatment for everyone and for all ages? Would this not work on some?
Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed works on everyone aged 16 through to any age provided you have your own natural teeth. It doesn’t whiten veneers and crowns.
Patient whiten their teeth for so many reasons, teenagers getting their braces off, patients wanting to look younger instantly, looking for love, going for a job interview etc. We believe a whitened smile boosts your self-esteem, oozes good health and vitality. Your smile is the first thing people notice about you!
J: How does it feel during the treatment and after?
The treatment takes 90 mins by the time we set up and do the actual treatment. The only side effect is sensitivity. We like to be honest and let patients know sensitivity is normal and will only last up to 12 hours. Some patients get nothing others may experience it during or after the treatment.
As a precaution, we ask all patients to take neurofen and Panadeine. Through our experience, we have found patients who have had these before don’t have major issues with sensitivity. So you relax, listen to music (we always have essential oils burning), whilst we dramatically whiten your teeth.
J: How much does it cost?
The cost of the procedure is $695. Mention a ‘Lace n Ruffles readers special’ and we’ll take $50 off the price (whoop!).
J: Could you share some care tips for your patients after treatment?
Once the treatment is completed we ask that you refrain from coloured or staining foods for 48 hours. Berries, coffee, tea, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce etc. should all be avoided. After that 48 hour period, continue as normal. We recommend using a whitening toothpaste every night to get rid of daily stains and use your touch up kit when required.
J: Could you share any other lifestyle tips with our readers to keep our teeth free from stains as much as possible?
Our lifestyles have a huge influence on our teeth. The medication we take, what we eat and drink and obviously if we smoke and general ageing all cause teeth to discolour. Brushing your teeth after eating is not always possible, but rinsing after consuming highly staining or coloured food is a good idea. Use a whitening toothpaste gets rid of stains before they build up, flossing and visiting your dentist and dental hygienist every six months to have your teeth checked and cleaned.
Avoiding cheap whitening products that you buy online or in pharmacies. Only your dentist can get your teeth their whitest safely!
Thank you, Dr Cai!
Think this fella need some help with teeth whitening?
So tell me Dear Reader, have you ever visited the dentists for professional teeth whitening? How was your experience? What are your best tips for getting a dazzling, pearly smile that really lasts? Be sure to leave your comments and share your beauty wisdom with our tribe!
Till next time. Stay beautiful inside and out.
Disclaimer: this story was written in collaboration with Pitt Street Dental Centre while all opinions are genuinely our own. Many thanks for supporting our advertisers who make providing free and interesting content to you all possible!
$695 is actually a lot less expensive than I was expecting! I’m impressed.
I still can’t afford it right now though, haha. I’ll just have to stick with my in-home whitening tricks for now (and continue praying to the dental gods for them to work).
I have been wanting to get a whitening procedure done for a while now. I have tried a lot of different home remedies but none really seem to be giving me the results that I want. The teeth sensitivity is something that I have been curious about and I am glad to know that it usually only lasts about 12 hours. I will have to do some more research, thank you for sharing this information!
I really liked your post on teeth whitening. I had no idea that there were so many things that we do every day that can affect how white our teeth are! In your post you mention that apart from the things that we eat and drink, even the medications that we take could potentially affect our smile! I wasn’t aware of this, but now that I know, I’m going to make sure to take your advice and clean my teeth after eating foods that are particularly staining, and avoid medication that could stain my teeth. Thank you for the information!