Teeth bleaching: the scoop on our LED teeth whitening service

From reality TV star Joey Essex to footballer Jack Grealish, teeth bleaching is a rapidly growing orthodontic trend among TV personalities, football stars and celebrities. So, it’s no surprise that getting those star white teeth is a growing treatment requested from patients in the dental aesthetic industry too.

If you’re considering brightening your teeth with a professional whitening service, you need the right information to find the best teeth whitening service out there.

We explain the process of whitening your teeth and the differences between laser teeth whitening and LED whitening. We’ll also tell you why Impress can offer you one of the best LED teeth whitening treatments in the UK.

What is teeth whitening?

Professional teeth whitening, or teeth bleaching as it can also be known, is the process of using medical grade bleaching gel, applied to your teeth in a controlled environment to lighten your teeth in an accelerated timeframe to achieve whiter teeth. 

Best way to whiten teeth professionally

Impress teeth whitening treatment uses an LED (light emitting diode) light to enhance the whitening effects on your teeth while safely protecting your gums.

There are a huge amount of unregulated whitening options for achieving whiter teeth using over-the-counter and online stores that sell unregulated home teeth whitening kits. 

The risks of whitening teeth without a dentist

Using unregulated methods to whiten your teeth at home can result in injury, ineffective whitening and irreparable damage to tooth enamel.

Due to the potential risks associated with these and other oral health concerns when not supervised by a dental professional, we strongly recommend in-clinic laser or LED whitening. There are several combinations you can use for professional teeth whitening.

In-clinic teeth whitening

• Laser, or LED whitening, uses a blue light to activate the gel and accelerate the whitening process.

• A higher concentration of whitening gel is usually used with "chairside whitening" compared to at-home whitening.

At-home teeth whitening

• 'Trays' that are custom-designed to fit your teeth are made by a Dentist.
• You use them over a series of weeks or a couple of weeks, following the method prescribed by your dentist.

Combination teeth whitening

• A blend of in-clinic and at-home whitening once the initial shade has been achieved with the application and process administered by your dentist.
• You might also go back for an in-clinic booster at some point after using your trays at home.

Why is LED whitening better than home whitening kits?

We recommend not investing in home whitening kits unless under the direct supervision of a GDC-registered aesthetic orthodontist. That extends to mail-order dental mould kits, strips and other bleaching treatments. It’s difficult to know the outcome you’ll achieve with these kits, with little guarantee of their safety.

Who can do teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a specialist orthodontic treatment with aesthetic dentistry and should be conducted by qualified, GDC-registered dentists or another regulated dental professional. It’s important to ask about the qualifications of any person or company you approach to obtain orthodontic or dental aesthetics.

The difference between laser and LED teeth whitening

The light used for laser whitening and the light used for LED whitening are different. Here's how:

Laser Whitening: uses a highly concentrated beam of light, usually from a diode laser or other specific wavelengths. It can lead to more intense results because it activates the bleaching agent faster than an LED light.

LED Whitening: uses light-emitting diodes (LEDS), which emit a broad-spectrum blue light to accelerate the whitening gel's reaction. While not as intense as laser light, LED whitening is still effective and is commonly used during in-clinic and at-home whitening at dentists across the UK.

What happens during LED teeth whitening?

• The process of LED teeth whitening is always carried out in our dedicated Impress orthodontic clinics.

• The GDC-registered Dentist will take note of anything important, such as sensitive teeth and gums, recent dental treatment, your medical history and any recent changes in your oral health.

• We'll also want to know if you've had whitening in the past, including teeth whitening strips, whitening toothpastes or other whitening products that you use as part of your dental care regimen.

Stained teeth? Patients should undergo oral hygiene with their dental hygienist for a scale and polish or airflow to remove stains 2 weeks before whitening for optimal results.

Steps of teeth whitening with LED

1. You'll be given a bib and protective glasses to wear
2. A pre-whitening photo of your teeth with the shade guide will be taken for reference
3. Your gums will be dried thoroughly, and then a gingival protector will be applied along the gum line
4. The protector needs to be cured above the gingival margins with a light
5. Next, the Dentist will proceed to apply the hydrogen peroxide gel evenly to your teeth
6. Once the gel is in place, we shine an LED light on the teeth to activate the gel and enhance the whitening effect. The first round lasts around 15 minutes!
7. This is repeated up to 3 times
8. After the fourth application and removal, the gel will be rinsed off and dried
9. A post-whitening photo will be taken using the same shade guide
10. You'll be given a mirror to check your results! 
11. Your medical practitioner will also explain aftercare tips.

Professional whitening with Impress

If you are looking for a safe, effective option with immediate results, in-clinic teeth whitening is the best choice. At Impress clinics, you will be amazed by the change: you’ll enjoy a visibly whiter smile instantly, achieving up to 5 shades less in a single session. Your perfect smile is closer than you think!

To achieve your whitest smile, our professionals are at your service - why not book your consultation now to make your smile shine in just one session?

Find your nearest Impress clinic and make an appointment by phone at +442038081072 or reach us on WhatsApp.