How long does professional in-office whitening take?

An in-office whitening session takes 60-90 minutes. It includes prior scaling, gum isolation, 3-4 cycles of gel application with activation, plus final evaluation. The 4-8 shades brighter result is visible immediately after the session.

How long do whitening results last?

Results last 1-3 years, depending on dietary habits (coffee, wine, tobacco accelerate re-pigmentation) and oral hygiene. We recommend a maintenance session at 12 months or refresh with home trays every 6 months.

Does whitening damage tooth enamel?

No, when done professionally with quality gel at controlled concentration. Studies over 20+ years show that whitening under medical supervision doesn't weaken enamel. Cheap, uncontrolled home whitening kits can cause problems.

What's the difference between in-office whitening and home tray whitening?

In-office whitening uses high-concentration gel professionally activated — rapid result in one session. Home tray whitening uses gentler gel worn 1-2 hours/day for 10-14 days — progressive result, more gentle on sensitivity. The combination yields the best results.

Can I whiten teeth if I have crowns or veneers?

Whitening only works on natural enamel — crowns, veneers, and fillings do NOT whiten. The result will be a colour difference between natural (whitened) teeth and restorations. For patients with frontal restorations, we recommend replacing restorations after whitening for a uniform result.

Teeth whitening — DentalBliss

Whitening — the foundation of smile aesthetics

Professional whitening is the most accessible aesthetic procedure and often the first step for patients who want to improve their smile. At DentalBliss it’s part of our dental aesthetics package, alongside veneers, aesthetic restorations, and smile design. We work with professional whitening systems, controlled-concentration gel, and protocols for minimal sensitivity.

Who whitening helps

Extrinsic stains — from coffee, red wine, black tea, tobacco
Physiological yellowing — natural tooth colour darkens with age
Moderate intrinsic stains — some drug-induced discolorations respond partially
Before veneers or crowns — so new restorations match a lighter background
Before events — wedding, professional photos, interviews

When whitening is NOT indicated

Honesty matters: not all patients are candidates. Whitening doesn’t work or is contraindicated for:

Untreated cavities or active gingivitis — we treat the cause first
Front restorations (veneers, crowns, visible fillings) — these don’t whiten; a colour difference will remain
Extremely thin enamel or severe abrasion — high sensitivity risk
Pregnant or breastfeeding women (preventively, long-term studies lacking)
Patients under 16-18 years — enamel isn’t fully mineralised
Severe tetracycline stains — may require veneers instead of whitening

At consultation we honestly determine whether whitening will give you the desired result or whether another aesthetic procedure (veneers, bonding) is more suitable for your case.

Available protocols

🏥 In-office whitening

A 60-90 minute session at the clinic, under medical supervision. High-concentration gel, activated in short cycles, with protective gum barrier.

Result: 4-8 shades in a single session
Advantages: fast, you see the difference immediately, doctor control at every step
Recommended: when you want immediate results (upcoming event, deadline)

🏠 Custom tray whitening (at-home)

Home-use kit with custom-fitted transparent trays plus mild gel. Wear them 1-2 hours per day or overnight, for 10-14 days.

Result: 3-6 shades in a 2-week cure
Advantages: gentler on sensitivity, you control the pace, trays remain for annual refresh
Recommended: if you have dental sensitivity or prefer a progressive process

⚡ In-office + tray combination (maximum result)

Start with an in-office session for visible jump, then continue at home with trays for 2-3 days to “lock in” the result and even the tone.

Result: most stable and uniform — 6-10 shades
Recommended: when you want the best possible result

Step-by-step process (in-office whitening)

Aesthetic consultation — we discuss your expectations, assess whether whitening is suitable, and predict the realistic result (using the VITA shade guide we show you before/after shades)
Prior scaling — a clean tooth whitens uniformly; tartar deposits block the gel
Isolation and protection — light-cured gum barrier, retractors for cheeks and lips
Gel application + activation cycles — 3-4 cycles of 12-15 minutes each
Cleaning + evaluation — comparing the final shade with the initial one
Post-treatment recommendations — desensitising gel, diet for 48h

Sensitivity — what to expect

Mild sensitivity for 24-48 hours post-treatment is normal for ~40% of patients. We reduce it through:

Desensitising gel with fluoride/potassium nitrate applied at the end
Toothpaste for sensitivity (Sensodyne, Elmex, Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief) used for 1 week before and after
Pauses between cycles during the session if discomfort occurs
Avoiding very cold/hot drinks for 2-3 days

If you already have chronic dental sensitivity, we steer you towards the home tray protocol, which is much gentler.

The “white diet” — the first 48 hours

In the first 48h, enamel pores are open and easily pick up pigments. Avoid:

❌ Coffee, black tea, red wine, dark fruit juices
❌ Tomato sauce, curry, soy sauce, balsamic
❌ Dark fruits (blueberries, blackberries, dark cherries)
❌ Tobacco

Recommended: water, milk, yogurt, rice, pasta without coloured sauce, chicken, fish, white vegetables, bananas, peeled apples. After 48h you can return to normal with moderation.

Durability and maintenance

Results last 1-3 years, depending on:

Dietary habits (daily coffee = faster recolouring)
Smoking — significantly accelerates stain return
Daily oral hygiene
Genetics (enamel porosity)

For maintenance we recommend:

“Boost” session at 12 months (15-20 min at the clinic) or
Home tray refresh, 1-2 nights every 6 months

Whitening + other aesthetic procedures

Whitening is often step 1 in a broader aesthetic plan. At consultation we also discuss if you need:

Ceramic veneers — for shapes, lengths, or colours that don’t respond to whitening
Aesthetic bonding — for small chips or small spaces between teeth
All-ceramic crowns — on root-treated teeth or with old restorations
Professional hygiene (air-flow) — for maintenance between treatments

Booking an aesthetic consultation

Come without coffee the morning of the consultation — we can do a quick sensitivity test. We bring the VITA shade guide to document the starting shade and show you exactly where you can reach. You get the cost estimate on the spot, for any of the three protocols.

Teeth whitening