Teeth whitening in Woonona, what can change when you have fillings or crowns

The most useful thing you can bring is a description of what bothers you. Is it an overall dullness, or one tooth that looks darker than its neighbours? A single dark tooth often has a different cause from general staining, and the dentist can only work out which after looking at it. Say when you first noticed the colour and whether that tooth has had an injury or earlier treatment.

Please do not expect a particular shade. Teeth whitening guide explains that results differ from person to person, so nobody can promise a result from a photo or a shade chart. A better question is what whitening might change in your mouth and what it would leave as it is.

If you are also thinking about shape or spacing, our cosmetic dentistry page gives a wider view of what can be discussed. Whitening is an optional, cosmetic choice, so you can take your time and ask for your options to be explained again if anything is unclear.

Tell the dentist about anything that might matter before you start, even if it seems unrelated. That includes pregnancy, breastfeeding, sore or bleeding gums, sensitive teeth and any tooth that has been bothering you. Pregnancy and breastfeeding are the circumstances most people ask about. The Teeth whitening guide advises against whitening at those times because there is not enough evidence about its use.

If this applies to you, the colour question does not disappear. You can still talk about it now and decide when to come back to it. Putting off an optional change to your smile is quite different from ignoring a tooth that hurts, and a sore tooth should still be looked at.

Mention any product you have already tried, including strips, toothpastes or kits bought online, and any reaction you noticed. If you want to understand what an examination looks at first, our check-up and clean page is a good place to begin. Your dentist can then tell you whether whitening should wait.

The practical differences matter more than the technical ones, so ask how each option would fit into your week. For in-chair whitening, ask how long the visit takes, what happens during it and whether a review visit is planned. For a take-home course, ask how the instructions will be given to you and whom to call if you are unsure about a step.

Tell the dentist honestly if a daily home routine would be hard to keep up, for example because of shift work or caring for family. A plan you cannot follow is not a good plan. The Teeth whitening guide describes both approaches in general terms, but it cannot tell you which one suits you. Only an assessment of your teeth can do that.

Please do not choose based on how short a visit sounds or on pictures of someone else's teeth. If you have questions before you book, our contact page shows how to reach the team. Ask for any trays, products and reviews to be listed in writing, so you know what you are agreeing to.

Yes, it can, and it is worth asking about before you start rather than afterwards. The Teeth whitening guide explains that sensitivity can sometimes be severe and that gel touching the gums or lips can irritate or burn them. Discomfort is not a sign that the product is working better, so do not push on through it.

If your teeth are already sensitive, say so at the start. Sensitivity has several possible causes, and a toothpaste for sensitive teeth does not treat decay. Note which teeth react, what sets it off and whether it lingers, because that helps the dentist see the cause. Our general dentistry page shows where to start if the sensitivity is your main worry.

Ask the dentist what to do if symptoms appear, and when to stop using a home product. Whitening guide recommends a dental check if sensitivity or irritation lasts more than one or two days. When you call, have the product name and the times you used it ready.

Your natural teeth may become lighter while your existing dental work stays the shade it is now. That can leave a visible difference, particularly on front teeth, so it is better to talk about it before you begin than to notice it afterwards. Point out any work you know about, or ask the dentist to show you which teeth have been restored. You do not need to know the names of the materials.

The Teeth whitening guide says that crowns, veneers or fillings might need to be replaced if they no longer match the whitened teeth. That would be a separate treatment with its own assessment, and you can decide whether to go ahead with it.

If you are already thinking about new work, tell the dentist before the plan is settled so the order of treatment can be discussed. Our porcelain veneers page and crowns and bridges page introduce those options. Please do not try to change the shade of existing work with a home product.

The number of visits depends on the method you and the dentist choose. In-chair whitening is usually done at one treatment appointment, while take-home whitening is a course that takes longer to show a change. Remember that an examination beforehand and a review afterwards are separate from the treatment itself, so ask which visits are in your plan.

The colour is not permanent. The Guide to cosmetic dentistry and whitening explains that smoking and strongly coloured food and drink can affect your colour over time. Nobody can promise how long a shade will last, so be wary of anyone who does.

If you have an event coming up, say so early and work backwards from the date. A take-home course that is rushed to meet a deadline is not a good idea, because the instructions should set the pace. Our cosmetic dentistry page has more background. Before you repeat whitening later, ask the dentist whether another round is suitable for you.

It is sensible to ask first, because these products do different things. A whitening toothpaste mainly works on stains on the outside of the teeth and may cause sensitivity. The Teeth whitening guide explains how that differs from bleaching. If you already use one, bring the name along and tell the dentist whether it bothers your teeth.

Be careful with home remedies too. Whitening guide notes that frequent use of things like charcoal, baking soda or fruit-based mixtures may damage teeth. The word 'natural' does not make something safe for your enamel.

For an online kit, check the ingredients and directions, and remember that a review from a stranger cannot examine your mouth. If you are unsure what a product contains, ask before you use it. You are welcome to raise a product or recipe with us through our contact page, and the dentist can tell you whether it suits your teeth.

Start by asking for the current fee for the method that has been recommended to you, along with a written list of what it includes. A quote should say clearly whether you are paying for an examination, the treatment, any products or trays, and reviews. You can look at our fees page first and then ask for a quote once the dentist has seen your teeth.

Keep optional whitening separate from any care for a real dental problem. If the dentist suggests other treatment first, ask for the reason and the cost of that on its own. Also ask whether existing crowns, veneers or fillings would need attention, because that can add a second decision.

Most dental care is not covered by Medicare, and extras policies differ. Cost of dental care guide explains the general position. Ask your health fund about the specific service and item numbers, and do not assume that cover for check-ups includes whitening. Keep a note of what the fund tells you, including any limits or waiting periods.

Follow the written instructions you are given for your own treatment, and ask the dentist to explain anything that seems unclear before you start. For a home course, ask how much gel to use, how to fit the trays and when to stop. If a step is confusing, ask to be shown it rather than copying a routine from social media.

Whitening does not replace everyday cleaning. The Oral health messages recommend brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and cleaning between your teeth every day. Our check-up and clean page explains how regular visits fit in with this.

Staining drinks and smoking can affect the colour of your teeth, and rinsing with water afterwards is a simple habit, as Whitening guide notes. Ask if you need any extra restrictions for your course. Keep a note of the product, when you used it and any symptoms, so you have the details ready if you need to call the clinic.

Stop a home course and call the dentist if you have pain, sore gums or irritation inside your mouth. Do not use more product to try to make up for lost time. Whitening guide says that sensitivity or irritation lasting more than one or two days needs a dental check, and that the gel can burn the gums, lips or tongue.

When you call, have the product name and instructions in front of you. Say when you last used it, how you used it and where it hurts. Our contact page shows how to reach the team. Ask what to do until you can be seen, and whether your review visit should be brought forward.

Some symptoms need urgent attention and should not be put down to whitening. Swelling with tooth pain, a fever or a bad taste can be signs of an abscess, as the Tooth abscess guide describes. If swelling makes it hard to breathe, call 000. Our emergency dentist page has information about other urgent problems.