Aesthetic dentistry
Teeth whitening
At-clinic whitening gives you beautiful, evenly white teeth safely. In our practice, whitening is performed with gentle but effective whitening agents. Careful whitening takes time - an at-clinic whitening session lasts 90 minutes.
The mouth and gums must be healthy and the tartar removed before whitening, preferably no more than 3 months earlier. If the dental hygienist identifies tartar that interferes with whitening, the appointment will be spent cleaning the teeth and a new appointment for whitening will be scheduled.
Please note that gums typically take about a week to recover from tartar removal or soda cleaning - sometimes up to two weeks if the the gingivitis (gum infection) is more severe. It is therefore best to book a whitening appointment only after the tartar removal and/or desired soda cleaning has been completed, with the delay recommended by your oral hygienist.
Ask about home whitening trays for effective teeth whitening at home or to complement in-office whitening!
You can book an appointment for teeth whitening or a free 15-minute whitening consultation, during which we will assess the suitability of different options for you, directly from our booking calendar.
NOTE: Teeth whitening cannot be paid for using employee benefits (e.g., Epassi, Edenred) nor is it covered as occupational dental care, just like other purely cosmetic treatments.
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Teeth whitening – frequently asked questions
On-site whitening provides fast and effective results in a single visit. At-home whitening uses personalized whitening trays and a milder agent over several days or weeks. The best results are achieved by combining both: in-office whitening as a base and at-home whitening for maintenance.
Professional whitening is safe when your mouth and gums are healthy. Before treatment, your dentist or dental hygienist will check that there are no infections or damage in your mouth that could prevent whitening.
Often, yes. Sensitivity is taken into account when choosing a whitening agent and carrying out the treatment. Your dentist or dental hygienist may also recommend products that reduce sensitivity before and after whitening. Teeth whitening involves several treatment sessions, during which the agent is applied to and removed from the surface of the teeth. If the desired result is achieved earlier, no additional treatment is necessary. Similarly, if the sensitivity is severe, only two whitening sessions may be performed instead of three.
The easiest way to find out about teeth whitening options and their suitability is to visit a dental hygienist for tartar removal. At the beginning of your visit, you can tell the hygienist that you are considering teeth whitening after tartar removal, so that the hygienist can assess the conditions for whitening during the tartar removal.
However, if tartar has already been removed within the last three months, you have not previously whitened your teeth, and you are unsure whether whitening is suitable for you, you can book a free-of-charge whitening consultation where we will assess the condition of your mouth, review the available options, and ensure that whitening is suitable and safe for you.
In on-site whitening, teeth are lightened using effective but gentle whitening agents under the supervision of a dental hygienist. The active ingredient is typically hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The treatment takes about 75-90 minutes, during which time the whitening agent acts in a controlled manner, resulting in an even and safe outcome. At our Kalasatama office, whitening can also be enhanced with the help of light that activates the whitening gel. The use of light is not necessary to achieve good whitening results.
When whitening is performed at the clinic, a dental professional supervises the treatment from start to finish. This increases safety, reduces the risk of sensitivity, and ensures a consistent result compared to do-it-yourself solutions. The equipment and materials used are also reliable. You can book an appointment with our dental hygienists in Helsinki and Vantaa without hesitation.
The final result of whitening is individual and depends on the initial condition of the teeth, the type of discoloration, and the structure of the tooth enamel. In most cases, teeth lighten by 2-4 shades. The shade of the teeth is determined together with the patient at the appointment before whitening and is also reviewed together after whitening. Our dental hygienists in Helsinki and Vantaa can estimate a realistic result before the treatment.
Tartar and surface stains prevent the whitening agent from working evenly. If teeth are not cleaned beforehand, the whitening result may be uneven and the stains may be further emphasized. Therefore, it is recommended that tartar be removed no more than 3 months before whitening.
Gums usually need about a week to recover after tartar removal or soda cleaning. If gingivitis has progressed further, recovery may take up to two weeks. It is advisable to schedule whitening only after tartar removal, at a time point recommended by your dental hygienist or dentist.
Regular dental checkups can be compared to annual car maintenance: problems are detected early and major repairs can be avoided. It is important to remember that small cavities are easier to fill than large ones. Many procedures also require a healthy mouth, and often before major surgery, the mouth must be free of infection.
Whitening is usually painless. Some people may experience temporary tooth sensitivity during or after treatment, but the symptoms usually disappear within 1–2 days. When whitening is performed at a dental clinic, the professional can respond to tooth sensitivity in a timely manner. After whitening, we apply a mousse-like gel to the surface of the teeth, which often helps with tooth sensitivity.
Natural teeth whiten well, but fillings, crowns, and veneers do not change color in the same way when exposed to whitening agents. Before treatment, the dentist will assess how whitening will affect the overall appearance and whether, for example, fillings need to be replaced or crowns replaced in order to achieve an aesthetic result. It is also important to note that if your gums have receded, the whitening agent will not affect the color of the tooth neck, but it will be protected during the whitening process.
The durability of the whitening result depends on lifestyle and oral hygiene. Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can darken teeth over time. In most cases, the effects of whitening last for 1–3 years and can be maintained with at-home whitening or soda cleaning, for example.