As you will probably know by now, I am a little (very) obsessed with teeth whitening and after several unsuccessful attempts at brightening and whitening my teeth I’m pleased to say I’ve finally found a treatment that works! Whilst my previous whitening experience resulted in a temporary change in colour, it didn’t provide the lasting results that I was looking for and my teeth were back to their normal colour in just a few days.
I have had several readers contact me about their interest in teeth whitening, which I know is quite a sought after treatment recently. With the influx of TOWIE stars and ‘Hollywood’ smiles, it is no wonder they are in high demand, however very few people are willing to go the length and actually get treatment done. The only advice I can give is that whilst high street products may provide a little help, if you are looking for effective and lasting results then it really is worth investing in a treatment because it really does make a difference to the way you look at yourself.
Whilst I’ve never really had a ‘horrible’ smile, I wasn’t entirely happy with the colour of my teeth – especially in photographs where they looked very dull. Having your teeth whitened does brighten up your smile and as silly as this may sound, it does instil a beam of confidence into you. Teeth whitening in a clinic/dentist is not the cheapest solution, but it is definitely the most effective and I definitely would advise that you go for it if you have the means to.
I visited Ultrasmile in Limehouse on Saturday (5th May) for my Zoom Deluxe treatment and had a very lovely experience there. The staff are incredibly friendly, put you at complete ease and explained everything in a down to earth yet informative manner. Sannaz my dentist was ever so kind and I appreciated her reassurance and help during the ‘mould taking’ part, which if you’ve ever had done before you will know is horrible. She was extremely thorough in protecting my gums before the procedure and talked me through everything she was doing which I really appreciated. She even put on a film for me whilst the gel and laser got to work whitening my teeth (17 Again – Zac Efron!). What more could you possibly ask for!
Above: before (top) and immediately after (below) the treatment itself. I know they aren’t the most flattering images, but it just shows how effective and instantaneous the treatment is!
The treatment itself is fairly straightforward and lasts around 2 hours in total. You have your moulds taken (which are for topping up the treatment yourself at home), your mouth is then held open by a ‘mouth opener’ device (yep, technical name!) and then protection is put in place so that the gel and laser used do not affect your gums. Finally, the whitening gel (hydrogen peroxide) is applied to your teeth and then you sit back whilst the laser does the work. After 15 minutes the gel is removed and a new layer is applied, and this is repeated three times.
Many people claim to experience a tingling sensation, much like that of sensitive teeth –however I am pleased to say I didn’t experience this (and bear in mind I had already had gel applied two weeks prior). In the last few minutes I did begin to experience a slight tingling which although wasn’t painful, was a little uncomfortable. However, the two hour process was definitely worth it as I have much whiter teeth and there is a considerable difference in the brightness and shade.
Above: Several months after the treatment, my teeth are still pearly white!
Whilst the whitening process was taking place, Sannaz kindly made up the moulds – which I thought was very efficient as normally you have to wait a week for them to be made. This meant that I wouldn’t have to return to have the moulds fitted again, and could start the top up process as soon as I wanted to. She showed me how to apply the gel to the moulds and directed me to wear them overnight for two weeks to achieve optimal results. Although you don’t have to use the moulds at home after your treatment, if you would like to prolong the whitening or go a shade lighter then you will start to see results within a week.
With regards to restrictions on food/drink etc (as lots of you have been asking me about this), you are only allowed to eat and drink white or creamy coloured foods/liquids (for three days after treatment) and are advised to avoid tea and coffee for up to two weeks. This has been a little difficult considering I am also vegetarian (and so chicken soup and turkey sandwiches are off the menu for me), however I have just been eating things like cheese, pasta and bread (chocolate is also off the menu too which is a good thing!). Personally I don’t think restrictions on food/drink is too difficult, especially if you are committed to having whiter teeth.
Overall I had a very pleasant experience at Ultrasmile and would absolutely love to go back there as and when I need a top up. I never thought I’d say I had a ‘pleasant’ experience when referring to a dentist – but Ultrasmile definitely deserves it! It is set in a very lovely area, right on the lock overlooking the Thames and is a really luxury dentistry practice without the completely outrageous price tag. They often attract celebrity clientele and have treated famous faces such as Kimberley Walsh!
If you are considering whitening treatment and are a little unsure, you shouldn’t rush into it – as it is an elective procedure and there are other solutions you can opt for first – such as high street products, crest strips etc. However, if you are looking for effective, immediate and long lasting results (without the ‘two shades whiter in three weeks’ tag) then I would definitely recommend the Zoom whitening treatment! It does instill you with more confidence, and you are left with enviable white teeth! The receptionist at Ultrasmile is very helpful and reassured all my concerns prior to the treatment, so if you would like more information or need your questions answered – visit http://www.ultrasmile.co.uk/ .