Whitening · London
Teeth whitening lightens the colour of natural teeth with a peroxide gel. At Smalț it is done in the clinic, in one 90-minute session, for £850, or at home with custom trays and 14 days of gel, for £450. Crowns, veneers and fillings do not whiten. In-clinic whitening fits into a single visit.
Where we work
The layer you see, and the one that does not grow back. We clean it, whiten it and cover it with ceramic only as much as needed.
Step by step
Teeth whitening in London
01
Teeth whitening starts with a check-up and usually a cleaning, so the gel reaches the enamel directly. In the clinic, the dentist covers the gums with a protective barrier and applies the gel in 2 to 3 rounds of 15 to 20 minutes. The lamp sometimes used for in-clinic whitening only activates the gel: the peroxide does the whitening, so "laser whitening" and lamp whitening give similar results. At home, you wear the trays with gel for 1 to 2 hours a day, for 14 days.
02
In-clinic whitening takes one visit of 90 minutes, so it fits into a single day. With a cleaning beforehand, plan for half a day. Home whitening needs a short visit for the scan and a second one 1 to 2 days later to collect the trays, after which you whiten at home and send a photograph after 14 days.
03
Teeth whitening suits adults over 18 with healthy teeth stained by coffee, tea, wine or smoking, or yellowed with age. Stains from tetracycline or fluorosis lighten less and sometimes call for veneers. Whitening is not done during pregnancy or breastfeeding. Decay and gum inflammation are treated first.
04
For the first 48 hours after whitening, teeth pick up colour more easily, so avoid coffee, black tea, red wine and smoking. Sensitivity to cold can appear for 1 to 3 days and passes on its own. The shade lasts longer with a cleaning every 6 months and less coffee, and the home trays can be reused for top-ups.
05
In-clinic whitening costs £850 and gives the result in one visit. Home whitening costs £450, takes 14 days and leaves you with the trays, which can be reused with new gel. The written plan tells you which option suits your teeth and whether any front filling should be replaced afterwards.
In-clinic whitening costs £850 for a 90-minute session, with gum protection and desensitising gel. Home whitening, with custom trays and 14 days of gel, costs £450.
Whitening with gel within EU concentration limits, supervised by a dentist, does not thin the enamel. It can cause sensitivity to cold for 1 to 3 days, which passes on its own. Abrasive powders and lemon juice used as "natural whitening" can wear enamel down.
How long whitening lasts depends on coffee, tea, wine, smoking and regular cleanings, so there is no fixed term. The shade fades gradually, and a short top-up with the home trays brings it back.
Yes. In-clinic whitening takes one 90-minute visit, or half a day with a cleaning beforehand. You need healthy teeth and gums, which the check-up confirms on the same day.
No. Fillings, crowns and veneers keep their colour, only natural teeth lighten. Front fillings may look darker after whitening and can be replaced with ones in the new shade.