Amongst all cosmetic treatments in dentistry, teeth whitening remains the most popular. A common misconception that many share about teeth whitening is that it’s a swift process that can produce life-long results after spending 1 hour in the dental chair. However, the reality of it is, these methods can sometimes prove to be ineffective as patients can get early relapse due to superficial bleaching. 

 

More advanced systems tend to take much longer; often 2 to 4 weeks, but produce results you can maintain for a lifetime with a simple at-home top-up regime.

 

Enlighten is a 3-week treatment (for 95% of patients) and guarantees a B1 shade for 98% of cases. Patients are given a treatment kit to take home and use for 3 weeks. The first 2 weeks consist of constantly using the gel each night. Place the gel in the trays and then insert it into your mouth and go to sleep. Rinse them with cold water in the morning and place them somewhere dry, upside down so any excess water can escape.

 

Once you have finished the two weeks of night treatment, move on to your final 3rd-week gel. The 6% gel is to be worn for 1 hour a day for seven days, once this week is complete, you have finished your Enlighten whitening journey. 

 

 

Follow along as we answer our most asked questions about the Enlighten system that patients are eager to know about. 

 

    1. Do I have to go to the dentist for this?

 

Yep. Professional whitening systems have to be done under the supervision of a dentist in the UK.

 

    2.  Can I buy directly from you?

 

Although that would be great, Enlighten whitening is a treatment, not just a product. That means a dentist is needed to perform the treatment, take your moulds, and have your customised whitening trays made. Also, you need a check-up before doing the treatment.

 

Plus UK law prohibits the selling of professional teeth whitening gels directly to the general public because they can only be provided under the supervision of a dentist. But fear not, head to our Find a Dentist section here (find.enlightensmiles.com) and you’ll find an Enlighten dentist near you.

 

    3. How long does it take?

 

3 weeks. But if you have a complex case then it can take up to 8 weeks. Your dentist will be able to give you an accurate expectation during your initial appointment. 

 

    4. How white will my teeth go?

 

98% of cases reach shade B1 and some even go beyond. This is regardless of your age, diet and current teeth shade. A lot of patients go beyond B1, but we can’t guarantee that. 

 

 

    5. If I don’t reach shade B1, what shall I do?

 

Firstly, get in touch with your dentist and let them know your concerns (because they’ll understand your case better than us) if they will get in touch with us and we’ll do everything we can to make it right.

 

    6. What is a ‘saturation point’ and what does it mean?

 

It’s basically the point at which your teeth can’t go any whiter. It varies from person to person and can’t be pinned down to a single shade.

 

    7. Will my crowns/veneers / composite fillings change colour?

 

They won’t, sadly. ☹ Only your natural tooth changes colour. For this reason, we recommend that you have your whitening treatment first and then consider having any cosmetic work done to match up your newly whitened teeth.

 

    8. Is it safe?

 

Completely. Unless you’re pregnant or a nursing mum, in that case we would advise you to wait.

 

    9. Will it hurt?

 

Honest answer? There will be some sensitivity because of the nature of how teeth are whitened. But we did our best to make sure it’s a rare occurrence and many of our patients experience no sensitivity at all. Some do experience a little sensitivity and around 2% of our patients experience a more intense sensitivity. If you do happen to get any, we promise it will go away once you stop the treatment.

 

    10. Is it suitable for vegans?

 

Totally.

 

    11. Are your products tested on animals?

 

Our products are 100% cruelty-free.

 

 

    12. How long does it last?

 

Well, forever really. All you have to do is keep up with a simple at-home top-up regime.

 

    13. What is the recommended top-up regime?

 

Keep the attachments on your back teeth and top-up with a Week 2 syringe (16% CP) once / month for the first 6 months. Get your attachments removed and for the following year, whiten one night every 2 months. In the long run, whiten one night every 6 months, or as and when you feel necessary.

 

    14. Do I need to follow a white diet?

 

Not. At. All.  Who can go without coffee for 2 weeks?

 

    15. Can I drink red wine/coffee & eat curries, etc.?

 

Curries, red wine, coffee – you name it, you can have it, and that’s before, during, and after treatment. And when we say, ‘during treatment’, we mean those 2 weeks of at-home whitening + in-office procedure (but just not whilst the actual trays are in your mouth).

 

    16. How much is Enlighten whitening?

 

The price will differ from dentist to dentist and from practice to practice. So, we can’t give you an exact figure, but it averages from £500-600 for the complete system (which includes enough gels for your 3-week treatment, bespoke Enlighten trays, and toothpaste).

 

    17. How much is the top-up regime?

 

This too will differ from dentist to dentist, but the average tends to be between £60+ per syringe and should last 12-18 months.

 

   18. Are there any finance options?

 

Sure are, a lot of practices now have finance options but make sure to check with your dentist before booking any appointments.

 

    19. Do I need to keep the gels in the fridge?

 

Ok, this part is crucial. The gels (the three syringes) must always be kept in the fridge.

 

 

  20 . What happens if I forget to put the gels in the fridge?

 

Don’t sweat it. If you have left the gels out of the fridge for up to 7 days and were not left in direct sunlight or near a heat source, refrigerate immediately and you should still be ok to use them. Unrefrigerated gels left out for over 7 days should be discarded and you should get new gels. To do so, please contact your dentist.

 

    21. What do I do if I get sensitivity?

 

 Use the Enlighten Comfort desensitising pen by applying the gel to the area of the tooth nearest the gum line, with a focus on the lower front teeth. Keep your lips away from the gel for 30 seconds to allow it to fully absorb. Avoid brushing your teeth for at least 4 hours after applying the Enlighten Comfort.

 

If you still have sensitivity, then you’ll need to contact your dentist because extreme sensitivity can be caused by an external factor and your dentist is likely to have another treatment option.

 

    22. When do I use each toothpaste?

 

Every day. From 2 weeks before and during the treatment, the Enlighten Serum should be used every morning and every night to help with sensitivity instead of your regular toothpaste.

 

Then once you’ve finished the treatment you switch to using the Enlighten White toothpaste for the mornings to keep stains away and prolong results and continue using the Enlighten Serum at night for micro repair. 

The best part is, both tubes of toothpaste have all the properties of regular toothpaste on top of their own.

 

    23. Is there an over-the-counter (over-the-counter) alternative?

 

Nope. Professional teeth whitening is the only thing that will free your teeth from all kinds of stains (intrinsic and extrinsic).

 

Over-the-counter whitening products only clean the extrinsic stains off of your teeth or dehydrate them, giving the illusion of whiter teeth.

 

    24. Does professional whitening affect enamel?

 

Nope. It’s 100% safe.

 

    25. Can it damage the teeth if done for longer than 3 weeks?

 

Not at all. Apart from some sensitivity, no damage can happen (as long as you follow your dentist’s instructions).

 

    26. How many consecutive nights is it safe to do whitening for?

 

There isn’t really a time frame preset. After assessing your case your dentist will give you a time frame depending on your case, and as long as you stick to it you’ll be totally fine (and if it makes you feel better some patients with very dark, greyish teeth have been known to whiten up to 6 months at a time).

 

    27. Can I control the shade of my teeth?

 

Up until B1 (which the shade is we guarantee), you sure can. Once you start the whitening you can do it until you’re happy with the shade or until you reach B1.

 

    28. I don’t want my teeth to be chalky white, how can I make sure this doesn’t happen?

 

The beauty of teeth whitening is that your teeth will never look fake. With veneers and crowns, they can look unnatural. However, your whitened teeth are still your natural teeth and that’s how they’ll look – natural.

Plus, you can stop the whitening when you’re happy with the shade but bear in mind that during the treatment your teeth can dehydrate and look whiter than they will once they’ve rehydrated a few days later.

 

    29. I have finished my 3 week’s whitening treatment, what do I do now?

 

As there is now no in-office appointment with your dentist, and you have finished your whitening treatment, enjoy your new pearly white smile! if you feel the need to contact your dentist for any reason then book yourself an appointment. 

 

    30. How do I know the dentist is good at whitening?

 

Thanks to social media it’s actually pretty easy to figure this one out. 

Head to your chosen dentists’ Instagram or website and peruse through the cases they’ve posted. It’ll give you a good indication of the kind of results they can achieve.

 

Our top providers are called ‘Enlighten Regional Centres of Excellence’ and you can request a free consultation from them through our website if there’s a centre around you.

 

    31. How can I find out where I can get the Enlighten treatment?

 

All you have to do is click here, type in your postcode, and all the closest practices to you that provide Enlighten will show up.

 

    32. If I have any issues who do I contact?

 

Speak to your dentist as they should be your first port of call, but if it’s us you want to speak to then send us an email at info@enlightensmiles.com
and we’ll do everything we can to help.

If you have questions about the whitening kit or wish to speak with a team member, please click HERE 🦷 for assistance. We’re here to help!