Opalescence professional whitening
Professional Opalescence whitening uses peroxide gel under dental supervision to lighten natural tooth colour after an oral assessment.
The short answer
Professional Opalescence whitening is a dentist-supervised treatment that uses carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide gel to lighten natural tooth structure. The dentist selects the gel system, protects soft tissues, and checks whether discoloration is suitable for bleaching.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
Peroxide breaks down into reactive oxygen molecules that move through enamel and dentine and alter coloured organic molecules. Whitening changes natural teeth, but fillings, crowns, veneers, and bridges do not lighten in the same way.
What can you do next?
The dentist checks decay, cracks, gum condition, restorations, and the cause of staining before choosing in-office gel or custom take-home trays. Treatment is followed by instructions about tray wear, gel placement, diet, and managing temporary sensitivity.
When should you seek dental care?
Book an assessment before whitening if teeth are painful, cavities are untreated, gums bleed, or one tooth has darkened. Stop and contact the dental team if gel causes marked gum irritation, persistent pain, or a reaction that does not settle after the instructed use.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask what caused the staining, whether restorations will need colour matching, which peroxide concentration and delivery method are planned, and how sensitivity will be handled. Ask how the result will be maintained and when a repeat assessment would be appropriate.
Frequently asked questions
Can Opalescence whiten a crown?
No, a crown does not lighten through peroxide in the same way as natural tooth structure.
Why can whitening cause sensitivity?
Peroxide can temporarily affect fluid movement through tooth tubules, producing short-lived responses to cold or air.