Supervised Home Whitening: Whitening in Lanark
Home whitening at Lanark Smile Studios costs £350, or £315 if you are on one of our dental plans. Your dentist examines your teeth first, has slim trays made from a 3D scan, and prescribes Boutique whitening gel for you to use at home over two to three weeks.
Whitening comes included with our Invisalign treatment and composite bonding packages. UK law allows only registered dental professionals to carry out tooth whitening.
Your whitening dentistDr Melanie Gray BDS with Commendation (Glasgow)Cosmetic and restorative dentistry, Invisalign and facial aesthetics, alongside everyday dental care for the whole family. GDC 113743.Meet Dr Gray ›What's Included
A single fee covers everything from your first assessment to the final review. 1
A Dental Examination
We look for decay, gum issues and failing fillings before you use any gel.
Made-to-Measure Trays
Produced from an iTero scan for a close fit that holds the gel on your teeth, not your gums.
Boutique Whitening Gel
Gel at professional strength, supplied in the quantity your teeth need.
Your Starting Shade
Recorded at the outset, so the improvement can be measured, not guessed.
A Final Review
We compare your shade before and after and explain how to keep it.
Trays You Keep
Store them carefully. Later on, top-up gel from us brightens things again with no need for new trays.
Who It Helps
When to Wait
The Timescale
You come in three times, briefly, and whiten at home for two to three weeks in between.
Assessment and Scan
Your dentist examines your teeth and gums and notes any crowns, fillings or bonding at the front, then takes a short iTero scan for your trays.
Tray Fitting
We make sure the trays fit, show you the small amount of gel each tooth needs and record your starting shade.
Whitening at Home
Wear the trays for the prescribed time each day. Lots of people see a change in week one, and it continues to build from there.
Review Visit
We compare your shade with the starting record and agree with you whether you've reached the colour you wanted.
Sensitivity
Not everyone feels it. During the whitening course, cold can trigger brief, sharp twinges lasting a few seconds. These are short-lived and harmless to the tooth, and they ease off within days of finishing.
Let us know at your assessment if your teeth are sensitive already. Using a sensitivity toothpaste for two weeks before you start, wearing the trays for less time and taking the occasional day off all help. You'll reach the same colour, just a little later.
What Gel Can't Lighten
Whitening gel only works on natural teeth. Crowns, veneers, tooth-coloured fillings and bonding stay the shade they were made. Where any of these are at the front, they can look darker beside your newly whitened teeth.
Your dentist will flag these at the assessment and, if they would be noticeable, plan to replace them afterwards in the lighter shade. If new bonding or veneers are on the cards, whiten beforehand so they match the brighter result.
Deep grey discolouration, such as from certain antibiotics taken years ago or a tooth with a dead nerve, responds less well, and we'll give you a realistic idea of the outcome. 2
Dentist or Shop-Bought Whitening?
The law sets the strength of each type and who may provide it.
| Feature | Prescribed by a dentist | Shop-bought kit |
|---|---|---|
| Peroxide strength | As much as 6%, the highest allowed in the UK | Capped at 0.1% |
| What it does | Whitens from within the tooth | Mainly removes surface staining |
| Trays | Made from a scan of your own teeth | One-size trays or strips |
| Teeth examined first? | Yes, by a dentist | No |
| Who can supply it | A dentist, or a hygienist or therapist following a dentist's prescription | Sold over the counter. Salon or beautician whitening is illegal in the UK |
Making It Last
Over time, teeth gradually stain again. Most people keep a good result for at least a year, with diet and habits making the biggest difference.
Common Causes of Stain
Whitening FAQs
Is it safe, what it costs and how long it lasts.
More on Whitening
Whitening rules in the UK: who's allowed, and what's safe
Teeth whitening in Lanark: the cost, and whether it pays off
Teeth sensitive after whitening? Why it happens and what helps
Keeping your teeth white after whitening: what really helps
Begin with an Assessment
Your dentist will examine your teeth, give you a realistic idea of how much lighter they'll get, and point out any front fillings or crowns that won't whiten.