Tooth Whitening, Teeth Bleaching and same-day Whiter Teeth using Lights, Lasers, Trays, strips etc.

Tooth Whitening, Tooth Bleaching and Laser Teeth Whitening dental treatment options - from Dr.Kilcoyne who is a highly regarded Clinician and Dentistry Teacher in the UK. Tooth Whitening, Competency Training and Tooth Bleaching treatments for Patients, Dentists, Hygienists and other DCPs come from Leeds, Blackburn, Cumbria, York, Huddesfield, Wakefield, Sheffield, Manchester, Halifax, Hull, London, Newcastle and Europe to benefit from Dr.Kilcoyne's decades of Tooth Whitening and Teeth Bleaching Experience and Expertise. UK Specialist * Dr.Tony Kilcoyne helps eliminate much of the tooth bleaching hype and myths circulating on the internet and elsewhere!

Dr.Kilcoyne on a recent dental visit to the USA - please click the video below:

You can "REALLY" have whiter teeth in only 1 Hour with Dr.Tony Kilcoyne - For only £695 £496 Special offer, (plus a £99 Consultation fee) you could have a whitened Smile TWICE as bright, the same day, from us NOW.

Why not make this Summer the time to get that NEW Whiter Smile from Dr.Kilcoyne himself ?
Whiter teeth, in just 1 visit, using the BEST tooth whitening techniques available, from someone with a GREAT Track record too!

WARNING - If Tooth Whitening is done by a Dental Care Professional  Dental (Nurse/Hygienist/Technician etc.) who has NOT yet received Competency Training and Certification, it could harm you OR make your smile worse OR Clash cosmetically with other Dental work etc. The GDC is very clear about Additional Duties for DCPs - they need to be COMPETENT and prove their competency!

Of course your Smile may need a combination of a number of dental treatments planned together , to maximise the effect of the Tooth Whitening or Tooth Bleaching treatments you may desire, which Tooth Whitening alone could not address. For example, look at Dr.Kilcoyne's results when cleverly combining Tooth Whitening expertise with special bonding techniques using cosmetic fillings, to improve the Smile with minimal or no drilling, completed in only 2 DAYS!!

Whitening is often done in combination with other Dental treatments, so it is important to get an OVERALL treatment plan so that the right things can be done to enhance to final result. A very common oversight is to have a front tooth Crowned/Filled and then the patient considers tooth whitening perhaps just a few months later. Unfortunately only natural tooth substance will lighten with Teeth Whitening - Dental Crowns, Veneers, Fillings, Denture teeth etc. all have chemical colouring embedded so DON'T whiten with the natural teeth - thus you could end up with whiter teeth and a Crown/filling that is darker as it hasn't changed. rather annoying if you've just paid £500 for a nice cosmetic front Crown that now stands out even more!

Some cases like Tetracycline Staining, where antibiotics were incorporated into the teeth as the child grew-up, can be the most difficult to treat, but see below what is possible for Dr.Kilcoyne to achieve in just one day, using his Extra Deep Tooth Whitening and Bleaching techniques.

We often find Adult who have had our Fast White Braces that can straighten teeth in months, not years like most traditional brace treatments, like to get their teeth whiter once straighter and this can be done after as little as 2 weeks after brace brackets removal too - thus you may well benefit from a combined treatment approach (eg: reshaping, whitening, fast braces, fewer veneers or crowns etc.) but only a qualified and registered dental professional can give you the best advice for YOU!

Warning - Dangers of Salons and Amateurs attempting Tooth Whitening in the UK !!!

Whilst Tooth Whitening Treatments done by Trained and Competent registered Dental Professionals is relatively safe and successful for many, sadly it is all too easy to cause permanent damage and even Medical side-effects through lack of Professional Training and Competency - can you believe that there are some people out there who think because they can "experiment" on the public because some citizens don't realise only Dental Professionals are qualified and safe (presumably thinking they are saving money but risking their health and their teeth) and Salons and Airport experimenters can cause you serious dental damage, gum problems and even worse!

There has been at least one legal case of a non-Dental Professional making a patient's Asthma permanently worse by using Whitening Chemicals and they have been sued for a LARGE amount of money and there some other 79 legal cases waiting to Sue for irreversible damage ! Many Insurance Companies will NOT insure such dangerous or illegal activity and at least one company has now ceased Toothwhitening and trading in the UK - So don't risk your Teeth or your Health just to save a few pounds !!!

The General Dental Council (GDC) states ONLY Registered and properly Trained Dental Professionals are LEGAL, trained and safe to take account of your medical histories, use whitening systems safely and provide proper cross-infection and sterilisation controls to protect you from harm and diseases that could be passed on by Amateurs who may be looking to make a quick buck, risking your health !

Read what the GDC says about ToothWhitening by clicking here.

Please report ANYONE who is illegally practicing Dentistry in the UK by offering Toothwhitening to the public, by contacting the GDC

on 0845 222 4141 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and they can investigate/prosecute !

Strangely some members of the public don't always report such Salons or Amateurs for either failed tooth whitening treatments or for possibly giving them diseases like AIDS and Hepatitis, perhaps because they feel very foolish or embarrassed having fallen for all the "cheap" promises?

rThe same could be said of Internet Products for ToothWhitening - you simply don't know what you might be getting, if it's Sterile, contains waste chemicals or just harmful Toilet Bleach or other poisons!

Why risk your health and well-being, it's certainly not a bargain if "harm" was the Free offer !

Yes it is more expensive at proper Dental Clinics for a reason - not just our higher standards of training over many years, but also our higher standards of care, hygiene, following ALL the legislation, having all the insurances, personnel health checks and individual vaccinations against Hepatitis, everything Sterilised etc - If dental clinics didn't have to do such high standards routinely I'm sure they could be cheaper too, but they would be the WRONG shortcuts and risk public health! We all want cheaper and better, but cheaper and worse isn't clever at all.

In the meantime, why risk your teeth, gums or general health - please be assured that we are properly qualified, have the Dental Expertise, Competency and long-track record to not only ensure your Safety, but provide Toothwhitening techniques that work the best for YOU too - Thankyou.

ToothWhitening done Safely and Professionally by Dr.Kilcoyne at the SmileSpecialist^® Centre, Haworth, Bradford, Nr. Leeds.

Dr. Tony Kilcoyne is delighted to share his Specialist* knowledge of ALL Toothwhitening techniques, including the current Power Whitening, Tooth Bleaching and Teeth Whitening options, risks, benefits, lasers, lights and legal controversies in the UK and World-wide too! We discuss same-day Power Bleaching systems (such as Britesmile, Enlighten, Pola, Zoom 1, Zoom 2, Zoom Advance, Deep Bleaching, Laser etc), to tray gels of various concentrations that often take several weeks, to the much weaker products sold in UK shops that make such wonderful claims on the packaging, but often greatly disappoint !

Whether you are a Patient, Dentist, Doctor or Surgeon wanting more general information about these tooth bleaching Cosmetic or Medical procedures, without Plastic Surgery, we hope you find our Opinions and extensive experiences interesting and useful information. DENTIST, HYGIENIST or DENTAL NURSE ? CLICK HERE for Tooth Whitening Courses for Tooth Whitening COMPETENCY CERTIFICATION, FAQs etc. Even the most difficult darkened teeth can be whitened the SAME DAY, using Dr.Kilcoyne's decades of Expertise, knowledge and experience in toothwhitening Health, Science and Technology.Dr.Kilcoyne's unique SmileSpecialist® Tooth Whitening materials and techniques can make ALL the difference for you. Just look at this same-day Tooth Whitening result below, achieved by Dr.Kilcoyne's unique techniques.

Please Note - all tooth whitening pictures featured here are Dr.Kilcoyne's genuine original pictures, unaltered and untouched!

Indeed, could one argue that one's overall appearance is so improved by good tooth bleaching and teeth whitening, that Cosmetic Facial Surgery, Facelifts, botox, collagen Implants or other Cosmetic Surgery and Plastic Surgery treatments have lower improvements and impact, cosmetically or psychologically? A more beautiful Smile literally lights up a face and improves self-confidence dramatically, so the effect is greater than just upon the teeth in many cases.

With Dr.Kilcoyne, you gain his extensive experience and expertise in the latest tooth whitening techniques and options, to benefit your Smile in the safest way!

It's NOT just which system used, it's the Experience and Expertise of the operator that can make ALL the difference! For a Second or Specialist opinion about your Smile, please fill out our Patient referral form on the Make Appointment link.

Here's some Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) we often get asked when giving public or professional lectures about Tooth Whitening:

FAQs -

Why does Tooth Whitening seems to be claimed everywhere?

Tooth Whitening refers to any form of tooth colour improvement, which has been siezed upon by various manufacturers, including some toothpaste companies, to imply they actively whiten teeth significantly, when "stain reducing" rather than "tooth whitening" would be more accurate in terms of their action overall and their scientific evidence. We even have "Tooth Whitening" chewing-gum, what next, Tooth Whitening water ?

Any products you can buy "over the counter" usually are weaker than professionally applied and supervised products, for safety reasons, so their advertising and packaging can be very misleading and generally declare the over-promises in the headlines, with the disclaimers in hard-to-find small print!

However, once professional whitening procedures have been completed, then these over the counter "whitening" toothpastes and products can help maintain those "whiter" improvements for longer, simply by reducing the staining build-up. Clearly, there is a lot of marketing "hype" out there that needs to be put back into proportion.

Although products like those above sell in high quantities in the UK, their titles like "Simply White" or "Extra Whitening" are at best misleading and at worst a totally false claim, compared to the "Mainly stain reducing slightly, perhaps" reality of how they actually work for most people.

Only Dentist prescribed tooth bleaching actually WHITENS TOOTH SUBSTANCE significantlyand is safe, effective, a high enough concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide in a neutralised form, applied carefully so it avoids gum tissues, old fillings and crowns to avoid damage and/or sensitivity or nerve problems.
Do NOT use normal hydrogen peroxide or allow unknown sources of chemicals claiming to be Tooth Whitening gels into your mouth just because they are cheap - they could EASILY cause permanent damage to teeth, gums or worse !!!

Indeed Professional tooth whitening by a qualified Dentist or Dental Hygienist/Therapist with additional training is safe, can often avoid injections or tooth removal and has great social and psychological benefits too, when done well and avoiding common dental problems and health damage that non-Dental Professionals can cause, giving toothwhitening a bad press and in some cases, causing irreversible damage to one's general health when done wrong, but being Amateurs, they can just go somewhere else and start-up under a different name, because they can't be struck-off and are not regulated or properly insured etc.

What about Veneers, Crowns or even Dentures to improve my Smile?

We usually advised trying tooth bleaching first, to avoid the need for drilling tooth away, or at least minimising that and any more complex cosmetic work. It seems that Tooth Bleaching can reduce not just the perceived need for Cosmetic Dentistry, but also reduce the need for some Cosmetic Facial Surgery, such as face-lifts, aging creases, botox, collagen lip implants etc. Whiter Teeth make a BIG improvement to Smiles - Quickly.

Please note - If you have had problems with receiving tooth-whitening treatments from people or establishments NOT QUALIFIED AS DENTISTS to deliver this treatment to you safely, then we may still be able to help you overcome any severe sensitivity caused, damaged Crowns/Veneers or permanent gum damage or mouth ulcers etc, or even if you felt it was just a very disappointing result. or waste of money!

PLEASE do not confuse Professionally supervised Tooth Whitening by a Qualified Dentist who has examined your mouth first, with the dabbling or experimentation of hairdressers or ear-piercers who may do permanent damage with so called cheap materials " just like the dentist uses " - unlike hair, teeth do NOT grow back again if ruined and Asthma  !!!

There are some problems that only a thorough mouth Examination by a Dentist can detect and therefore avoid, not to mention the cross-infection control, university training and fine skills needed to do the job well and safely - it doesn't take 5 years to qualify as a Dentist at University for nothing !

Will Bleaching give you a whiter smile forever?

No, whitening isn't forever is the straight answer. But then neither does general Cosmetic Surgery, Breast Implants, Facelifts last forever either! Also, tooth bleaching techniques DO NOT lighten artificial Dental work ie:Fillings, Crowns etc, but used incorrectly bleaching materials can damage Dental work permanently! Only natural tooth substance lighten, which is important in treatment planning!. Thus you may need or want to change some restorations to match any lighter tooth shade achieved first by tooth bleaching, which will have further costs implications.

Although bleached teeth gradually darken again, it could be 2 or 3 years before you need a "partial" bleaching top-up, to maintain the lightness desired. A lot depends on how much you are willing to change your "lifestyle". Drink less "staining" liquids such as tea and coffee, use the cleaning techniques recommended by your Dentist or Hygienist, see your Dentist regularly to monitor your Dental health and get more frequent "scalings", then you will have whiter teeth for longer! However, lots of consumption of tea, coffee (look at what this does to white cups!), smoking, red wine etc, means that your lifestyle indicates you may need a full treatment within 2 years (rather than a "partial" top-up) to get a whiteness you are happy with. Interestingly though, once people have experienced lighter teeth, they often take better care of their smiles AND want the full treatment again, to see if they can go even lighter next time!

What is Power Bleaching and Power Whitening?

This usually refers to very high concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide gels (20%+ strength), which ironically are prone to causing too much de-hydration which can re-hydrate and reverse the whitening effect almost completely, unless special additional steps are taken, such as Dr.Kilcoyne's rehydration formula. If this isn't done, then the dehydration also seems to impede the whitening process deeper in the tooth, by forming a more impervious barrier to the osmotic effect of the tooth whitening gel. This includes branded names such as Enlighten, Pola and Zoom, but the manufacturers can change concentrations and gel formulations with little notice, so these must be checked regularly. Britesmile's gel (only 15% hydrogen peroxide) is a lower % of H2O2, takes a little longer than other systems, but does produce LESS dehydration effects when manufacturer's instructions only are followed by all the power whitening systems. Whilst such treatment is often  enough alone, some people also benefit by using the other tray-based options described below. Some "Power" Bleaching systems use very high concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide (30% or above) which may de-hydrate the teeth even more greatly, so in our opinion there is no advantage to do this and one of THE myths in tooth whitening is the higher the %, the better the whitening effect overall - this is simply WRONG!

Whilst dehydration does make teeth look whiter initially and doesn't harm the tooth generally, it is prone to quickly reversing some of the whitening when you drink water or "coloured" liquids etc. Thus, the optimum results are NOT achieved using the higher concentrations that cause higher de-hydration, unless other steps are taken to minimise this and reduce the "de-hydration" loss in whiteness, that actually occurs with ALL bleaching systems. This is why Dr.Kilcoyne's specific approach, developed over a decade now, optimises the balance between being the quickest AND the most effective, short and medium-term, which is what we wish to achieve ultimately.

See below an example of a Power-Whitening system (Britesmile) which has a long track record of use in the USA, where Dr.Kilcoyne first came across this system before it was available in the UK:

Currently other "same-day" bleaching systems simply don't seem to have this quality or volume of scientific data to back-up their claims, which is why we have offered the American "Britesmile" system as our first-choice light-enhanced tooth-Whitening system. 

Stop Press - Tooth Whitening now only £595 , inclusive of Dr.Kilcoyne's Consultation & Expertise.

Individual results cannot be guaranteed by anyone, because everyone varies, but with Dr.Kilcoyne's extensive Tooth Whitening Experience, expertise and knowledge of the latest whitening techniques, we can ensure that your teeth WILL be lighter and brighter - all that varies is by how MUCH will your teeth be brighter. This depends how well your teeth respond to our special "rehydration and whitening " procedures, but at least you will know the results the same day, without delay, using Dr.Kilcoyne's extensive experience and expertise.
Costs Only £695 now £496 to achieve similar results with us in 1 Hour ( If a new patient to us, remember to add on the Cosmetic Consultation fee, still only £595 total) For a Smile TWICE as bright, we have the Expertise, Experience and Technology to give you the very BEST advice and results !!!

Other Tooth Whitening Treatment options:

Other options to same-day bleaching can include using trays daily or nightly, over much longer periods. These may be cheaper initially, but require multiple visits and the results are often not as "white" or long lasting either and teeth are sensitive when these are used for weeks of treatment. The pictures below show Dr.Kilcoyne teaching Dentists how to construct these and how to apply the gel correctly to get medium-good results with trays.

Professionally assisted Tooth Whitening
This may be started at the Dentists, then is completed at home under the instructions and with the materials your Dentist provides to you. Typically this would take 2 weeks of wearing bleaching tray's nightly, using the prescribed bleaching gel. However, certain resistant discolouration may need many more days/weeks of tray bleaching before a satisfactory, lightened result occurs. Everyone is different and unique !!!

How much improvement can I expect?
Again, everyone is different, with different needs and causes of their tooth discolouration. With our same-day treatments, we have been getting an average of 8 or 9 shade improvement in Brightness, with the loss of 2 shades in the first 4 weeks, then losing 1 shade every 6 months. This has been backed up with clinical studies too, in the USA. For trays, we have found that most people get several brightness shades improvement ( 4 or 5) on a Dental shade guide, but then lose about 1 shade every 4 months. Everyone is different though, which is why a personal consultation is essential! Usually, the Darker the teeth, the greater the scope for improvement. However, there are some stains resistant to treatment (eg: Grey's), and these may need bleaching for much, much longer, or need same-day bleaching and trays combined, multiple Britesmile treatments or even other kinds of treatment that remove tooth substance, such as Veneers or Crowns. This is why an individual assessment is so important!

If I Have the same day 1 hour whitening from you, is the next 24 hours a problem for sensitivity or eating ?
Some sensitivity is normal, tends to be on and off and just short duration (seconds). If anything goes beyond short sensitivity, take your normal painkillers. It is rare that there then would be any need to contact the treating dentist, but if at all concerned, do contact them directly for advice.
Diet wise, you do need to be "good" for 24 hours! Basically, for just 24 hours avoid ANYTHING in your mouth that would stain a white shirt or blouse on contact !

So if you are a red wine drinker, swap to white wine, if you must have a coffee or tea, drink it through a straw and rinse with water afterwards! Before your visit, therefore, have your Curry, red wine, Coffee/tea and prepare some simple to eat yet relatively stain-free meals for the rest of that day. For example, you can eat chicken, white rice, fish (but not the dark skin), bananas, semolina etc. See the advice card that we issue below,as a good example:

Please remember that the advice is different with trays worn over a longer period of weeks or months. The problems such as chewing through trays or sensitivity may last longer or reduce improvements too! Power-Whitening is just a simpler, same day bleaching treatment with a 24 hour inconvenience, but with the best results possible too in the shortest time! Sometimes we will combine In-Surgery Whitening with Tray Treatments you can use at home, if you are willing to tolerate wearing Trays for several weeks too.

How does" Professional " Tooth Whitening work?
Basically, your Dentist or Specialist has "Professionally" examined your teeth and mouth, has taken into account your medical history, medications and likely complications such as receding gums exposing root surfaces, leaking fillings and mouth ulcers which could leave you with lasting complications. You will then be given an overall plan for other needs so the whitening won't make existing or future crowns, Veneers and Fillings worse, you will then be prescribed the best bleaching concentration and application for your needs and wishes, as well as carefully monitoring during and after treatment - that is why this is superior and safer than any "over the counter" products unsupervised! Teeth may have darker enamel and dentine to start with, but do naturally darken over time as minerals and stain penetrate the tooth's enamel too. Whitening agents work by forcing oxygen through the enamel of the tooth. Stains can then quickly disappear, without damaging the tooth's structure. This has been confirmed by scientific studies from the USA, where bleaching techniques are nearly 20 years old!. Dr. Kilcoyne knows the very latest techniques and materials (some of these are a significantly higher concentration than those previously used in the UK) from the USA, where he studied in New York just before the tragic terrorist attacks there. He has since returned to the USA several times and has the latest information on bleaching materials and techniques, to benefit Patients and Dentists too!

Why is there some controversy here in the UK about the legal position on "Tooth Bleaching" products?

Unfortunately, it seems that because some recent European legislation was drawn up about all hydrogen peroxide (a type of bleach) products being sold direct to the public, it was included in the EU "Cosmetic" directives (which limits use to extremely small concentrations). This was mainly to prevent the public buying cometics and eating them for self-harm or putting in their eyes accidently etc. However, legally, it has also meant that in the UK using more than 0.1%H2O2 in proper Dental whitening gels is also regarded as illegal, when used for purely Cosmetic purposes.

The EU seem to have overlooked that "Professionally" Dentist prescribed and supervised tooth bleaching products, which have many years (15+) of Scientific evidence of safety when prescribed/supervised by a Dentist, should have perhaps been placed in the "Medical" directives, which would have allowed their continued "prescription" without any confusion. There are now moves to try and correct this legal "oversight" and the "professionally prescribed" tooth-bleaching treatments continue in much of mainland Europe, the USA and the majority of the rest of the world as normal, with the usual Professional precautions that only a Registered qualified Dental professional can do !

Sadly only the UK seems to have made this a significant formal "legal" issue, with the DTI taking a products company (not Dentists!) to English court, losing the case initially then winning the appeal in high court, on a legal judgement. Even this "appeal" showed that "professionally supervised" tooth bleaching was extremely safe and effective, that has never been an issue and their case only related to a supplier of products, not a Clinician!

Since then, all the Government's Chief Dental Officers (since Dame Margaret Seward) have said that the Department of Health agree that therapeautic uses by Dentists are OK. More recently the GDC has said that as long as registrants are applying tooth bleaching gel for therapeutic use and with patients' consent, they will not take action and even the Department of Trade and Industry have had circulars to take a low profile on this issue. Unfortunately 9and strangely) the DTI have seen fit to remove these previous low-profile notices, so for Dentists there are no guarantees that no action will be taken, even when acting in patients' best interests and even when the GDC still advises the public to see Dentists and certain registered Dental Care Professionals under certain conditions, for Tooth Whitening:

Amazingly Dentists must still continue to put themselves at some risk, so that patients are not left feeling miserable about their smiles, or even getting depressed about it, or be forced to pick up the dental drill and cut healthy tooth down for Veneers or Crowns without using the less-invasive tooth Bleaching option, due to the legal uncertainty and Trading Standards Officers being over-zealous in some areas of the UK. Clearly non of this is helping anyone, least of all our patients who wish to access 21st century techniques from the safest and most qualified source = Dental Professionals!

Again read further what the GDC says about the dangers of non-dental Salons and amateurs doing ToothWhitening leading to hundreds of complaints and problems for the public:

No-one though seems keen to spend millions in legal fees to finally put this "ridiculous" situation to rest, in the public interest. Thus, Professionally applied tooth-bleaching is still "widely" available in the UK from Dentists to benefit patients clinically, where it improves greatly the self-esteem and social and psychological health of patients and can be planned properly along with other dental treatment needs to avoid complications. Tooth Whitening when done safely by Dentists and properly registered and trained Dental Professionals, can motivate people to look after their dental health better and can prevent more invasive treatments being needed in the future. Tooth Bleaching is widely available in Europe, the USA and indeed the rest of the world.

Meanwhile the current "intermediate" legal judgement has yet to be tested in the European courts, especially as certain sources believe that this law applied to Dentistry, would be an infringement of the Dentists and patients Human Rights to chose the safest treatment for their wishes and needs. It is highly likely that European Courts would quash any "anti-Dentist" tooth bleaching treatment judgement outright, that infringes Human Rights legislation, or forces patients to have alternative, more risky or destructive treatments, when tooth bleaching is a perfectly safe and preferable dental treatment in many cases, when Professionally prescribed.

It may though still take years before European parliamentary time is given to formally "correcting" their recent "oversights" in law with respect to "Professionally supervised" tooth bleaching by Dentists. Certainly we do not advocate breaking the law (for which we have great respect), but clearly the "spirit" of this relatively new law needs interpretation and contrasting with other, more established laws (human rights), rather than just following blindly the letter of the new law, which we feel has not yet been fully tested OR finished being modified by the European legal system. Such changes and position are even more reasonable now, given the most recent scientific report by the EU's own scientific committee SCCP in December 2007, which states Dentist supervised and prescribed Tooth Whitening is the safest and the most evidence-based way for patients to get Tooth Whitening treatment most appropriately.

So what do we do legally in the UK?

Well tooth bleaching isn't the only legal anomaly left unresolved in the UK. You may also be interested to know that other "legal" quirks exist too. For example, if you take a "black carriage" cab in London, without a bail of hay with you, then you are also "breaking" the law. Additionally, if all men in England do not practice their Archery on every Sunday (weather allowing), then they can also be thrown in the gallows! Clearly, that would be ridiculous if these were "still" enforced, but the legislators have yet to get around to changing this situation! Likewise, UK Dental tooth-bleaching has yet to be "legally concluded" and matured in process and hopefully common sense will prevail in the public interest, overall.

In the meantime it seems UK Dentists risk being Dammed if they offer tooth bleaching options to their patients who are asking for this type of treatment (via the EU Cosmetics Directives) and Dammed if they don't via EU Human Rights legislation and professional ethical guidance to offer the most effective treatment options that do least harm to patients or have least risks!
It is hoped that pressure put upon European parliament will change this law and formally recognise Dental Professionals with additional training, as the only people who are safe and properly trained to provide Prescribed tooth Whitening Treatments, including hydrogen Peroxide alternatives, if that is the best for patients!

Alternatives to tooth bleaching:

Alternatives to using professionally supervised bleaching gels (usually much greater than 0.1% Hydrogen Peroxide limit) are either very ineffective, or unsafe (eg: Sodium Perborate) or involve the irreversible removal of tooth substance. Alternatives can involve whitening treatments topical materials that are either less effective (virtually everything bought over the counter in the UK that claims tooth whitening), or weaker Dentist applied gels (eg: Calcium Peroxide etc,) or much more caustic materials (eg: HCL + Pumice) and abrasive, wearing away some of the tooth surface. Other "abrasive" treatments may even "roughen" teeth, causing more staining ultimately! Restoratively, teeth can be treated with various Veneers or Crowns (we do over 25 types for different physical and Cosmetic needs). This though involves significant tooth removal for "un-restored" virgin teeth and is very "invasive" to body tissues compared to the well established tooth bleaching techniques we have today. However, some types of Crowns or Veneers may be a good choice if the teeth are already filled or root-filled or need repositioning or re-shaping as well as whitening.

See these pictures for an idea of how much teeth need to be drilled down for Veneers and Crowns, even when done very conservatively by a Specialist* like Dr.Kilcoyne, then multiply this drilling by maybe 10 top and 10 bottom teeth, when Tooth Whitening done properly by a registered Dental Professional could reduce or even eliminate the need for this, if the only problem was the teeth weren't light enough in colour! Now do you see how suddenly Tooth Whitening can prevent tooth-loss or teeth being drilled down in many cases, which whilst legal to do shouldn't feel they are being forced down this alternative by say Trading Standards officers being over-zealous perhaps?

Our SmileSpecialist® Tooth Bleaching Conclusions:

Professionally prescribed tooth whitening BY DENTISTS and DENTAL HYGIENISTS/THERAPISTS with additional training, is proven to be safe, effective, saves good tooth from being "drilled" away unneccessarily and when carefully applied, is a relatively safe and dependable way to lighten your teeth and improve your smile. It is a very popular form of treatment which literally the public are banging on Dental Teams doors and asking for! There are some disadvantages (only lightens tooth substance) and serious side-effects if done without a Dentist examination first, such as interaction with your Medications, can damage your lungs and cause Asthma permanently, gum damage, recession, toothache and even tooth-loss and it may not work for everyone, but once properly examined and prescribed the right KIND of Whitening treatment, it is then a safe and biologically friendly procedure that can treat multiple teeth very conservatively indeed.

When done by a competent and GDC registered Dentist or Dental Care Professional, tooth whitening and tooth bleaching can still have minor side-effects (such as temporary sensitivity) and any other essential work, like leaking fillings or subtle gum disease, can be treated and fixed first, so that Tooth Whitening doesn't harm you overall. Tooth Whitening still leaves all other cosmetic dental treatment options open ( like Veneers, Ceramic Crowns etc.) and works well for many cases as part of a COMBINED dental treatment plan to improve your smile and dental health overall. Although there is (remarkably) still some "legal" controversy in the UK about tooth bleaching, Dentists and DCPs are obliged to act in patients "best" interests first and ensure patients "Human Rights", which are also protected in European law. Thus, "denying" a safe and effective "tooth-bleaching" treatment after a dental examination, could breach a patient's "Human Rights", when it is widely known that the "lesser" European law and it's interpretation is in the process of being changed to "allow" UK Dental tooth-bleaching by Dental Professionals anyway, it is just stuck in the slow political legislative processes!

Her Majesty's Government also recognises Dentists are the only safe way for the Public to access Tooth Whitening treatments via an examination first, as recently confirmed in a Parliamentary answer by the Secretary of State for Health (Ann Keen) on 25th July 2007. Also again in 2009 the Scottish Government, the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly have all endorsed the GDC position of only Competent Dental Professionals being the ONLY legally recognised source of tooth Whitening treatments to the public. So there is a UK wide parliamentary legal concensus and agreement on this issue, which should reassure the public.

Clearly tooth-bleaching saves good tooth from being drilled away for veneers or crowns when patients only need/want whiter teeth, as well as greatly improving self-confidence and psychological well being, which goes well beyond any superficial cosmetic effect. Dentists treat the "whole" person and do a thorough examination before deciding if tooth bleaching is clinically appropriate to be prescribed. That is why you MUST always see a registered Dental Professional after a Dentist has examined you and checked for the dangers/complications first, so these can be reduced or eliminated before undertaking certain kinds of Tooth Whitening alternatives!

Remember too that over the counter products are generally much weaker than Professionally applied products, for safety/overdose reasons too, so don't be put-off from seeking proper tooth Whitening Treatments from proper Dental Professionals. when cheaper products have failed or caused you damage.

Please be very sceptical of the marketing "hype" and exaggerated claims that often follow these "shop" or "magazine" based products. They are simply too "weak" to actually "whiten" tooth substance well or worse, the public can do themselves GREAT HARM if they go to someone who isn't qualified and registered with the GDC in the UK. Even on the internet, you may come across dangerous claims stating "just like Dentists use" or  a "housewife's cheap tooth-whitening secret...", which is actually lemon juice that will dissolve all your enamel away and ruin your teeth permanently !!!

We all like a bargain, but your health and your teeth are not disposable like cheap jewelery when that advert was exaggerated hype from an unknown and often unaccountable source.

Dr. Kilcoyne has over 25 years of Experience and qualified Expertise to ensure that if suitable, we can make your teeth TWICE as bright, in only 1 hour or so !!!

Just look at the results Dr.Kilcoyne can achieve in as little as an hour!

The above shows shade change of D3 left picture) to B1 (right picture) in one hour at our Smile Specialist Centre - ask any Dentist, that's a great result !!!

For only £99 for our Cosmetic Consultation fee, you can have a Specialist Opinion about the best way to improve your Smile, with all modern options (including alternative non-bleaching treatments too) and costings given, so you can decide what is best for you, before proceeding with any treatment.

If you feel that you would like other Cosmetic or Plastic Surgery, Lip Collagen Implants, Botox, Liposuction, Eye, Chin or Nose Surgery etc, we can arrange this for you too. However, we would always suggest that you have tooth bleaching first, especially our same-day systems giving quick results. You may just find that the improvement and impact is so great, that you may not need other invasive or risky Cosmetic Surgery treatments!

Just imagine after a face lift and new hairdo, the still very negative psychological effect of having a black gap left by a missing front tooth when you smile ! Suddenly it doesn't matter how nice the makeup and hair is set, that missing tooth totally spoils one's appearance - that is the POWER of the Smile to improve or ruin one's appearance to others, no matter how much time and expense you have gone to in other things - neglecting your Smile is one of the worst things you can do - have you noticed this Negative effect in others too?

For more FREE Dentistry Information, you can use the above website menu or just click-a-link here for Specialist or Advanced aspects of Cosmetic Dentistry, Tooth Veneers, Tooth Whitening, Dental Tooth Implants and smaller Mini-Implants, Dental Ceramic Crowns, Gum Diseases and Bad Breath, Root Canal treatments or Dental CPD Courses, are just some of the subjects you can learn more about here on our award winning dental website www.smilespecialist.co.uk.

Tooth Whitening done well can be a good overall Smile improver for many teeth in as little as one easy visit - yes other things may need doing too such as dark/old fillings replaced with something lighter and better, but many smiles can be DRAMATICALLY improved relatively easily, without having a load of Veneers and Crowns to achieve this - why not find out your options ?
At the SmileSpecialist® Centre we treat patients and teach our techniques to Professionals from Leeds, Bradford, Yorkshire, north, west, south, east, Manchester, Central London, Preston, York, Stockport, Sheffield, Wakefield, Huddersfield, Halifax, Keighley, Haworth, London, M25, Skipton, Harrogate, Airedale, Calderdale, Wokingham, Kew, Kent, Derbyshire, Bristol, Berkshire, Cheshire, Birmingham, Newcastle, Hull, Lincoln, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Northern, Midlands, Eire, Greater Manchester, Chester, Oxford, Cambridge, Durham, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry, Stoke, Oldham, Bury, Blackburn, Cumbria, Liverpool, Teeside, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dublin, Belfast, Europe, USA , Australia and Japan too.

En Francais:
Pour la dent blanchissant ou blanchiment cosmétique des dents pour un normal, un beau sourire plus blanc, rien bat notre système de blanchissement de puissance douce américaine de Britesmile. Ayez un sourire plus blanc en seulement une heure - aucuns aiguilles, exercices ou bruit! aucuns plateaux incommodes. Veuillez téléphoner au R-U +44(0)1535 644005 pour le prix et promouvez l'information.

Auf Deutsch:
Für bleichenden oder Cosmetic Weiß werden Zahn den der Zähne für ein natürliches, schlägt weißeres schönes Lächeln, nichts unser amerikanische Britesmile leichte Energie bleichensystem. Haben Sie ein weißeres Lächeln in nur einer Stunde - keine Nadeln, Bohrgeräte oder Geräusche! keine ungünstigen Behälter. Telephonieren Sie bitte Großbritannien +44(0)1535 644005 für Preis und fördern Sie Informationen.

In Italiano:
Per il dente che candeggia o imbiancatura cosmetic dei denti per un naturale, il sorriso bello più bianco, niente batte il nostro sistema d'imbianchimento di alimentazione delicata americana di Britesmile. Abbia un sorriso più bianco in soltanto un'ora - nessun aghi, trivelli o rumore! nessun vassoi inopportuni. Telefoni prego il Regno Unito +44(0)1535 644005 per il prezzo ed avanzi le informazioni.

En Espanol:
Para el diente que blanquea o el blanquear cosmético de los dientes para un natural, una sonrisa hermosa más blanca, nada bate nuestro sistema que blanquea de la energía apacible americana de Britesmile. ¡Tenga una sonrisa más blanca en solamente una hora - ningunas agujas, taladros o ruido! ningunas bandejas incómodas. Llame por teléfono por favor Reino Unido +44(0)1535 644005 para el precio y fomente la información.

If a dental Professional see www.4everlearning.com about Whitening Course and Competency Training!

*Dr.Kilcoyne is a UK registered Specialist in Prosthodontics (GDC No.58373) which includes The Functional and Cosmetic Dentistry aspects of Crowns, Dental Implants, Bridges, Veneers, Fillings, Dentures, Bonding etc. Please go to our MAKE an APPOINTMENT page if you'd like to access his Expertise.

We hope you have found our Tooth Whitening Information helpful, informative and useful - please do tell others about us too, simply use the email button top right of this page - Thankyou.