Answering dental questions: Teeth whitening and scanning

On a regular basis I answer questions for a feature called The Clinic which appears every week in the Daily Record newspaper.

The paper focuses on a range of professions seeking their advice and knowledge on questions and provides information to the readers.

My most recent ‘appearance’ in The Clinic was on Monday and the two teeth-related topics covered were teeth whitening and scanning.

Here is the information carried in the feature..

Q
I used to get my teeth whitened in a High Street studio but it closed down. Someone suggested it now has to be in a dental clinic. Is this true?

A
Teeth whitening must be carried out by a dental professional. There have been other EU regulations brought in meaning the use of particular strengths and preparations of whitening solution are no longer permitted. Currently the only option is to use home whitening trays, which provides a reliable and successful way to whiten the teeth. It’s important that your dental health is checked before carrying out any tooth whitening treatment.

Q
In discussion with my dentist, I became concerned as he said I might need a scan before I get some implant work done. Should I be worried?

A
If you have any concerns, you should discuss these with your dentist. In some dental implant cases, a CT scan will be undertaken to allow planning of the implant surgery using a three dimensional representation of the remaining bone , nerves and vessels. This is a fantastic tool, however, its use is not always essential and all scans must be adequately justified.

I do hope you’ve found the information above of some use – please don’t hesitate to get in touch with dentists in Glasgow here at the Glasgow-based clinic should you require more details about any of the topics touched on in the questions.