Teeth whitening
Teeth Whitening Melbourne : custom whitening trays from your Melbourne dentist
Teeth whitening (also called teeth bleaching) is one of the simplest ways to change how your smile looks, and for many people it’s the only cosmetic treatment they’ll need. At Avenue Dental Brunswick we whiten with custom-made trays: a digital scan of your teeth, trays moulded to fit them, and a dentist-prescribed whitening gel you use at home over one to two weeks. Trays made to your teeth are designed to hold the gel against the tooth surface and away from the gums, which helps the shade lift evenly and keeps sensitivity to a minimum for most people. Your dentist will check your teeth are suitable for whitening first.
New to Avenue? Your custom whitening trays are included free with a New Patient Check Up. Terms + Conditions apply, see here.
Free custom whitening trays with your new patient check-up
Book a new patient check-up at Avenue Dental Brunswick and, if your teeth are suitable, we’ll make your custom whitening trays at no extra cost.
Your new patient check-up
A full examination with a dentist, X-rays where needed, and a check of your teeth and gums. If anything needs treating first, such as a filling or a clean, that’s done before whitening so the result is even and your teeth are protected.
Digital scan and custom trays
A 3D scan of your teeth, then trays moulded to fit them exactly. They take around two weeks to make, so you’ll come back for a short fitting appointment. Yours to keep and reuse for top-ups.
Whitening gel and instructions
When your trays are ready, you’ll get dentist-prescribed gel and a walkthrough of how to use it, how long for, and what to do if you feel any sensitivity.
Terms and conditions apply. See the full terms here.
Five ways to whiten your teeth, compared
Whitening toothpaste, chemist strips, a salon appointment, custom trays from a dentist, or an hour in the chair. They’re all sold as whitening, and the prices run from a few dollars to a few hundred. What they actually do to your teeth is very different, and most of the difference comes down to two things: how strong the gel is allowed to be, and whether anyone examined your teeth first.
Whitening toothpaste
- Works by abrasion: it scrubs surface stains off, it doesn’t lighten the tooth itself
- Your natural shade stays exactly where it was
- Daily use of the more abrasive pastes can thin enamel over time
- Any “whitening” you notice is usually your teeth being cleaner, not whiter
Chemist strips and kits
- Legally capped at 6% hydrogen peroxide (or equivalent) in Australia, a fraction of what a dentist can prescribe
- One-size strips and trays don’t follow the shape of your teeth, so gel misses the edges and between teeth
- Gel sits on the gums as well as the teeth, which is where the stinging comes from
- Nobody has checked for decay, cracks or leaking fillings before the gel goes on
- Results are modest and fade quickly, so the kits get bought again and again
Beauty salon whitening
- Operators aren’t registered dental practitioners, so by law they can only use the same low-strength gel sold at the chemist
- The light is mostly theatre: it doesn’t make a weak gel stronger
- The on-the-day result comes partly from dehydrating the teeth, and rebounds within days as they rehydrate
- No dental examination beforehand, so problems that make whitening painful or uneven go unseen
- No one to call if you get sensitivity or blotchy patches afterwards
Dentist-made custom trays
- Your teeth are examined first, and anything that needs fixing is fixed before you whiten
- Trays are moulded from a scan of your teeth, so the gel covers every surface and stays off your gums
- Prescription-strength gel that only a registered dentist can supply
- The shade lifts gradually over one to two weeks, so you stop when you’re happy
- If sensitivity shows up, your dentist adjusts the gel or the wear time
- The trays are yours for years: a top-up is a syringe of gel, not a new treatment
- This is what we offer at Brunswick
In-chair whitening at a dentist
- High-strength gel applied in one appointment of around an hour; Zoom is the best-known brand
- The fastest visible change, and the option most likely to cause sensitivity afterwards
- The result settles and softens over the following week, so most dentists send you home with custom trays anyway
- We don’t currently offer in-chair whitening at Brunswick. If you’re whitening for a specific date, tell us and we’ll advise whether trays can get you there in time
Notice what the two dental options have that the other three don’t: someone looked at your teeth before any gel went near them. Most whitening horror stories start with gel on a tooth that had an unnoticed crack, a leaking filling or receding gums. An examination first is how you avoid being one.
Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute clinical advice. Individual suitability, treatment and costs depend on an assessment specific to you. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. View treatment risks here.
How teeth whitening works at Avenue Dental Brunswick
Three visits, then the rest happens at home. Open each step to see what’s involved.
1Your check-up and scan
Your dentist examines your teeth and gums, takes X-rays where needed, and confirms whitening is suitable for you. If a filling or a clean is needed first, that’s booked in before the whitening so the result is even. Then a quick digital scan captures the exact shape of your teeth for the trays.
2Trays made and fitted
Your custom trays take around two weeks to make. At a short fitting appointment we check they sit snugly, hand over your whitening gel, and show you how much to use, how long to wear the trays each day, and what to do if you notice any sensitivity.
3Whiten at home
You wear the trays with gel for a set time each day, usually over one to two weeks. The shade lifts gradually, so you can stop once you’re happy with it. If your teeth feel sensitive, skip a day or use less gel, and call us if it doesn’t settle. We’re a phone call away for the whole process.
4Keep it white
Whitening isn’t permanent. Coffee, tea, red wine and time all nudge the shade back over a year or two. Because your trays are made to your teeth, a top-up is a few nights with a fresh syringe of gel rather than starting again, and your regular check-ups are a good time to pick one up.
Why Choose Avenue Dental for Teeth Whitening in Melbourne
Your teeth are checked before they’re whitened – Every whitening plan starts with a check-up. Decay, cracks and gum problems are found and fixed first, so the gel goes onto healthy teeth and the result is even.
Trays made for your teeth, not the average mouth – Your trays are moulded from a digital scan of your own teeth. The gel sits against every surface and stays off your gums, which is what an off-the-shelf strip or one-size tray can’t do.
Prescription strength, dentist supervised – We use whitening gel at a strength only a registered dentist can supply, and we show you exactly how to use it. If sensitivity shows up, we adjust the gel or the wear time rather than leaving you to guess.
You decide when it’s white enough – The shade lifts gradually over one to two weeks, so you stop at the point that looks right to you. Nobody chooses your shade for you in an hour.
Made to last, cheap to keep – Your trays are yours for years. A top-up is a fresh syringe of gel and a few nights’ wear, not a new treatment, and a regular check-up is a good time to pick one up.
Open when you can get there – Brunswick is open 7am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 7am to 5pm Friday and 9am to 1:30pm Saturday, so your check-up and tray fitting can fit around work.
The information on this page is general in nature and does not constitute clinical advice. Individual suitability, treatment and costs depend on an assessment specific to you. Before proceeding, seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner. View treatment risks here.
Teeth whitening in Melbourne: your questions answered
How long does teeth whitening last?
Results from dentist-made custom trays typically last one to two years, sometimes longer, depending on how much coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco your teeth see. Because your trays are made to fit your teeth, keeping the result is a matter of a few nights with a fresh syringe of gel rather than a new treatment. In-chair whitening results are often quoted at six to twelve months, partly because the initial result settles over the first week.
Does teeth whitening hurt?
Some people notice sensitivity to cold during or shortly after whitening, and it usually settles within a day or two of stopping. Custom trays help by keeping gel off the gums, and your dentist can reduce the gel strength or wear time if sensitivity bothers you. Pain that lasts or is sharp isn’t expected and is a reason to call us.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Dentist-supervised whitening with a prescription gel is considered safe for most adults when your teeth and gums have been examined first. That examination is the safety step: whitening gel on an untreated cavity, cracked tooth or inflamed gums is what causes problems. Whitening isn’t recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or for children.
Will whitening work on my teeth?
Whitening lifts the natural shade of your own tooth enamel. It works best on yellow or brown staining from food, drink and age. It has less effect on grey tones, on teeth stained internally by injury or certain medications, and it doesn’t change the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers. Your dentist will tell you at your check-up what result to expect for your teeth.
Why don’t you offer in-chair whitening at Brunswick?
Because for most people, custom trays get to the same shade with less sensitivity and a result that lasts longer, and you keep the trays for top-ups. In-chair whitening is quicker on the day, but the result settles over the following week and most dentists send you home with trays afterwards anyway. If you’re whitening for a specific date, tell us and we’ll advise whether trays can get you there in time.
Should I whiten before getting veneers or aligners?
Before veneers, yes. Veneers are matched to the shade of the teeth around them and can’t be whitened later, so whitening first means the veneers are made to your whiter shade. With clear aligners, whitening is usually done at the end, once the teeth are in their final position, and your aligner trays can sometimes double as whitening trays.
How much does teeth whitening cost in Melbourne?
In Melbourne, dentist-supervised whitening is commonly quoted from a few hundred dollars for custom trays to over a thousand for in-chair treatment, while chemist kits and salon sessions sit lower and deliver less. At Avenue Dental Brunswick, custom whitening trays are included free with your new patient check-up, with terms and conditions that apply. Top-up gel is available for purchase afterwards.
Can I whiten my teeth if I have fillings or crowns?
Yes, but the fillings and crowns won’t change colour. If they’re on back teeth, that rarely matters. If they’re on front teeth, your dentist will talk you through it at your check-up; sometimes the plan is to whiten first, then replace a visible filling to match the new shade.
Flexible payment plans
At Avenue Dental on the Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide and Melbourne, we understand that dental treatment can be difficult to fit into your budget, which is why we offer a range of different dental payment plan options.
