Teeth whitening
Teeth Whitening Brisbane : custom trays and in chair whitening at all practices
Professional teeth whitening comes in two forms, and Avenue Dental offers both at North Lakes, Murrumba Downs and Woolloongabba. Take-home whitening uses custom trays made to fit your teeth exactly, worn with a dentist-strength gel over a couple of weeks, and it’s the version most dentists use on their own teeth: gradual, even, and the least likely to leave you with sensitive teeth. In-chair whitening does the bulk of the work in a single appointment at the practice, for anyone who’d rather see the change in an hour than over a fortnight.
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 first check-up
New patients at North Lakes, Murrumba Downs and Woolloongabba have custom whitening trays made as part of their new patient check-up, with no separate whitening fee. Trays are issued once your dentist has confirmed your teeth and gums are healthy; anything your mouth needs first is done first.
How it runs: check-up, clean and a digital scan at your first visit; trays made by our in-house lab team in one to two weeks; then a short fitting where you collect your dentist-strength gel and instructions. The whitening happens at home over one to two weeks, and the trays are yours to keep for top-ups.
Terms and conditions apply. See the full terms here.
Want it done in an hour?
In-chair whitening is available at all three Brisbane practices for anyone with a date in the diary. Most of the change happens in a single appointment, and it can be combined with take-home trays to hold the result. A consultation comes first, so your dentist can confirm your teeth are suitable and give you a price for your case.
In-chair whitening from $700
Five ways to whiten your teeth in Brisbane, and what each one actually does
Toothpaste, chemist strips, a salon session, custom trays from a dentist or an hour in the chair: they all promise the same thing and deliver very different amounts of it. Here’s each one on its own terms.
Whitening toothpaste
- Scrubs surface stains away with mild abrasives, leaving the colour of the tooth itself unchanged
- Whatever shade you started at is the shade you stay at
- The harsher pastes wear enamel with years of daily use
- Useful for holding a result, not for getting one
Chemist strips and kits
- Legally capped in Australia at 6% hydrogen peroxide or equivalent, well below dentist strength
- A one-size strip or tray doesn’t match your teeth, so gel skips the edges and sits on the gum
- Gum contact is what stings, and there’s nobody to adjust the dose
- Nobody has looked for decay, cracks or a leaking filling before the gel goes on
- A modest lift that fades quickly, which is why the box keeps getting bought
Salon and kiosk whitening
- Operators aren’t registered dental practitioners, so they’re limited to the same low-strength gel as the chemist
- The blue light doesn’t turn a weak gel into a strong one
- Much of the same-day change is dehydration of the teeth, and it comes back within days
- No examination first, so the things that make whitening sore or patchy aren’t seen
- No dentist to call if sensitivity or uneven patches appear afterwards
Dentist-made custom trays
- Your teeth are examined first, and anything that needs fixing is fixed before you whiten
- Trays made from a scan of your teeth by our in-house lab team, so gel covers every surface and stays off the gum
- Dentist-strength gel that only a registered practitioner can supply
- The shade lifts gradually over one to two weeks, and you stop when you’re happy
- Sensitivity is managed by changing the gel strength or wear time, or with a desensitising gel in the same trays
- The trays last years; a top-up is a syringe of gel rather than a new treatment
- Free with your new patient check-up at all three Brisbane practices
In-chair whitening at the practice
- High-strength gel applied by your dentist, with the gums protected, in one appointment of around an hour
- The fastest visible change, which is the point if there’s a date to hit
- The most likely of the dental options to cause short-term sensitivity, which is managed on the day
- The result settles over the following week, so we pair it with custom trays to hold and finish it
- Available at all three Brisbane practices, from $700, after a consultation to confirm your teeth are suitable
The two dental options share one thing the other three don’t: a dentist examined your teeth before any gel went near them. Most whitening problems begin with gel on a tooth that had an unnoticed crack, a leaking filling or a receding gum, and a check-up first is how you avoid being one of them.
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 whitening works at Avenue Dental Brisbane
Two paths, both starting with a dentist looking at your teeth. Open the steps for the one you’re considering.
Free take-home trays
With your new patient check-up
1Check-up, clean and scan
Your dentist examines your teeth and gums, takes X-rays where needed, and confirms whitening suits you. Any sensitivity you already have is talked about here so the plan allows for it. Trays are only made once your teeth and gums are confirmed healthy, so fillings, gum treatment or hygiene care come first. Then a quick digital scan captures the shape of your teeth.
2Trays made in-house, then fitted
Our in-house lab team makes your trays from the scan, which takes one to two weeks. At a short fitting we check they sit snugly, hand over your dentist-strength gel, and show you how much to use, how long to wear the trays each day and what to do if your teeth feel sensitive.
3Whiten at home
You wear the trays with gel for a set time each day over one to two weeks. The shade lifts gradually, and you stop when you’re happy. If your teeth feel sensitive, skip a night, use less gel, or use the desensitising gel we supply in the same trays, and call us if it doesn’t settle.
4Keep it white
Whitening isn’t permanent; coffee, tea, red wine and time nudge the shade back over a year or two. Because the trays were made to your teeth, a top-up is a few nights with a fresh syringe of gel rather than starting over, and your regular check-ups are a good time to collect one.
In-chair whitening
From $700, after a consultation
1Consultation first
Your dentist checks your teeth and gums, confirms in-chair whitening suits you, and talks through what shade change is realistic and what sensitivity to expect. Any decay, cracks or gum problems are treated before whitening. You leave with a price for your case, from $700.
2The appointment
Around an hour at the practice. Your gums are covered with a protective barrier, a high-strength gel goes on the teeth in timed cycles, and your dentist checks the shade between cycles. Most people notice the change in the mirror before they leave.
3The days after
Teeth can feel zingy for a day or two, which is managed with a desensitising gel. The colour settles over the following week, and you’ll be asked to avoid the things that stain, coffee, tea, red wine and curry, for the first 48 hours while the enamel is most absorbent.
4Holding the result
We pair in-chair whitening with custom take-home trays, so once the shade has settled you can finish it and top it up at home. Trays are made from a scan at your consultation and are yours to keep.
Brisbane Dental Clinic Locations
Why Choose Avenue Dental for Teeth Whitening in Brisbane
Free custom trays with your first check-up — New patients at all three Brisbane practices have custom whitening trays made as part of their check-up, with no separate whitening fee. Terms apply, and they’re linked above.
Both kinds of whitening, under one roof — Take-home trays for a gradual, even result, or in-chair whitening from $700 when there’s a date to hit. Your dentist recommends the one that suits your teeth and your timeline rather than the only one on offer.
Trays made in-house — Our own lab team makes your trays from a digital scan, so they follow every edge of your teeth. Gel goes where it’s needed and stays off your gums, which is most of the difference between whitening that works and whitening that stings.
Healthy teeth first — Whitening gel on a cracked tooth, a leaking filling or a receding gum is where most whitening problems start. The check-up before your trays is how we make sure yours doesn’t.
Three practices, north and south — North Lakes and Murrumba Downs on the northside, Woolloongabba ten minutes from the CBD. Your check-up, fitting and any in-chair session happen at the one you choose.
Top-ups, not repeat treatments — Your trays last for years. When the shade drifts, a fresh syringe of gel at a check-up brings it back for a fraction of starting again.
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 Brisbane: your questions answered
How much does teeth whitening cost in Brisbane?
At Avenue Dental Brisbane, custom take-home whitening trays and your first gel are free with a new patient check-up at North Lakes, Murrumba Downs or Woolloongabba; terms apply. In-chair whitening starts from $700 and is priced for your case after a consultation. Across Brisbane, dentist take-home whitening is commonly quoted from around $300 to $700, and in-chair whitening from around $500 to $1,200. Salon and kiosk sessions are cheaper because they are limited to low-strength gel.
Is in-chair whitening better than take-home trays?
It is faster, and that is the main difference. In-chair whitening does most of the work in about an hour with a high-strength gel applied by the dentist, which makes it the choice when there is a wedding or an event coming up. Take-home trays lift the shade gradually over one to two weeks with less sensitivity, and the final result is similar. At Avenue Dental we pair in-chair whitening with trays, because the colour settles over the following week and the trays hold and finish it.
Do you offer Zoom or laser whitening in Brisbane?
We offer in-chair whitening at all three Brisbane practices, using a high-strength gel applied in timed cycles with the gums protected. The light or laser used in some systems does not change what the gel can do; the gel strength and the dentist applying it are what matter. Ask at your consultation about the system used at your practice and whether it suits your teeth.
Is professional teeth whitening safe?
Yes, when a dentist has examined your teeth first and the gel is kept off your gums. Whitening gel is safe on healthy enamel; problems arise when it reaches a crack, a leaking filling or exposed root surface, or when a one-size tray lets it sit on the gum. That is why every whitening path at Avenue Dental begins with a check-up, and why custom trays are made to your teeth. Temporary sensitivity is the most common side effect and is managed with a desensitising gel.
Why is the check-up required before whitening?
Because whitening only works well, and safely, on healthy teeth. Gel on decay, a cracked tooth or receding gums causes pain and patchy results, and whitening does not change the colour of fillings, crowns or veneers, so your dentist needs to know where they are before you start. The check-up finds all of that first, and it is also where the scan for your trays is taken.
How long does it take to get my trays?
One to two weeks after your check-up, because our in-house lab team makes them from a scan of your teeth. You then have a short fitting appointment to collect the trays and your gel. If you are whitening for a specific date, tell us at the check-up and we will let you know whether trays will get you there in time or whether in-chair whitening is the better route.
How white will my teeth get?
Most people lift their shade by several steps on the dental shade guide, though results vary with the starting colour and the cause of the staining. Yellow and brown staining from food, drink and age responds best; grey tones and tetracycline staining respond less. Whitening does not change fillings, crowns or veneers, and your dentist will tell you at the check-up what is realistic for your teeth.
Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?
Some people feel short-lived sensitivity during treatment, more often with in-chair whitening than with trays. It settles within a day or two and is managed by using less gel, skipping a night, or using the desensitising gel we supply in the same trays. If you already have sensitive teeth, tell your dentist at the check-up so the plan allows for it.
How long does teeth whitening last?
Usually one to two years before coffee, tea, red wine and time nudge the shade back. 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.
Can I whiten if I have veneers, crowns or fillings?
You can whiten the natural teeth around them, but the porcelain and composite will not change colour. If you are planning veneers or crowns on front teeth, whiten first, so the new work is matched to your whiter shade. Your dentist will plan the order at your consultation.
Is whitening at a salon or kiosk the same thing?
No. Salon operators are not registered dental practitioners, so they are limited to low-strength gel, and nobody examines your teeth before it goes on. The light does not make a weak gel stronger, and much of the same-day change is the teeth drying out, which reverses within days. Dentist whitening uses stronger gel, custom trays or gum protection, and a check-up first.
Which Brisbane practices offer whitening?
All three: North Lakes and Murrumba Downs on the northside, and Woolloongabba on the southside, ten minutes from the CBD. Free custom trays with a new patient check-up and in-chair whitening are both available at each.
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.
