Dental Practice, Kennington
Teeth Whitening in Kennington
A brighter smile is the smallest change with the biggest payoff in cosmetic dentistry — no drilling, nothing removed from your teeth, and a result you'll notice in photographs. Our ZOOM home whitening kit is £395.
- ZOOM home whitening kit £395
- Top-up syringes £30
- Carried out by a GDC-registered dentist
- Laser-assisted whitening available
How does teeth whitening work?
Teeth whitening uses a peroxide gel to lift stain particles out of the enamel, making the natural tooth lighter. It does not strip, coat or damage the tooth surface.
Enamel isn't solid — it has microscopic pores, and decades of coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco leave pigment inside them. Whitening gel breaks that pigment down so light reflects off the tooth more brightly again.
That's why it's different from a scale and polish. Polishing removes stain sitting on the tooth; whitening changes the colour of the tooth. Plenty of people only need the first — we'll tell you if that's you before you pay for the second.
What causes teeth to go yellow?
- Coffee, tea and red wine — the most common culprits, and they build up gradually enough that you don't notice.
- Smoking and vaping — tar and nicotine stain enamel heavily.
- Fizzy and energy drinks — acidic, so they both stain and thin the enamel.
- Age — enamel thins over the years and the naturally yellower dentine underneath starts to show through.
- Some antibiotics taken in childhood, which stain from within the tooth and respond differently to whitening.
Knowing the cause matters, because it decides whether whitening will work well for you. Surface staining responds very well. Staining from inside the tooth — after trauma, or from childhood medication — is more stubborn and may be better answered with veneers or bonding. You'll get a straight answer on that at your consultation rather than after you've paid.
Your starting shade is recorded before treatment, so the change is measured rather than remembered. People forget their original shade remarkably quickly.
Home whitening kit or in-practice whitening?
Both use professional-strength gel supplied by a dentist. The difference is how quickly you get there.
| ZOOM home kit | In-practice laser whitening | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | At home, in custom-made trays | In the chair at the practice |
| How long | Worn over a couple of weeks | A single appointment |
| Control over shade | High — you stop when you're happy | Result achieved on the day |
| Top-ups later | Yes — £30 per syringe, using the same trays | Usually maintained with a home kit |
| Price | £395 | Priced at consultation |
Most patients choose the home kit, because the custom trays stay yours — topping up before a wedding or a holiday later costs £30 rather than a whole new course.
Step by step
What happens when you whiten your teeth with us
A check first
Whitening gel goes everywhere in your mouth, so decay, gum disease and leaking old fillings are ruled out or treated first. Whitening an unhealthy mouth is uncomfortable and can make sensitivity much worse.
Your shade is recorded
We note where you're starting from, so the change is measured rather than remembered. People forget their original shade remarkably quickly.
Custom trays are made
Impressions are taken and thin, close-fitting trays made for your teeth. The fit is what keeps the gel on the enamel and off your gums — the main reason shop-bought one-size trays disappoint and irritate.
You whiten at home
You'll be shown exactly how much gel to use and how long to wear the trays. Use too much and it squeezes onto the gum and stings; there's no advantage to overfilling them.
We check the result
A follow-up to compare against your starting shade and sort out any sensitivity. Keep the trays — top-up syringes are £30 whenever you want to refresh.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Professional teeth whitening is safe when it is carried out by a registered dental professional. In the UK, whitening teeth is legally a dental procedure.
That's not a marketing line, it's the law. Only a registered dental professional may whiten teeth in this country. Beauty salons and non-dentists offering whitening are breaking the law, and the GDC prosecutes for it.
The reason is simple: peroxide gel on unprotected gums burns, and whitening an undiagnosed cavity or a cracked tooth hurts badly. A dentist checks your mouth first and makes trays that keep the gel where it belongs.
What to expect
- Sensitivity is common and temporary. Cold things may feel sharper during treatment and for a day or two afterwards. It settles.
- Whitening doesn't change crowns, veneers, bridges or fillings. They stay the shade they were made — which is why whitening comes before any new cosmetic work, never after.
- Results vary between people. Surface staining lifts well; deeper discolouration may lift less.
- It isn't permanent. How long it lasts depends on what you eat, drink and smoke — top-ups keep it where you want it.
Polishing removes stain sitting on the tooth. Whitening changes the colour of it — and we'll tell you which one you actually need.
Fees
How much does teeth whitening cost in Kennington?
| Treatment | Price |
|---|---|
| ZOOM whitening — home kit with custom trays | £395 |
| Top-up gel (per syringe) | £30 |
| Scale & polish with the dentist | £100 |
| Airflow stain removal with the hygienist | £145 |
If your discolouration is mostly surface staining, a hygiene appointment with Airflow may be all you need — we'll say so rather than sell you whitening you won't benefit from.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much is teeth whitening in Kennington?
A ZOOM home whitening kit with custom-made trays is £395 at Pure Elegant Smile, and top-up syringes are £30 each. In-practice laser whitening is priced at your consultation.
How long does teeth whitening last?
Typically a year or two, though it depends heavily on your habits — coffee, tea, red wine and smoking will shorten it. Because you keep your custom trays, topping up costs £30 a syringe rather than a full course again.
Does teeth whitening damage enamel?
No. Professional whitening gel lifts stain out of the pores in enamel rather than removing or thinning it. Temporary sensitivity is common during treatment, but the enamel itself is not damaged.
Can beauty salons legally whiten teeth in the UK?
No. Tooth whitening is legally a dental procedure in the UK and may only be carried out by a registered dental professional. Salon whitening is illegal, and it's also risky — nobody has checked your mouth for decay or gum disease first.
Do whitening toothpastes work?
They remove some surface staining, which helps a little, but they can't change the natural colour of the tooth — the ingredient that does that is only available through a dentist. Some are also quite abrasive, so they shouldn't be your only approach.
Will whitening work on my crowns or veneers?
No. Porcelain and composite don't lighten. If you have visible crowns, veneers or white fillings at the front and you whiten your natural teeth, the older work will look darker by comparison and may need replacing to match.
Is whitening painful?
It shouldn't be uncomfortable in the way people expect — there's no drilling and no injection. Some people get short-lived cold sensitivity during the course; tell us and we can adjust how long you wear the trays or recommend a desensitising product.
Can I whiten my teeth if I'm pregnant?
Tooth whitening is normally postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution. Routine check-ups and hygiene appointments are still important, so do come in — we'll simply plan the whitening for afterwards.
Getting here
Teeth whitening for Kennington and South East London
We're on Kennington Lane in SE11, between Kennington and Vauxhall stations, and see whitening patients from Kennington, Vauxhall, Oval, Lambeth, Waterloo, Stockwell, Newington and Elephant & Castle.
Book a whitening consultation
We'll look at what's actually causing the discolouration and tell you honestly how much difference whitening would make for your teeth — before you spend anything.
Or call us on 0203 950 6620
Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri 10am–7pm · Closed Wed, Sat, Sun97 Kennington Lane, London, SE11 4HQ
Reviewed by Dr Nader Gavgani, GDC 75484