Professional teeth cleaning and whitening: how to choose well
Cleaning and whitening are different, but often go together
Professional hygiene removes tartar and plaque: ultrasound takes off the tartar, Air Flow powder cleans away stains from coffee, tea and smoking, and then the teeth are polished. Whitening changes the colour of the enamel itself and is done on clean teeth. So if you want both, cleaning comes first and whitening afterwards. Many clinics offer a package, which can be better value than separate procedures.
Types of whitening
- In-office: in one visit, with systems such as ZOOM, Beyond or laser.
- At home: custom trays and gel, with the result in a few days.
- Combined: in-office plus trays to maintain the effect.
Whitening doesn't suit everyone. Sensitive teeth, fillings, crowns, braces and cavities affect the choice of method, and whitening does not change fillings or crowns. So the doctor will examine your teeth and tell you what is safe for you.
What to put in your request
- Procedure — ultrasound, Air Flow, polishing, full hygiene, in-office or home whitening.
- Whitening system — if you have a preference, for example ZOOM 4.
- Condition of the teeth — a lot of tartar, smoking stains, sensitivity, braces, implants, crowns.
- Number of procedures — one or several.
- Extras — fluoride, remineralisation, whitening after cleaning.
- When, city or area, specialist (hygienist, doctor) and budget.
Example: “I need cleaning with ultrasound and Air Flow, a lot of tartar, I smoke. Then in-office ZOOM 4 whitening. Gqeberha, next week, with fluoride treatment. Budget up to R 400 for the cleaning.”
How offers work on BlaBlaPrice
Your request is first checked for ads and contacts, then dental clinics and hygienists in your city reply in the chat: what is included, what it costs and when they can book you. They see where their offer ranks, so they compete for your request. BlaBlaPrice shows the best-value offer first, with reviews beside it. Only the clinic you choose sees your phone number. Read more on “How it works”.
What to ask
What does the procedure include: is there Air Flow, polishing and fluoride, or only ultrasound? Which whitening system is used, how long are the sessions and what is done to reduce sensitivity? Is a consultation needed before whitening? How often should you repeat hygiene? Doctors often advise regular visits, but the specialist sets the schedule. After whitening, you are usually advised to limit staining foods and drinks, such as coffee or red wine, for a while, so ask your doctor for their advice.
A common mistake is to whiten teeth without treating a cavity first, or to expect fillings or crowns to get lighter. If you need treatment, see dental treatment, and for straightening, braces and aligners. To start, create a request.
