Tooth whitening can be a highly effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surfaces. It cannot make a complete colour change; but it will lighten the existing shade. At Harpers Dental Practice we offer the Dentsply Illuminé take home tooth whitening system. Illumine works well on teeth that are severely stained from food, coffee, red wine, tobacco and other stains. We are all made differently however, so treatment will vary from one person to another, so check with your dentist for their advice.

After eating, your teeth will be attacked by bacteria. These build up and coat your teeth in a white sticky substance known as plaque. Plaque feeds on the sugars produced by foods which in turn produces an acid which, if not removed will dissolve the enamel (this is the outer layer of the tooth). That's why it is important to brush your teeth at least twice every day and floss daily. if too much plaque builds up on, and in-between, your teeth you will get cavities or even worse, gum disease!

The main problem with defining “dental phobia” is that there isn’t just ONE type of dental phobia, but many types – some rational, and some which seem more “irrational”.

Exposure provokes an immediate anxiety response, which may take the form of a panic attack. The phobia causes a lot of distress, and impacts on other aspects your life, not just your oral health. Dental phobics will spend an awful lot of time thinking about their teeth or dentists or dental situations, or else spend a lot of time trying NOT to think of teeth or dentists or dental situations. Which is pretty hard in today’s society, which is saturated with reminders such as toothpaste commercials. Here at Harpers Dental Practice we are well aware of how many people suffer with dental phobia. We therefore take any fears seriously and deal with nervous patients sensitively.