Dubai: Teeth-whitening treatments are the one-stop makeover for residents in the UAE. However, getting a brighter and whiter smile is not without risk, according to dentists.
For one, not everybody is a candidate for a teeth-whitening procedure. However, dentists contacted by Gulf News said that many residents chase ‘the look’ by opting for home dental whitening kits and/or for frequent professional treatments.
They estimate that among cosmetic dental treatments teeth whitening is the most common.
Daily deal companies also exemplify the mainstream status teeth whitening enjoys. The deals offer home kits for under Dh100 and a teeth whitening 45-minute session for a few hundred dirhams,
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr Maximilian Riewer, dentist at Dubai Sky Clinic, said more than 50 per cent of his patients are interested in whitening treatments.
“It is the most common cosmetic procedure apart from veneers. Every second or third patient inquires about the ‘Hollywood smile’,” he said.
By way of caveat, he said not everyone is a candidate.
“If a person has gum disease, or dentures, crowns, fillings or veneers, he or she isn’t a good candidate for whitening treatment, which only works on natural tooth enamel. Someone with very dark stains may not benefit either,” said Dr Riewer.
Dr Khulood Bin Haider, dentist with the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) said that if a good-quality, certified product is used, patients may experience temporary side effects, which could be a few hours to a few days.
“Temporary side-effects include sensitive gums and teeth. When over-the-counter products are used with an incorrectly fitted mouth tray and/or poor quality ingredients, the side effects could be more serious like [enamel] susceptibility to brittleness and sensitivity,” she said.
Dr Khulood cautioned against frequent dental bleaching. “Treatments should be at least a year apart.”
On the subject of the whitening obsession, Dr Mayada Hussain from the Dr Aburas Dental Centre in Dubai said that residents need to have realistic expectations.
“On average, one can expect two shades lighter [from the treatment]. The problem arises when people expect pearly white teeth associated with actors and actresses. This isn’t realistic,” she said.
