Professional teeth whitening in Finchley
Dentist-assessed, clinically supervised whitening tailored to your teeth, your timeline and your sensitivity — in surgery or at home, with honest expectations set at every stage.
From £390
In-surgery whitening
From £290
Home whitening kit
How professional teeth whitening works
Professional teeth whitening uses a peroxide-based gel to lighten the natural colour of tooth enamel and dentine. The gel penetrates the outer layers of the tooth, breaking down the molecular bonds that cause discolouration — including staining from tea, coffee, red wine, certain foods and the gradual yellowing that occurs with age. The process does not alter the structure of your teeth or damage the enamel when carried out under dental supervision at appropriate concentrations.
It is important to understand what whitening can and cannot do before you begin. Whitening works on natural enamel. It does not change the colour of porcelain crowns, composite bonding, white fillings or veneers — any existing restorations will remain their original shade. If you have visible restorations on front teeth, your dentist will discuss how this affects the likely outcome and whether any adjustment is needed afterwards.
Shade improvement varies between individuals. Deeply stained teeth, grey or tetracycline-related discolouration and intrinsic staining respond differently to surface staining. A specific number of shades cannot be guaranteed — your dentist will give you a realistic, personalised expectation at assessment.
Suitability and who should wait
Whitening is suitable for most adults with healthy teeth and gums who would like a lighter natural tooth colour. You may find it particularly worthwhile if your teeth have become stained through diet or lifestyle, or if gradual yellowing has developed over time.
Whitening is not recommended in the following situations, and your dentist will identify these at the assessment:
- — Active tooth decay or untreated gum disease (treatment is required first)
- — Pregnancy or breastfeeding (not recommended; postpone until after this period)
- — Severe existing sensitivity that has not been assessed
- — Children and patients under 18
- — Teeth where the discolouration is intrinsic or related to medication (results may be limited; alternatives such as veneers may be more appropriate)
Whitening before bonding or veneers
If you are also considering composite bonding or porcelain veneers, the sequence matters. Composite resin and ceramic materials are shade-matched to your existing tooth colour at the time of placement. If you whiten after having restorations placed, the natural teeth will become lighter but the restoration will not — creating an obvious mismatch.
Completing your whitening course first, allowing the shade to stabilise, and then having bonding or veneers placed means the restoration can be matched to your brightened, settled tooth colour. Your dentist will advise on the appropriate interval between treatments.
In-surgery or home whitening kit?
Both options use professionally prescribed whitening products. The right choice depends on your teeth, your timeline and your sensitivity. Your dentist will advise at assessment.
In-Surgery Whitening
From £390
- ✓ Carried out at the practice under clinical supervision
- ✓ Results achieved in a single appointment
- ✓ Suitable when you have a specific occasion in mind
- ✓ Immediate professional review of progress
- ○ Higher upfront cost than home kit
Home Whitening Kit
From £290
- ✓ Custom-made trays formed to your teeth for even coverage
- ✓ Whiten at your own pace and preferred time of day
- ✓ Trays can be reused for future top-up treatments
- ✓ Gradual process — often gentler for sensitive teeth
- ○ Results develop over several weeks rather than one visit
What to expect, step by step
- 1
Dental assessment
Before any whitening product is prescribed, your dentist examines your teeth and gums to confirm there is no active decay, gum disease or other issue that would make whitening unsuitable or uncomfortable. Existing restorations are noted and their likely appearance post-whitening is discussed.
- 2
Shade record and expectation setting
Your current tooth shade is recorded. Your dentist discusses the realistic range of improvement for your particular teeth and explains what whitening can and cannot change — including any restorations that will remain their current shade.
- 3
Impressions (home kit) or in-surgery appointment
For a home kit, precise impressions of your upper and lower teeth are taken so that custom-fitted whitening trays can be made. You will return to collect your trays along with your prescribed whitening gel and written instructions. For in-surgery whitening, treatment is carried out in practice during a single appointment.
- 4
Whitening course
Home kit patients wear their trays as directed — typically for a prescribed number of hours per day over two to four weeks, depending on the gel concentration and your desired outcome. In-surgery patients have the treatment applied and monitored by the dental team at the practice.
- 5
Review
Once your course is complete, your dentist can review the result. If you are proceeding to bonding, veneers or any shade-matched restoration, this is the appropriate point to schedule those appointments — after allowing the shade to settle.
Sensitivity and immediate aftercare
Temporary sensitivity during or after whitening is a common and expected reaction. It generally resolves within a few days. To reduce the likelihood and severity of sensitivity, your dentist may recommend:
- — Switching to a desensitising toothpaste two to four weeks before treatment begins
- — Continuing to use desensitising toothpaste after treatment
- — Avoiding very hot or cold food and drinks during and immediately after the whitening course
- — Spacing out whitening sessions if sensitivity becomes uncomfortable
If sensitivity is severe or persists beyond a few days, contact the practice for advice.
How to keep your results for longer
The period immediately after whitening is when the enamel is most susceptible to restaining. Minimising strongly pigmented food and drink — coffee, tea, red wine, berries, curry — during the first 48 to 72 hours helps protect the initial result.
Over time, some degree of natural shade regression is normal. Good oral hygiene, regular hygiene appointments and avoiding smoking all help prolong results. Patients with home whitening trays have the option of top-up treatments using additional whitening gel. How frequently this is needed varies individually — no specific timeline can be promised.
Whitening fees at 110 Total Dentistry
Fees verified August 2026. “From” prices indicate the starting point; final cost confirmed at assessment. A dental examination is required before whitening treatment can be prescribed.
Clinical team
Dr Kozhaya Assaker
GDC 176427
- DDS (2002); Oral Biology (2003)
- Diploma in Oral Surgery and Implantology (2007)
- Further training in Switzerland, USA and France
- Member: BDA · EAO · ITI
- Languages: English, Arabic, French, Armenian, some Polish
110 Total Dentistry
110–112 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London N3 2DN
Near Finchley Central station (Northern line)
020 7998 7657 · info@110totaldentistry.co.uk
Teeth whitening FAQs
Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?
Some degree of temporary sensitivity during or after treatment is common. It usually settles within a few days. Using a desensitising toothpaste for two to four weeks before treatment — and continuing afterwards — can help reduce this. If your teeth are already notably sensitive, let your dentist know at the assessment so the treatment plan can be adjusted accordingly.
Is professional teeth whitening safe?
Teeth whitening carried out under dental supervision, using properly prescribed products at regulated concentrations, is considered safe. The key requirement is a dental assessment beforehand to confirm that your gums are healthy, no active decay is present and that whitening is appropriate for your teeth. Products sold online or in beauty salons without dental assessment bypass these checks and carry real risks, including gum irritation, uneven results and masking underlying dental problems.
I have crowns, fillings or veneers — will whitening affect them?
Whitening products work on natural tooth enamel and dentine. They do not change the colour of porcelain crowns, ceramic veneers, composite bonding or white fillings. If any of your visible front teeth have restorations, whitening the surrounding natural enamel may create a noticeable colour difference. Your dentist will discuss this before treatment starts and advise whether replacement of restorations should be considered — ideally after whitening, so the shade can be matched to your brightened teeth.
Are professional whitening kits worth the extra cost compared to online products?
Over-the-counter and online whitening strips typically contain lower concentrations of active ingredients and use generic trays that do not fit precisely. Poorly fitting trays allow the whitening gel to contact the gums, causing irritation, and often produce patchy results. Professional kits use custom-made trays formed to your teeth, ensuring even coverage and minimal gum exposure. The assessment included in the cost also means any dental issues are identified before — not after — you attempt whitening.
How long do whitening results last?
Results vary considerably between individuals and depend on diet, habits such as smoking, and how well the advice on post-treatment care is followed. Avoiding strongly pigmented foods and drinks — particularly coffee, tea, red wine and berries — in the days immediately after treatment helps preserve the initial result. With good oral hygiene and sensible dietary habits many patients find their results last well for a year or more, after which a top-up treatment may be considered. No specific duration can be guaranteed.
How many shades whiter can I expect my teeth to become?
This is one of the most common questions, and it is also the one we cannot answer with a specific number in advance. The degree of improvement depends on your natural tooth colour, the cause and depth of any staining, your age and the whitening system used. Your dentist will give you an honest, realistic expectation at the assessment — results are generally noticeable but should not be overstated.
Should I whiten before or after getting composite bonding or veneers?
Whitening should be completed first. Composite and ceramic materials used in bonding and veneers are shade-matched to your teeth at the time of treatment. If you whiten afterwards, your natural teeth will become lighter but the restoration will remain its original shade, creating a visible mismatch. Completing whitening first means the bonding or veneer can be matched to your new, brighter tooth colour.
Clinical reviewer: Dr Kozhaya Assaker · GDC 176427
Other cosmetic treatments at 110 Total Dentistry
Book a whitening assessment in Finchley
Your assessment confirms suitability, establishes the right option for your teeth and sensitivity, and gives you an honest expectation of what whitening can achieve for you. Call or send an enquiry to arrange a convenient time.
110 Total Dentistry · 110–112 Ballards Lane, Finchley, London N3 2DN · Near Finchley Central (Northern line)