Specialist or Dentist?
Your dentist looks after your whole mouth. Teeth whitening is one of many treatments they may offer.
I’ve specialised in this one treatment for more than 20 years.
What does that actually mean for you?
Dentists train to diagnose and treat a wide range of dental needs — from fillings and crowns to gum health and more. Teeth whitening is one of the many services a dental practice may offer.
More than 20 years specialising in whitening means I’ve seen an enormous range of starting shades and staining — from years of coffee, tea and smoking to teeth that are already naturally quite white.
That experience gives me a very good idea of what’s realistic for your teeth. I’ll talk you through what I think you can expect before we begin rather than promise a result your teeth may not deliver.
What does whitening cost at a dentist in Christchurch?
People arrive here all the time having already been quoted elsewhere. What they commonly tell me is around $600 for custom trays and $700 or more for in-chair whitening at a dental practice.
I’m not going to pretend I know what every dental practice charges — because I don’t. Those are simply the figures clients regularly tell me they’ve been quoted.
Before you get crowns, veneers or caps — please read this
Crowns, veneers and tooth-coloured fillings don’t whiten in the same way natural teeth do.
If you’re planning cosmetic dental work, whitening first can be important because your new dental work will usually be colour-matched to the shade of your teeth at the time.
That means the order you do things in can make an enormous difference to the final result.
Whiten first. Then have the work matched to your new colour.
If you’re planning cosmetic dental work and aren’t sure what order to do things in, talk to me first. I’m always happy to explain your whitening options — and I’ll tell you when something needs to be discussed with your dentist instead.
“Terri talked me through every last detail and gave some great advice re whitening prior to my dental crown replacement!!!”
Safe, and kind to your enamel
Is a dentist safer?
A dentist is the right person if you have a dental problem that needs diagnosing or treating.
For cosmetic whitening, what matters is using appropriate professional products, following the correct protocols and understanding when someone should see their dentist before whitening.
That’s why I’ll ask you about your teeth before treatment — and if there’s something I think needs checking first, I’ll tell you.
I’m always happy to answer those questions before you book anything.
Does whitening damage enamel?
Professional teeth whitening is designed to change the colour of the tooth without removing enamel.
Whitening gel travels through microscopic spaces in the enamel and breaks down coloured compounds within the tooth — it isn’t sanding, scraping or stripping the surface away.
That’s very different from abrasive or acidic DIY methods such as aggressively scrubbing with charcoal or baking soda, or using lemon juice.
If you have decay, cracks, gum disease or unexplained dental pain, that’s different — have it checked by your dentist before whitening.
Comfortable now, and lasting
Will my teeth be sensitive?
Far less often than people fear.
Most people feel nothing at all. Some have something mild and temporary, and a smaller number a little more — and when it happens, it usually settles within a day.
If you already know your teeth are sensitive, Colgate Sensitive Pro-Relief for a week or two beforehand genuinely helps. And tell me before we begin.
How long does it last?
Longer than most people expect, though not forever — teeth naturally pick up colour again over time, some faster than others.
It takes a very long time to return to where you started. You’ll notice a slight softening after a few months.
Custom trays make it easy to top your smile up at home whenever you feel it needs it, and the trays themselves can often be used for years with fresh whitening gel. And if trays aren’t for you, returning clients can come back for a follow-up treatment — $140 when booked within three months, with other returning-client offers available after that.
I’ve had people walk back in two or three years later still looking wonderful.
When should you see a dentist rather than me?
Sometimes you genuinely should, and I’d rather say so than take your money.
Please see a dentist first if you have untreated decay or gum disease, a cracked tooth, or pain you haven’t had looked at. And if you have crowns or veneers among your front teeth, read the section above first — that one matters enormously.
Whitening over a problem doesn’t solve the problem.
If you’re unsure where you stand, simply ask me. I’m always here to help in any way I can, so please reach out. No obligation and no sales pitch — I’d far rather point you in the right direction than have you guess.
“She called me before my appointment to double check that I had booked the service that would be right for me. After some discussion, I realised that what I had booked wasn’t right, and she offered to change my appointment to give me the results I was looking for.”
What difference will I actually see?
Most of my clients see around 10–14 shades of improvement, measured before and after with a shade guide.
But teeth are individual, and so are results. Your starting shade, natural tooth colour and the type of staining all play a part. If your teeth are already particularly white, I’ll tell you before we begin — I’d rather set a realistic expectation than promise something your teeth can’t deliver.
One appointment can make a significant difference, but it isn’t always the end of the road. If you’d like to go whiter still, you can build on your result with a follow-up treatment or custom whitening trays at home.
And if you ever leave feeling genuinely unhappy with your result, please tell me. I’d always rather have the opportunity to take another look and make sure you’re happy than have you walk away disappointed.
“Before we started she showed me the shade of my teeth on a sort of color scale then compared it to after, showing the dramatic difference.”
“I’ve seen Terri around four times over the past 10 years, and I’ve loved my results every single time!”
“My teeth ended up even whiter than i expected, but still natural, which is an incredible transformation for such great value.”
“I have had my teeth whitened at the dentist before with little difference made. I was so gobsmacked by the change, no overly white Hollywood teeth but super clean natural looking teeth.”
Private, dedicated treatment studio located at my home.
Appointments generally Tuesday–Saturday · By appointment only
Need another day? Just ask — I’ll always do my best to accommodate you.
Questions? Call or text 021 630 907