We're now open on Saturdays 09:00-13:00 (pre-booked appointments only)
Call us: 0115 647 9990
Mapperley Dental Studio · 870 Woodborough Road · 0115 647 9990
The least invasive way to change appearance
Lightening the natural shade of your teeth without removing any tooth structure.
Professional whitening uses custom-made trays and dentist-supervised gel. An assessment first establishes what is causing the discolouration, because not every cause responds to whitening.
Teeth whitening£395
Fully private practice, no long waiting list
Early, late and weekend appointments available
Booked in advance, subject to availability
Membership plans from £14.10 a month
Patient stories
5.0 on Google
★★★★★I couldn't be happier with my experience at Mapperley Dental Studio. I recently completed Invisalign treatment followed by teeth whitening, and the results have completely transformed my smile. The whole team made me feel welcome and at ease throughout the process. Every step was explained clearly, and any questions I had were always answered. The practice itself is modern, professional and has a really friendly atmosphere.
★★★★★I was recommended Mapperley Dental Studio by my partner, just to go for a check up and clean. Before the appointment I looked through their reviews and photos as I always wanted to whiten my teeth, it was my biggest insecurity. Rupchhen was fantastic, talked me through the entire process, covered every base. It’s one of the best decisions I have ever made, the results I’ve achieved are better than I could have ever hoped for. I completed 4 weeks of teeth whitening and went from A3 to B1!
★★★★★I initially visited Mapperley Dental Studio as a new patient for teeth whitening, and I’m very happy I did, as I’ll now be continuing with regular appointments here. The practice has a really aesthetic, modern feel, and Rupchhen made me feel completely at ease throughout. The whole team is friendly, welcoming, and professional, making every visit a genuinely pleasant experience. I’d definitely recommend to anyone!
The straight answer
Teeth whitening lightens the natural shade of your teeth using a peroxide-based gel held against them in custom-made trays. The gel breaks down staining within the tooth structure itself. It changes the colour of natural tooth only and has no effect on crowns, veneers, bonding or white fillings.
Teeth darken with age as enamel thins and the yellower dentine beneath becomes more visible. Tea, coffee, red wine, tobacco and some medications add further staining. Whitening addresses the shade of the tooth itself, which is different from surface staining removed by cleaning.
Impressions or scans are used to make trays that fit your teeth precisely, so the gel stays against the tooth and off the gums. You wear them at home for a set period each day over a few weeks, under your dentist's supervision.
Results vary between individuals and between teeth. Yellow shades generally respond better than grey. Whitening does not change the shape or position of teeth, and the result fades over months to years, so top-ups are part of the arrangement.
Why patients come to us
This is the most predictable indication. Age-related yellowing responds well because the discolouration is within the tooth and generalised across the arch.
Practical outcome: a lighter, more even natural shade without removing any tooth structure.
Some of this is surface staining that professional cleaning removes, and some has penetrated the tooth. The two need different treatments.
Practical outcome: cleaning first to remove surface staining, then whitening only if the underlying shade is still darker than you want.
A single dark tooth usually indicates a dead nerve, often years after an injury. External whitening will not correct it, and it needs assessing before any cosmetic treatment.
Practical outcome: the cause is diagnosed, and internal whitening of a root-treated tooth or another approach is considered.
What this treatment gives you, and the practicalities worth knowing before you book.
Suitability
Attend the examination and hygiene intervals your dentist recommends
Follow the home cleaning routine agreed with your dentist or hygienist
Tell us about medical conditions and medication, and about any changes
Your dentist will confirm whether this treatment is suitable after examining your teeth, gums, bite and wider oral health.
Step by step
Your teeth and gums are examined for decay, cracks, leaking restorations and gum problems. The starting shade is recorded so the change can be measured objectively rather than by memory.
Surface staining is removed beforehand where indicated, since some of what patients want changed comes off with professional cleaning alone.
Digital scans are taken and used to make trays that fit your teeth precisely and keep gel off the gums.
The trays are checked for fit, and you are shown exactly how much gel to use and for how long to wear them. Using more gel does not produce a better result.
You wear the trays for the period specified over a few weeks. Sensitivity is managed by adjusting wear time or using a desensitising product.
The final shade is checked against the starting record, and any restorations that now look mismatched are discussed.
The first appointment is an examination and a discussion. No treatment is carried out without your agreement, and you leave with a written plan and costs.
Fees
Fees depend on what the examination finds, which is why the figures below are starting points rather than quotations.
One examination and one hygiene appointment a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and two hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
Two examinations and four hygiene appointments a year, priority access and emergency support.
All three plans include priority appointment availability, a 10% discount on non-cosmetic treatment and eligibility for the Worldwide Dental Emergency Assistance Scheme.
Your personalised cost is confirmed in writing after your examination. The figures above are starting prices for guidance only. They are not a quotation and do not take account of your individual clinical needs. You will receive a written plan setting out the recommended treatment, sequence and cost. No treatment begins until you have agreed it.
Your dentist
Whether someone comes in for a check-up or a full cosmetic plan, the first appointment is the same: time to listen, a proper look, and a clear explanation of the options and what they cost. Everything else follows from that.
Dr Rupchhen Tamang, Principal Dentist
A general dental practitioner is not a specialist. The word "specialist" should not be used unless a clinician appears on the relevant GDC specialist list.
Comfort and aftercare
Whitening involves no drilling and no injections. Trays are fitted and checked at the practice, and the treatment itself is carried out at home.
Cold sensitivity during the whitening period is common and is not a sign of damage. Tell the practice if it becomes difficult, because wear time can be reduced or a desensitising product used.
Avoid strongly coloured food and drink for the first 48 hours, when teeth are most prone to picking up staining. That means tea, coffee, red wine, curry and dark sauces.
Sensitivity usually settles within a few days of finishing. Contact the practice if it persists, or if you notice gum irritation where gel has overflowed the tray.
Common questions
That depends on your starting shade and on the cause of the discolouration. Yellow shades generally respond well; grey shades and tetracycline staining respond less predictably. Your dentist records your starting shade so the change can be measured objectively. No dentist can promise a specific final shade in advance.
Professional whitening carried out under dental supervision, at the concentrations legally permitted in the UK, is not associated with enamel damage. The main effect is temporary sensitivity. Risk comes from unsupervised products, ill-fitting trays that leak gel onto the gums, and whitening teeth with undetected decay or cracks.
No. Whitening changes the shade of natural tooth only. Crowns, veneers, composite bonding and white fillings stay exactly as they are. If you have visible restorations at the front, they may look darker or lighter than the surrounding teeth afterwards, and replacing them to match is a separate cost worth discussing beforehand.
The gel passes through the enamel and temporarily increases the tooth's response to cold. It is common, it is not a sign of damage, and it usually settles within days of finishing. It can be managed by reducing daily wear time, taking a break between sessions, or using a desensitising product.
Months to years, depending on your diet and habits. Tea, coffee, red wine and tobacco all shorten it. Because trays can usually be reused, topping up with fresh gel is straightforward provided the fit is still good. Treat top-ups as part of the ongoing cost.
It is not advisable. In the UK, tooth whitening is a dental procedure and products above a low peroxide concentration can only legally be supplied through a dentist. Online kits often use ill-fitting trays that leak gel onto the gums, and none of them involve an assessment for decay, cracks or a dead nerve beforehand.
Before. Whitening does not change restorations, so any bonding, veneers or crowns need to be matched to your final whitened shade rather than your current one. Doing it the other way round usually means replacing new work.
Still unsure about something? Call the practice on 0115 647 9990 and ask.
Finding us
| Monday | 9am to 5pm |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Wednesday | 8am to 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am to 5pm |
| Friday | 9am to 5pm |
| Saturday | Pre-booked appointments only |
| Sunday | Closed |
Patient feedback
Your first appointment is an assessment and a conversation. You leave with a written plan setting out what is recommended, in what order, and what it costs, and you decide what happens next.
