What it is: tooth-coloured resin sculpted onto your natural teeth. Usually one appointment, and reversible.
Best for: chips, small gaps, worn edges, minor reshaping.
Wrong for: heavy staining that shows through the resin, large shape changes, and heavy grinders — resin chips under grinding.
What it is: thin porcelain shells bonded to the front of prepared teeth. Stronger and more stain-resistant than composite, with the most dramatic transformations.
Best for: significant shade + shape changes together, deep discolouration, longer-lasting results.
Wrong for: anyone not ready for an irreversible treatment — enamel is removed to fit them. A good dentist says this out loud before you commit.
What it is: dentist-supervised whitening that lifts staining safely. In the UK it is illegal for anyone other than a dental professional to provide it.
Best for: healthy teeth that are simply darker than you'd like.
Wrong for: crowns, veneers and fillings (they don't whiten), and internal discolouration.
The one takeaway: the order matters. Whitening comes before bonding or veneers, never after — new work is colour-matched to your whitened shade.
Lesson 3 covers NHS vs private, real prices, and how 0% finance works.
Lesson 3 →