Day gel
Higher-strength hydrogen peroxide worn for shorter periods, typically an hour to ninety minutes, once or twice a day. Faster, and suits people who cannot sleep with trays in.
Cosmetic dentistry · Wimpole Street, Marylebone
Teeth whitening in Marylebone: dentist-prescribed trays you use at home
Whitening lightens the natural colour of teeth by letting a peroxide gel diffuse through enamel and break down the pigment molecules held in the dentine beneath. It is the least invasive cosmetic treatment there is: nothing is removed, nothing is added, and if you stop, the teeth simply drift back towards where they started over a few years. In the UK, gels strong enough to make a visible difference may only be supplied after a dentist has examined you and taken responsibility for the prescription, which is why the shop-bought kits are limited to concentrations that do very little. At Wimpole Street we use the Boutique system: custom-made trays and a gel you wear at home for around two weeks, with the dentist choosing the strength and checking progress. The fee is £399.
- £399 including trays and gel
- 1 fitting visit, ~2 weeks at home
- Results last 1–3 years with top-ups
Suitability
Is it right for you?
A good fit when
- Teeth that have yellowed with age, tea, coffee, red wine or tobacco.
- A generally healthy mouth with no untreated decay or gum inflammation.
- Anyone planning bonding or veneers who wants the surrounding teeth lighter before shades are matched.
- Patients who prefer to control the pace at home rather than sit under a lamp.
- Adults over eighteen; whitening is not offered to under-18s except for specific clinical reasons.
- People who understand the colour of existing fillings, crowns and veneers will not change.
Think twice, or choose another route, when
- Grey or banded discolouration from tetracycline or trauma, which responds poorly and may need veneers.
- Pregnant or breastfeeding patients, as a precaution rather than because of known harm.
- Those with exposed root surfaces, cracked teeth or leaking fillings until these are addressed, because gel reaching dentine causes sharp sensitivity.
- Front teeth that are mostly crowns or veneers; the natural teeth would lighten and the restorations would not.
- Anyone expecting a shade whiter than natural enamel can reach; the ceiling is your own tooth structure.
The process
How it works at Wimpole Street
- 01
Examination and shade record
A dentist checks for decay, gum problems, cracks and recession that would make whitening uncomfortable or unwise, records your starting shade with a guide and photographs, and confirms you are suitable. New patients pay £30 for this visit.
- 02
Impressions or scan for trays
Moulds of both arches are taken and sent to the laboratory, where thin, close-fitting trays are made with small reservoirs over the front of each tooth to hold gel where it is needed and keep it off the gums.
- 03
Fitting and prescription
Around a week later you collect the trays and gel. The dentist selects a concentration, up to the UK maximum of 6% hydrogen peroxide or its carbamide equivalent, chooses a day or night formula to suit your routine and shows you how much to load.
- 04
Wearing the trays at home
Most people wear the trays for one to two weeks, either for an hour or so in the day or overnight, depending on the gel. A change is usually visible within the first four or five days and continues to build.
- 05
Review and top-up plan
We compare the result with the starting shade and advise how often a night or two of top-up will hold it. The trays are yours to keep, and further gel can be bought as needed.
Choices
Options & materials
Night gel
Lower-strength carbamide peroxide that releases slowly overnight. Gentler for sensitive teeth and often preferred by people who forget daytime sessions.
Whitening before cosmetic work
The same treatment used as the first stage of bonding, veneer or makeover plans, finished about two weeks before shades are chosen.
Fees
What it costs
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
Dentist-prescribed home whitening Custom trays for both arches, gel for a full course and the review visit. | £399 |
Top-up gel For maintenance once or twice a year using your existing trays. | From £30 per syringe |
New patient examination Introductory rate; the usual fee is £95. Required before whitening and charged separately. | £30 |
Hygiene visit before whitening Optional but recommended if surface stain or tartar is present. | From £95 |
Indicative Wimpole Street fees, the same as at South Kensington and St Paul's. A written plan with the exact figure is agreed before anything is started.
Outcomes
What the result looks like
Most patients lighten by several shades on the standard guide, and the difference is usually obvious to them and to people who know them well without looking artificial. The teeth stay their own shape and texture; they are simply brighter. The result is at its most vivid a week or two after finishing, then settles slightly as the enamel rehydrates.
How long it lasts depends on habits. With tea, coffee and red wine kept moderate and a top-up night every few months, the shade holds for one to three years before a fuller refresh is wanted. Smokers and heavy coffee drinkers see it fade faster. Because the trays are custom-made, maintenance costs only the gel.
Afterwards
Looking after the result
- For the first 48 hours after each session avoid strongly coloured food and drink; the enamel is temporarily more porous.
- If teeth twinge, skip a night, switch to a sensitivity toothpaste and, if needed, ask us for a lower-strength gel.
- Wipe any gel that reaches the gum with a tissue; a white patch on the gum is a temporary chemical blanch and fades in hours.
- Store the gel in the fridge and check the expiry date before top-ups.
- Keep the trays in their case, rinse them in cold water after use and do not clean them with hot water, which warps them.
- Book a top-up night or two when you notice the shade drifting rather than waiting for it to go back fully.
Informed consent
Risks and honest limitations
Every treatment has trade-offs. These are the ones we discuss at the consultation so that a decision is made with full information rather than after the fact.
- Sensitivity to cold during and shortly after the course is common, affecting perhaps half of patients to some degree. It is temporary and manageable by adjusting frequency or strength, but it can be uncomfortable.
- Gum irritation occurs if gel is over-loaded or the trays are worn too long; it settles quickly once corrected.
- Results vary. Yellow-brown staining responds well; grey or banded discolouration responds poorly and may not reach the shade you hoped for. We cannot predict the final shade exactly.
- Existing fillings, crowns, veneers and bonding do not lighten. If they are visible they may need replacing afterwards to match, which is an additional cost.
- White spots already present on enamel can look more prominent in the first days as the surrounding tooth lightens; this usually evens out but not always.
- Whitening is not permanent. Colour drifts back over one to three years and maintenance is required.
FAQ
Questions patients ask
UK law limits products sold directly to the public to 0.1% hydrogen peroxide. Gels up to 6% may only be supplied after a dental examination and a first use supervised or prescribed by a dentist. The stronger gel is what makes a visible difference.
At the concentrations used under dental supervision and with correctly fitted trays, studies have not shown lasting harm to enamel. The gel makes enamel temporarily more porous, which is why sensitivity occurs and why we advise avoiding staining foods for two days after each session.
It depends on the starting shade and the cause. Yellow teeth from age and diet usually lighten by several shades. Grey teeth shift less. No gel can make teeth whiter than their own structure allows, and a shade brighter than the whites of the eyes tends to look artificial.
Much of the immediate effect of lamp treatments comes from dehydration and reverses within days. Slow home whitening in custom trays gives a result that is at least as good and easier to maintain, at a lower fee. It is the only method we recommend.
Some cold sensitivity during the course is common. It is short-lived and eased by spacing out sessions, using a sensitivity toothpaste or switching to a gentler gel. Gum stinging usually means too much gel in the tray.
One to three years is typical before you want a fuller refresh, with occasional top-up nights in between. Diet and smoking are the main variables.
Yes, by law and by common sense. Whitening over untreated decay, cracks or exposed roots is painful and can mask problems. The examination is charged separately at £30 for new patients.
Yes. The same treatment at the same fee is available now at South Kensington and St Paul’s, and top-up gel can be collected from Wimpole Street once it opens on 1 October 2026.
Marylebone, W1
Teeth whitening at Wimpole Street from 1 October 2026
Register your interest and we will contact you as soon as the Marylebone diary is live. If you would rather start sooner, the same clinicians already see patients in South Kensington and at St Paul’s.
Opening 1 October 2026
Wimpole Street is not yet seeing patients. Until then, please book or call our South Kensington clinic on 020 7183 2362 or our St Paul's clinic on 020 7183 3709. Questions about the new clinic: wimpolestreet@md.co.uk.
Until we open
Need an appointment before 1 October 2026?
The same clinical team already works from two other Medical & Dental clinics. Book at either one now and, if you prefer, move your ongoing care to Wimpole Street once the doors open.
South Kensington
- 20 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3DL
- Open seven days a week
- 020 7183 2362
St Paul's, City of London
- 5 Ave Maria Lane, London EC4M 7AQ
- Open Monday to Friday
- 020 7183 3709
