A Brighter Smile,
Delivered With Clinical Precision
At White Rose Dental Studio, teeth whitening is not a cosmetic afterthought. It is an aesthetic clinical service led by Dr Anoushiravan Ariakish, an experienced dentist with over 28 years in aesthetic and restorative dentistry across London.
Every whitening treatment at our West Hampstead practice is planned, supervised, and delivered to the highest professional standard, because the condition of your teeth matters as much as the colour of them.
Why Professional Teeth Whitening?
The market for whitening products is vast and largely unregulated. Over-the-counter strips, whitening toothpastes, and online kits vary enormously in their safety profiles and their results. Many contain concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide that either fail to produce meaningful change or, at the other extreme, cause lasting sensitivity and enamel damage when used without professional oversight.
Professional teeth whitening, carried out or prescribed by a registered dentist, is a fundamentally different proposition. The bleaching agents used are clinically appropriate, the trays are custom-fitted to your dentition, and the entire process is preceded by a thorough dental assessment to ensure your teeth and gums are in the right condition to undergo treatment. The outcome is predictable, the process is safe, and the results last.
In the United Kingdom, it is also a legal requirement that teeth whitening be performed by, or under the prescription of, a GDC-registered dental professional. Any non-dental provider offering whitening treatment is operating outside the law.
About Dr Anoushiravan Ariakish
Dr Anoushiravan Ariakish is the principal dentist and clinical director of White Rose Dental Studio. With over 28 years in clinical practice across London, Dr Ariakish has developed considerable experience across professional teeth whitening techniques, focusing on custom home-based tray systems.
His approach to aesthetic dentistry is grounded in clinical discipline. Every whitening case begins with a comprehensive assessment of the patient’s oral health, dental history, and aesthetic objectives. Treatment is only recommended where it is clinically appropriate, and expectations are always managed honestly. Dr Ariakish does not offer whitening as a standalone vanity service. He offers it as part of a broader commitment to the long-term health and appearance of your smile.
Teeth Whitening Methods: What You Need to Know
There is no single whitening method that suits every patient. The right approach depends on the nature and degree of your discolouration, the condition of your teeth and gums, your lifestyle, and your aesthetic goals. Below is an honest overview of the principal whitening methods available at White Rose Dental Studio.
Home Tray Whitening
Home tray whitening remains the most widely used and best-evidenced method in professional dentistry. Impressions are taken of your upper and lower teeth, from which a dental laboratory fabricates a set of thin, precisely fitting custom trays. These are worn for a prescribed period each day, typically overnight or for a few hours, with a professional-grade whitening gel loaded into the trays.
The active agent is usually carbamide peroxide, which breaks down slowly to release hydrogen peroxide at the tooth surface. Because the process is gradual, it tends to produce even, natural-looking results with minimal sensitivity.
Whitening for Intrinsic Staining
Not all discolouration responds to conventional peroxide-based whitening. Intrinsic staining originates within the tooth structure itself and can arise from tetracycline antibiotic use during tooth development, fluorosis, trauma, age-related changes, and root canal treated teeth that have darkened over time.
Where conventional whitening is unlikely to achieve your objectives, alternative options including porcelain veneers, composite bonding, or internal bleaching (for single darkened teeth) will be discussed.
Surface Stain Removal (Extrinsic Staining)
Extrinsic staining, the accumulation of pigment on the outer surface of the enamel from tea, coffee, red wine, tobacco, and certain foods, is the most amenable to whitening treatment.
Professional cleaning and polishing prior to whitening is often recommended to remove surface deposits and ensure the bleaching gel can act evenly on the tooth surface.
The Enlighten Whitening System at White Rose Dental Studio
White Rose Dental Studio is proud to offer the Enlighten Whitening System, widely regarded as one of the most effective and clinically reliable teeth whitening systems currently available.
Enlighten is unique in several respects. It is the only whitening system in the world that guarantees a shade of B1, one of the lightest natural tooth shades on the standard dental shade guide, regardless of the patient’s starting shade.
Why Enlighten Stands Apart
There are numerous whitening systems available to dental practices. Enlighten distinguishes itself through being the only system with a guaranteed B1 shade outcome, through clinically developed gel concentrations that minimise sensitivity, through precision-manufactured trays that maximise gel contact, and through a structured protocol that delivers reliable, reproducible results. For patients seeking the most dependable whitening outcome currently available in professional dentistry, it is the system Dr Ariakish recommends without reservation.
How the Enlighten System Works
- 1
Step 1: Consultation and Assessment
Dr Ariakish conducts a thorough clinical assessment to confirm your suitability for whitening treatment. Your current shade is recorded, your oral health is evaluated, and any necessary preparatory treatment is completed before whitening begins.
- 2
Step 2: Impressions and Custom Tray Fabrication
Impressions of your teeth are taken and sent to the Enlighten laboratory, where your custom whitening trays are manufactured to an exceptionally precise fit. The quality of the seal between tray and tooth is central to the system’s effectiveness.
- 3
Step 3: Home Whitening Phase
You will wear your Enlighten trays overnight for a prescribed number of nights, typically two weeks, using the Enlighten EVO whitening gel supplied with the kit. The gel formulation is carefully calibrated to minimise sensitivity while delivering consistent results.
- 4
Step 4: Aftercare and Maintenance
Following treatment, you will receive guidance on maintaining your result. Enlighten provides a proprietary toothpaste, Tooth Serum, which helps sustain the outcome and supports enamel health. With appropriate care and periodic top-up gel use, results can be maintained for several years.
The White Rose Whitening Journey
Initial Consultation
Your whitening journey begins with a dedicated consultation with Dr Ariakish. This is a considered clinical assessment during which your dental health, the nature of your staining, your aesthetic goals, and the most appropriate whitening approach are all discussed in detail. Your current tooth shade is recorded as a baseline, and realistic outcomes are explained honestly. If any existing dental work such as crowns, bridges, or veneers falls within the aesthetic zone, you will be advised that these restorations will not respond to whitening and may require replacement following treatment to match your new shade.
Preparing Your Teeth
Where indicated, a professional clean will be recommended before whitening commences. This removes surface deposits, optimises the condition of the gum margins, and ensures the whitening gel acts on the tooth surface rather than on accumulated staining.
During Treatment
The whitening process itself is straightforward and well-tolerated by the vast majority of patients. Some patients experience temporary sensitivity during the home whitening phase, typically a mild, transient response to the gel that resolves within 24 to 48 hours of completing treatment. Dr Ariakish will advise on appropriate management strategies if sensitivity arises, including modified wear schedules and desensitising agents.
After Treatment
The 48 hours following completion of your whitening course are the most important for sustaining the result. During this window, sometimes referred to as the white diet period, pigmented foods and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine, berries, and tomato-based sauces, as well as tobacco, should be avoided. Beyond this initial window, sensible dietary habits and good oral hygiene will help protect your investment. Periodic top-up whitening, typically every 12 to 18 months depending on lifestyle, can maintain the result indefinitely.
Whitening FAQs
Book Your Teeth Whitening Consultation
White Rose Dental Studio is a private dental practice in West Hampstead, London NW6, led by Dr Anoushiravan Ariakish, a clinician with over 28 years of experience in aesthetic and restorative dentistry.
Teeth whitening is only available to patients following a clinical assessment confirming suitability for treatment.
10 West Hampstead Mews, London NW6 3BB