Walk-in teeth whitening that's painless - and it works
Hong Kong's Smile Bar, newly opened in Wan Chai, has walls as brilliantly white as they aim to make your teeth. The hi-tech treatment uses a plasma lamp and powerful gel
The newly opened Smile Barin Wan Chai offers an advanced, painless teeth-whitening service using patented Swedish technology.
Upon arrival I am nearly blinded by the facility's glowing white walls. With its minimalist modern decor, the ambience is as hi-tech as the technology used. Co-owner Andreas Worner takes me into the treatment area where he assesses the state of my teeth using a colour guide.
Before treatment, I clean my teeth with a special mouthwash and toothpaste. Then Worner applies the dark-blue whitening gel to a clear plastic mouth guard that fits easily into my mouth. The gel contains six per cent hydrogen peroxide and is very potent due to innovative storage methods. I get into a comfortable position in my Egg chair and the LED plasma lamp is adjusted to shine onto my mouth. The cool blue light emitted by the lamp efficiently activates the hydrogen peroxide in the gel, but doesn't harm my mouth the way a traditional UV light would. Throughout the procedure the only sensation is a slight feeling of warmth on my teeth and gums.
After the first round, my teeth are already a few shades whiter. Worner decides that one more 20-minute treatment should do the trick. The final round of whitening yields impressive results, after a total of only 40 minutes my teeth are 10 shades whiter. In order to preserve the whiteness, I can either avoid any coloured food or liquid for 72 hours or apply the Nano Seal to my teeth, to prevent staining. There is an extra charge for the seal, but it should ensure I do not ruin my teeth in an absent-minded moment.
Worner's business partner Julien Tanneau applies the seal to my teeth. The bitter taste and acetone smell is not pleasant, but Tanneau works quickly and in less than three minutes it is over. There are remnants of the dark whitening gel in between some of my teeth, but a quick brush removes them.
Despite normal drinking and eating, including a daily cup of tea, my teeth are still as white as they were post-treatment and I'm told they should remain that way for the next four to six months.
