Cleaning removes surface staining and often makes teeth look brighter, but that is not whitening. True whitening changes the underlying shade and is a separate dental procedure.
Time and assessment. We give you a full hour, measure your gums, clean below the gumline, and coach your technique. A budget scale and polish usually delivers only the surface clean.
It starts the process. Early gum inflammation often improves within a couple of weeks of a thorough clean plus better home care. Established gum disease needs a structured course and ongoing maintenance.
For most people, no. Healthy gums tolerate cleaning comfortably and air-polishing is gentler than traditional scraping. Inflamed gums can be tender, and we can numb sensitive areas.
We are at 222 Essex Road, London N1 3AP, in the middle of Islington — walkable from Angel, Canonbury, and Newington Green, with buses along Essex Road.
No. You can book a hygiene appointment directly whether or not you see one of our dentists. Many local people use us purely for hygiene and gum care.
We give you a full hour, read your gums in the context of your wider health, and where relevant connect gum inflammation to diet, stress, and the gut.
A hygiene appointment removes surface staining, which often makes teeth look noticeably brighter — but that is cleaning, not whitening. True whitening is a separate dental procedure.
It starts the process. Early gum inflammation (gingivitis) often improves markedly within a couple of weeks of a thorough clean plus better home care. Established gum disease (periodontitis) needs a structured course of treatment.
A dentist diagnoses and treats teeth — fillings, crowns, root canals, cosmetic work. A dental hygienist specialises in the health of your gums and supporting structures, cleaning, and prevention.
No. You can book a hygiene appointment with us directly, whether or not you see one of our dentists for general care.
For most people, no. Healthy gums tolerate cleaning comfortably, and air-polishing is gentler than traditional scraping. If your gums are inflamed they can be tender, and we can numb sensitive areas.
Dental & Wellness London is at 222 Essex Road, Islington, London N1 3AP. Appointments run Monday to Friday, 8am-7pm (Tuesday from 9am), by appointment.
Yes — the Invisalign consultation is free. It includes forty-five minutes with Dr Patel, an iTero 5D scan, and a ClinCheck preview of your projected result.
We plan for arch expansion where possible, airway, and the long-term smile view rather than only the visible front teeth. Our default is a non-extraction method that keeps your own teeth.
At Dental & Wellness London Invisalign is Express £2,200 (one refinement), Moderate £3,400 (one refinement) and Unlimited £4,500–£4,900 (refinements as the case requires, with multi-year aligner cover; full terms and conditions apply). Your free iTero scan and ClinCheck confirm which plan suits your teeth. 0% APR finance over 12 months via Tabeo, subject to status.
"Best" is not a claim any clinic can honestly make about itself, and we won't. What you can check objectively is the provider tier. Dr Vishal Patel at Dental & Wellness London is a Diamond II provider — top 1% in the UK by case volume — with 15,000+ cases delivered.
We can whiten your natural teeth, but the gel won't change the colour of a crown, veneer, or filling. Sometimes the plan is to whiten first, let the shade settle, then replace a visible restoration to match.
Whitening is not permanent, but it is easy to maintain. Because your custom trays are yours to keep, an occasional gentle top-up keeps the shade where you like it, without paying for a full course again.
Often, yes. A professional clean lifts some surface staining and lets the gel work on a clean, even surface, so the result is better and more uniform.
Some patients notice mild, temporary sensitivity during a course. Because we use custom trays and can adjust the gel strength and timing, we manage this far better than a one-size product can.
Dentist-supervised whitening with custom trays is safe and well-established. Peroxide whitening at a beauty salon is operating outside UK law and risks gum burns and tooth damage from ill-fitting trays.
It depends on your starting colour and which layer of stain is involved, which is why we assess first rather than promise a shade. The honest goal is teeth a shade or two lighter than the white of your eye — bright, but still recognisably enamel.
They help with surface stain — mild abrasives with sometimes a trace of peroxide — but cannot change the deeper colour of the tooth. Good maintenance after professional whitening, not a substitute for it.
That depends on your starting colour, the cause of the discolouration, and your teeth's individual response. Our aim is not the brightest possible shade but a natural, even lightening that suits your face.