The Wellness17 September 2026Last reviewed 17 September 2026
In the UK, only registered dental professionals may whiten teeth, and they may use hydrogen peroxide up to 6%. Offering whitening without registration is a criminal offence, which a court confirmed in 2013. Sensitivity is a known side effect. A 2025 review found that weaker home gels caused less sensitivity and whitened teeth to a similar degree.
In the UK, only registered dental professionals may whiten teeth. The General Dental Council, which regulates dentists in the UK, treats tooth whitening as part of dentistry.
Offering tooth whitening without registration is a criminal offence. A court confirmed this in the case GDC v Jamous, in 2013.
Whitening at Dentistry by The Wellness is carried out by GDC registered dentists. Your dentist examines your teeth and gums before whitening starts.
The General Dental Council register listed 47,916 dentists at the end of 2025, according to its Registration Statistical Report 2025. You can search the register by name to check a dentist before your appointment.
Whitening gels contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide once it is on your teeth.
The General Dental Council states that a dentist may use products that contain or release up to 6% hydrogen peroxide. This limit has been part of UK cosmetic products law since 2012.
A gel stronger than this is outside the legal limit for tooth whitening in the UK, whoever applies it.
At Dentistry by The Wellness, your dentist chooses the strength of gel for your teeth, within that limit.
Your teeth may feel sensitive during or after whitening. Sensitivity is a brief, sharp ache in a tooth, often when you have something cold.
The strength of the gel affects how likely sensitivity is. Cordeiro and colleagues reviewed studies of home whitening in the Japanese Dental Science Review in 2025. They compared carbamide peroxide gels at 10% with gels at 20 to 22%.
People who used the 10% gels had a lower risk of sensitivity than people who used the stronger gels. Their teeth whitened to a similar degree.
This finding applies to gels worn at home in trays. It does not tell you how likely you are to have sensitivity yourself.
We do not quote a percentage for how often sensitivity happens, because we have not found one we can trace to its source.
Before whitening starts, your dentist asks whether your teeth are already sensitive. They choose the strength of gel, and how long you wear it, based on what they find.
Your first appointment is a smile assessment, from £315. It takes about 45 minutes.
Your dentist examines the teeth and gums that the gel will touch. They record the starting shade of your teeth, so you can see the change afterwards.
Your dentist also photographs your teeth and takes a digital scan of them. If you choose home whitening, your trays are made from this scan so they fit your teeth.
You leave with a written plan and the exact fee. Your plan and its fees are valid for six months.
In clinic whitening costs from £995. A GDC registered dentist whitens your teeth in one appointment of about 90 minutes. Your dentist protects your gums and lips, and records your shade before and after.
Take home whitening costs from £595. It includes trays made from a scan of your teeth, the whitening gel and a review when you finish. You wear the trays at home for two to three weeks, and you keep them.
Whitening in clinic and at home together costs from £1,295. You have one whitening appointment in the clinic. You then wear the trays at home for two to three weeks to keep your shade up.
Results usually last one to two years. Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking can stain your teeth again sooner.
Each fee is a starting fee, and it depends on how dark your teeth are to start with. You receive the exact fee in writing before you book.
Dentists and dental specialists in London carry out your treatment, and your care is booked and coordinated by The Wellness.
Ask who will whiten your teeth, and check their name on the General Dental Council register.
Ask what strength of gel they will use. A gel with more than 6% hydrogen peroxide is outside the legal limit.
Ask what the fee includes, such as trays, gel and a review when you finish.
Ask whether they will record the shade of your teeth before and after whitening.
Ask whether a dentist will examine your teeth and gums before any gel goes on them.
To have your teeth examined before whitening, book a smile assessment, from £315.
6%
hydrogen peroxide, contained or released, is the most a dentist may use to whiten teeth in the UK, under cosmetic products law in force since 2012.
General Dental Council, position statement on tooth whitening, citing the Cosmetic Products (Safety) (Amendment) Regulations 2012
2013
is the year GDC v Jamous confirmed that tooth whitening is the practice of dentistry, so offering it unregistered is a criminal offence.
General Dental Council v Jamous, 2013
10%
carbamide peroxide worn at home carried a lower risk of sensitivity than 20 to 22%, and whitened comparably.
Cordeiro and colleagues, Japanese Dental Science Review, 2025
47,916
dentists were on the General Dental Council register at the end of 2025.
General Dental Council, Registration Statistical Report 2025
No. Offering tooth whitening without registration as a dental professional is a criminal offence, as GDC v Jamous confirmed in 2013.
It may. Cordeiro and colleagues found in 2025 that home gels with 10% carbamide peroxide caused less sensitivity than gels at 20 to 22%, and whitened teeth to a similar degree.
Yes. You can search the General Dental Council register by name. It listed 47,916 dentists at the end of 2025.
In clinic whitening takes one appointment of about 90 minutes. With take home whitening, you wear the trays at home for two to three weeks.
GDC registered dentists carry out whitening. Your care is booked and coordinated by The Wellness.