✨ Oral Health Tools

Teeth Whitening Shade Guide

Select your current VITA shade and your target. Get a realistic whitening timeline, the best method for your goal, and a maintenance plan.

VITA Shade Scale Whitening Timeline Method Guide Maintenance Plan
Teeth Whitening Shade Guide
VITA Classical Shade Scale - B1 to C4
Step 1 - Your Current Shade (click to select)
Current Target
Step 2 - Your Target Shade
Step 3 - Your Profile

✨ Whitening Results

Current Shade
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→
Target Shade
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Shades to Lighten
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VITA steps
Achievability
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Realistic assessment
Treatment Time
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Estimated
Recommended Methods
Maintenance Plan
Disclaimer: Whitening results vary by stain type, depth, and individual response. Existing restorations don't whiten. Screen colours vary by device - a physical VITA shade guide gives an accurate reading.

How teeth whitening works

Peroxide (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) diffuses through the enamel and oxidises the chromogen molecules that cause discolouration. The result is genuine - not just surface cleaning. The VITA scale has 16 shades organised from B1 (very light) through C4 (darkest).

Stain type matters a lot. Extrinsic staining from coffee and tea responds quickly - sometimes a professional polish alone removes most of it before bleaching even starts. Tetracycline grey banding is deep in the dentine and responds slowly, often requiring months of extended treatment with partial improvement. For severe tetracycline cases, veneers achieve better cosmetic outcomes than bleaching.

For sensitive teeth, use our Sensitive Teeth Checker before starting any whitening treatment. For the whitening appointment itself, our Appointment Checklist covers everything to prepare.

Frequently Asked Questions

Most patients achieve 2-8 VITA shade improvements. In-office treatments deliver 3-6 shades in a single session. Take-home trays used nightly for 2-4 weeks often achieve similar or better results with less sensitivity. OTC strips achieve 1-3 shades at most. Starting shade, stain type, and peroxide concentration all affect the final result.
Professional results typically last 1-3 years. Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking restain teeth fastest. Touch-up treatments every 6-12 months with take-home trays maintain results cost-effectively. The 48-hour white diet immediately after treatment - avoiding all pigmented food and drink - preserves the initial result when enamel pores are temporarily most open to restaining.

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