Teeth Whitening in Denton
Over the years, your smile will start to lose its luster. As a natural part of the aging process, it is unavoidable; however, there are also several factors that can cause it to occur prematurely, like poor oral hygiene or smoking. No matter the reason, tooth discoloration can leave you feeling insecure about your appearance. To restore a bright, white smile, we have the solutions you need using a whitening treatment in Denton that is right for you.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
As time passes, your teeth will naturally start to darken as your enamel becomes thinner. This causes more of your dentin to become visible. While this occurs for everyone, there are several reasons that can make stains and discoloration more severe, such as:
- Poor oral hygiene habits
- Smoking and tobacco use
- Consuming darkly pigmented foods and drinks
- Certain medications
As you started to notice that your teeth were changing, you likely tried over-the-counter whitening products, like toothpastes or mouthrinses, to reverse the stains. Unfortunately, while these may seem like the perfect solution, they will not give you the results you want. They do not contain a professional-strength whitening agent, so they cannot reach stains underneath your enamel. The only way to get drastic lasting results is with your cosmetic dentist in Denton.
How Can I Brighten My Smile?
To reestablish a bright, white smile, we have the solutions you need. We offer two options to combat tooth discoloration:
- In-Office: In as little as an hour, your teeth can become several shades whiter. After applying a protective barrier to your lips and gums to avoid any irritation, a professional-grade whitening agent will be put on your teeth. A special light is then used to activate the gel for 15-minute intervals. This allows it to deeply penetrate your enamel to resolve tough stains.
- At-Home: Now, you can enjoy the convenience of an over-the-counter kit while achieving in-office results. We will provide you with custom-fit whitening trays to ensure even and consistent results. You will use the trays and the whitening agent daily for about 10 to 14 days. At the end of your treatment, your teeth will be several shades whiter.
How Long Will My Results Last?
With the right aftercare, your smile can stay bright for many years. In addition to maintaining your oral hygiene habits and visiting your dentist in Denton twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, it is best to limit your contact with stain-causing factors, like darkly pigmented foods and drinks. If you cannot skip your morning cup of coffee or berries in your fruit salad, be sure to brush your teeth immediately afterward or rinse your mouth with water. If you use tobacco in any form, it is best to stop immediately.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
It’s little wonder why teeth whitening is such a popular cosmetic treatment, but how much can you expect it to cost? The answer won’t be exactly the same for everyone; you’ll need to schedule a consultation with us so that we can examine your mouth and give you a reliable estimate of how much you’ll likely pay. Below are a few things you should keep in mind when you’re considering how to fit teeth whitening into your budget.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
The actual whitening treatment usually has a set price, but some patients will need more treatments than others to get the results they want. So to figure out the cost of whitening, we need to determine how many treatments you’ll require, which depends on:
- The severity of the stains or discoloration that you’re trying to remove.
- The cause of the discoloration, which could impact how effective whitening is.
- Whether the stain is located on or below the surface of the enamel.
- Whether you need other procedures like fillings or crowns before whitening is performed.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
When talking about the cost of teeth whitening, the cost depends largely on what method you’ve chosen:
- In-house whitening usually costs between $400 and $800. In certain circumstances, the cost might be higher.
- Take-home whitening kits with customized trays usually cost around a few hundred dollars, with the exact number depending on the practice and the brand they use.
- Over-the-counter whitening trays that haven’t been customized for your mouth cost $100 or less.
- Whitening strips and gels tend to be the cheapest options. You can usually expect a box of whitening strips meant to last two weeks to cost between $20 and $40.
Inexpensive Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
If you’re just looking at the numbers, it might seem odd that so many people choose professional whitening when there are more affordable store-bought options. The answer is simple: when it comes to whitening, you get what you pay for. Over-the-counter whitening products might cost less, but they’re also less effective; oftentimes they can’t remove stains below the enamel at all, and you may not see any results even after using them for weeks.
Meanwhile, professional whitening options are far more reliable at removing both intrinsic and extrinsic stains. They also get results much faster; in-house whitening can dramatically improve the smile in just one appointment, and patients who use professional take-home kits should see results after just two weeks.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
The vast majority of insurance plans don’t include coverage for whitening, which is considered an elective cosmetic procedure. You do, however, have other options:
- Our practice is currently running a free teeth whitening special for new patients who schedule an initial examination. Follow this link for more details.
- Third-party financing lets you break up the cost of your care into smaller monthly installments that won’t put as much of a strain on your budget. Financing can be used to help pay for teeth whitening treatments that aren’t covered by insurance; reach out to our team today to learn more about how you can apply.
Get a Bright Smile Today!
If you are ready to turn back the hands of time to restore a bright smile, Denton Dental Center can help. We offer the solutions you need to get your teeth several shades whiter using a customized treatment plan. Contact our office today to schedule your consultation.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Do you still have questions about getting teeth whitening in Denton? Below, we’ve compiled some of the most frequently asked questions that we receive from patients about this effective cosmetic treatment.
How are professional take-home kits different from store-bought kits?
Some patients wonder how the teeth whitening kits you get from your dentist in Denton any different from the ones you can grab off of a shelve at a department store. The ingredients used by your dentist have been clinically tested for years, and proven to provide you with effective results and be safe to use in your mouth. For many store-bought products, this isn’t the case. In fact, the American Dental Association hasn’t placed their seal of approval on a majority of these kits because there isn’t enough data or research to prove that they’re safe for your oral health.
Will whitening my teeth damage my enamel?
In a study conducted in 2019, found that store-bought teeth whitening strips can damage your enamel and result in dental sensitivity, especially if they’re used too frequently. There are a variety of other products that you can purchase off the shelves that also contain abrasive ingredients that are known to damage your protective enamel as well, such as activated charcoal. This can leave you susceptible to an increased risk of cavity development and sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures.
Does teeth whitening treatment affect restorations?
Unfortunately, we typically don’t recommend teeth whitening for patients who have visible restorations, such as dental crowns or veneers, because they’re made from non-porous materials. What this means is that they won’t get brighter, but your surrounding teeth will. This can cause your smile to turn two different shades of white.
How can I make my results last longer?
Here are some tips that we’ll likely provide you with after your treatment to help get the most out of your investment in teeth whitening:
- Brush twice each day and floss daily.
- Avoid foods and beverages that are high in tannins, such as red wine, soy sauce, and tomato-based sauces.
- Eat foods that naturally protect and whiten your teeth, like white foods that are rich in calcium.
- Use a straw whenever you drink any staining drinks, such as iced coffee.
- Avoid bad oral habits that can stain your teeth, like smoking.
- Visit our office every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
- Touch-up your results with ADA-approved whitening toothpaste.
Our team will be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have after the procedure too!