Teeth Whitening – City, ST
The Key to Unlocking Your Dream Smile!
If you’re a little insecure about the color of your smile, you’re far from alone. All kinds of people wish their teeth were a little bit whiter, whether they’ve seen their smile yellow from aging or from a little too much coffee every morning. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy for teeth to become discolored despite your best efforts.
It’s a good thing that teeth whitening can just as easily make your smile shine again. If you’re near Tustin, CA, Zhang Dental Group of Tustin has all the tools you need to unlock your dream smile. Make an appointment with us today and we’ll be happy to show you what this treatment can do.
Why Choose Zhang Dental Group of Tustin For Teeth Whitening?
- Offers Both In-office and At-home Teeth Whitening
- Comfortable Dental Office that Puts Patients at Ease
- Empathetic Dental Team with Your Best Interest at Heart
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
A good candidate for teeth whitening is someone with healthy teeth and gums who desires a brighter smile. Typically, these individuals have yellow-toned teeth rather than gray or brown stains, which respond better to whitening. However, even patients with severe discoloration might find that teeth whitening could benefit them. It's also important for them not to be pregnant, breastfeeding, or have allergies to whitening agents.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening works by using bleaching agents, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, to break down stains on the enamel and dentin layers of the teeth. These agents penetrate the tooth surface and cause a chemical reaction that lifts stains, resulting in a lighter, whiter appearance. The process can be done professionally by a dentist or with at-home kits.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Professional take-home teeth whitening involves custom-fitted trays provided by a dentist, filled with a bleaching gel. Patients wear the trays for a specified time daily, usually over one to two weeks. This method offers effective, gradual whitening with professional supervision, ensuring safety and optimal results.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is a procedure performed by a dentist, using high-concentration bleaching agents. The process typically takes about an hour and involves applying the agent to the teeth and activating it with a special light. This method offers immediate, significant whitening results.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Effective, trusted professional teeth whitening in Tustin is a bigger investment than over-the-counter toothpastes and strips, it’s true. However, with virtually guaranteed results, many patients find the slightly higher price tag worth it due to the more predictable, long-lasting outcomes. At one set price, simply call our office to find out the costs of Zoom! take-home and Zoom! in-office teeth whitening.
Factors That Can Impact the Cost of Teeth Whitening
There are a few different factors that could affect the cost of teeth whitening:
- The Extent of Your Dental Stains: More severe intrinsic stains, like those caused by taking antibiotics, may require multiple treatments to reach your desired shade of brightness.
- Necessary Preparatory Treatments: If you have lingering dental health problems, like cavities or gum disease, these will need to be treated before you can undergo teeth whitening.
- Replacement of Restorations or Veneers: Crowns, bridges, and veneers will not change shade with whitening. This means that part of your smile would be brighter than your restorations following treatment. To avoid this, you may need to replace your dental work beforehand for an even result.
The Different Types of Teeth Whitening & Their Costs
- In-Office Whitening: This treatment method typically costs between $400 and $800.
- Take-Home Whitening Kit: Professional take-home kits come with customized trays and, depending on your preferences, different strengths of whitening gels. These typically cost around $200-$300.
- Store-Bought Whitening Trays: You can purchase these from department stores and pharmacies for less than $100, usually.
- Strips, Gels, & Whitening Toothpastes: These methods can cost between $7 and $50.
Professional vs. Store-Bought Results
Although store-bought whitening products may be the least costly options on the list above, they often don’t provide patients with the predictable, lasting, and reliable results that they’re hoping for. As a result, it’s usually necessary to purchase multiple over-the-counter methods to achieve the desired outcomes, risking the safety of your oral health and enamel. In fact, the overuse of whitening products can cause dental sensitivity and even enamel erosion.
With professional teeth whitening, whether you opt for take-home or in-office treatment, you can trust that the results you achieve will last for at least six months, and the products used are clinically proven and safe for your smile.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening More Affordable
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment, which means that it isn’t covered by most dental insurance plans. Because of this, patients often need to pay 100 percent of the cost of treatment out-of-pocket. Some ways to make this possible if you can’t pay it all up-front is to take advantage of our 25-50% discount on additional treatments if you sign up for our In-House Membership Plan. We also accept cash, checks, and credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and Discover.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
To maintain a brighter smile after teeth whitening, follow these steps:
- Good Oral Hygiene: Brush twice daily and floss regularly to prevent staining and plaque buildup.
- Avoid Staining Foods and Drinks: Limit consumption of coffee, tea, red wine, and dark berries, or use a straw to minimize contact with teeth.
- Quit Smoking: Tobacco can cause significant staining.
- Regular Dental Cleanings: Visit your dentist for cleanings and checkups to keep your teeth healthy and white.
- Touch-Up Treatments: Use professional or at-home touch-up kits as recommended by your dentist to maintain whiteness.
If you’re interested in learning more about what professional whitening can do for you, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with us today!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Make no mistake, overusing teeth whitening products will definitely result in dental sensitivity. However, if you have our exceptional Tustin dental team supervising the brightening process, you won’t have to worry about that. In fact, since each treatment plan is custom, we can make certain accommodations if you’ve struggled with dental sensitivity in the past, like spacing out your appointments or having you use a desensitizing toothpaste.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
Patients are often tempted to choose over-the-counter whitening products simply because of the price tag. However, these are often a waste of money since they contain diluted brightening agents and one-size-fits-all applicators. Plus, they don’t consider the state of your oral health, your overall aesthetic goals, or the cause of the discoloration. The reality is that, if you want a noticeably brighter and balanced smile, then the best thing to do is invest in professional whitening treatments.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
There are a few things that impact the answer, including how pigmented the stains on your teeth are. Of course, the type of teeth whitening treatment you choose will also play a role since take-home products typically deliver results in two weeks while in-office alternatives brighten your teeth up to eight shades in just an hour. If you are whitening your teeth for a special event, like your wedding, then we highly recommend scheduling a consultation with our Tustin cosmetic dentist, Dr. Zhang, sooner rather than later. That way, there is plenty of time to address any existing oral health problems (if necessary) as well as bring your teeth to your desired shade of white.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Sadly, the results of your teeth whitening treatment will not last forever. That said, they will last for six months or more if you take great care of your smile. So, make sure that you prioritize preventive care, steer clear of dark-colored foods and beverages, and break bad habits that stain your teeth, like smoking.
Is Teeth Whitening Covered By Dental Insurance?
Since teeth whitening isn’t deemed “medically necessary,” it’s very rare for dental insurance providers to cover the cost. Fortunately, we have another way to save: our in-house membership plan. Joining comes with significant discounts, so it’s definitely worth considering, especially if you want to enhance your smile without breaking the bank. For details, give our friendly dental team a call or visit the “Membership Plan” page on our website.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Although dental crowns are custom-made to look just like your natural teeth, they are crafted from high-quality materials like porcelain, not enamel. As a result, they cannot be whitened with in-office or take-home brightening treatments. They can, however, be replaced with a newer, whiter one if you aren’t happy with the color of your current one. So, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if that’s something you desire.