Teeth Whitening – Concord, NH
Professional Solutions In-Office and At-Home!
At Generations Dental Care, the dentists want nothing more than to help you achieve optimal oral health for years to come. However, if you have good oral health, that doesn’t mean you’re necessarily satisfied with your smile. We’re glad that so many people have taken the initiative to care about their oral health. But now, more and more people have been coming to us to learn how they can begin a smile makeover. One of the fastest and easiest ways to start your cosmetic dental journey is through professional teeth whitening! Keep reading or give our office a call today to find out which solution would work best for you!
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
To know if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening, you’ll need to call and schedule an appointment with one of our available dental experts. Generally, though, if you are unhappy with the stains or discoloration that are visible on your teeth, you should be a candidate for treatment.
However, a formal consultation is required to ensure your oral and overall health are in optimal shape. We’ll need to identify the following:
- The severity of your tooth staining
- The type of stains that exist (i.e., intrinsic, extrinsic, or age-related)
- The type of teeth whitening you prefer (i.e., in-office or take-home)
- Whether you will require additional treatments before having your teeth whitened (i.e., gum disease treatment)
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening is different than anything you’ll find over the counter at your local drugstore. Even if you choose take-home whitening kits, you will receive oversight from a trusted cosmetic dentist who is always ready to help.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
One-hour in-office teeth whitening can be a great solution if you have an event coming up within weeks. Not only does it allow our dentists to complete the process correctly, but you’ll worry less about any issues along the way. When using professional-grade products, you can expect your teeth to shine beautifully in just one visit to our office.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you’d prefer to whiten at your own pace or you simply aren’t able to make time for a dental visit, take-home solutions allow you to whiten teeth on the go. Our office utilizes a digital impression system to create custom-made whitening trays that can be filled with Philips’ professional-grade bleaching gel. Once filled, simply wear the trays for a set period of time, then remove and rinse off any residual gel afterward. By repeating this process daily for the next two weeks, you can achieve results that are comparable to in-office solutions!
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Keeping your brighter smile looking its best requires manual upkeep on your part. You can do this by:
- Staying on top of your six-month checkups and cleanings at our dental office
- Keeping up with your at-home oral hygiene routine each day
- Allowing your cosmetic dentist in Concord to recommend a timeframe for potential touch-ups (this is usually based on when you begin to see changes appear)
- Eating calcium-enriched foods that can help keep your teeth whiter
- Minimize tooth-staining foods and beverages (i.e., coffee, soda, tea, berries, soy sauce, etc.)
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
It’s perfectly natural to have questions about any sort of cosmetic dental treatment, but especially one like teeth whitening. Since every patient’s circumstances are unique, though, we won’t be able to give you an accurate estimate until we’ve spoken with you about your goals and examined your smile. That said, there are still some relevant factors that play a part in determining the cost of care. Here’s what you need to know:
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Several factors can affect whether the teeth whitening process will be more or less expensive, including:
- Severity of Your Staining – Patients with severe staining may need multiple treatments to achieve their desired results.
- Type of Discoloration – Staining occurs for different reasons, including age, genetics, and lifestyle habits. The nature of your staining can contribute to the total cost.
- Presence of Oral Health Issues – If there are cavities, gum disease, or other issues present, they’ll need to be addressed before you can begin your whitening treatment.
- Existing Dental Restorations – Teeth whitening doesn’t work on veneers, crowns, or other dental restorations, meaning if you want a uniformly-white smile, you may need to have these restorations replaced first.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
Different teeth whitening treatments come with varying costs. Here’s a brief breakdown of what you can usually expect:
- In-Office Whitening Treatment – These professional treatments typically cost anywhere from $400 to $800, sometimes more.
- Take-Home Whitening Kits – These kits feature custom-made whitening trays and effective bleaching agents. Prices vary, but they normally cost a few hundred dollars.
- Store-Bought Whitening Trays – These over-the-counter products are far less effective than professional options, and the price reflects this lowered quality. They typically cost $100 or less.
- Strips, Gels, & Whitening Toothpastes – A standard pack of whitening gels or strips often costs between $20 and $50; while these options are among the cheapest, they’re also the least effective by a wide margin.
DIY Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
It can be tempting to want to go with the most affordable option when it comes to teeth whitening; however, you’re likely setting yourself up for subpar results. Professional teeth whitening, while more expensive, ensures beautiful, lasting results that are customized for your unique smile. This guarantee is not something that store-bought products are able to deliver. Plus, having our team oversee your treatment ensures that it goes smoothly and comfortably – that alone is a priceless perk!
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
You should know that since teeth whitening is an elective cosmetic dental service, it’s not normally covered by dental insurance since it offers no oral health benefits. That said, there are still some things you can do to make your service more affordable. Our practice is proudly partnered with CareCredit and LendingClub, two third-party financiers who offer low-interest plans for qualifying patients. Don’t hesitate to contact our team to learn more about how you can save while brightening your smile.
Frequently Asked Questions on Teeth Whitening
How Do I Know if Teeth Whitening is Right for Me?
It doesn’t matter if you have external stains as a result of consuming richly-pigmentated substances and tobacco or intrinsic stains due to antibiotics. Our whitening treatments are designed to remove the toughest stains out there. During your consultation, we’ll closely examine your tooth enamel and determine which treatment would best suit your needs. With that said, people with yellow tones to their smile tend to respond the best to whitening treatment. If you have dental fillings, you may want to consider a different cosmetic procedure, such as direct bonding.
Does Over-the-Counter Whitening Really Work?
The problem with over-the-counter whitening products is while they can be effective for removing stains, they often don’t provide the same results as professional solutions for one key reason: they don’t contain the same strength of bleaching ingredients. For example, many stores cannot sell products containing 20% hydrogen peroxide, which is what we use for in-office whitening. Store-bought solutions only contain a fraction of that ingredient, making them less effective overall.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
The effects of teeth whitening vary from person to person, but in many cases it can last multiple years before needing retreatment. Keep in mind that your oral care routine, the food and beverages you consume, and the use of tobacco can all affect your whitening’s lifespan. The best way to maintain a white smile is through daily oral care, routine visits to our practice for professional cleanings, and maintaining a diet free of richly-pigmentated substances immediately following your teeth whitening.
Is Teeth Whitening Harmful?
With so many products on the shelves these days offering solutions for whitening teeth, it can be hard to know what’s safe and what’s harmful to your tooth enamel. When administered by a professional, the solutions you’d find in our office are one hundred percent safe. If there’s an over-the-counter treatment you had in mind, ask one of our dentists first before you begin it. Many products contain ingredients that can actually cause tooth enamel to wear away, leaving your smile permanently eroded.