Teeth Whitening – Houston, TX

How Do Teeth
Become Discolored?

Before we begin any teeth whitening plan, we’ll want to understand the cause of your dental discoloration. This ensures we will provide effective treatment that directly addresses your unique cosmetic dentistry needs. Some of the common reasons for dental discoloration include:

• Consuming dark colored foods and drinks
• Aging or excessive enamel wear that reveals the interior, yellow dentin layer
• Bright white spots on the teeth that indicate fluorosis caused by excessive fluoride ingestion as a child
• Genetics may also be the cause as some people just have naturally darker tooth coloring

Zoom! In-Office
Teeth Whitening

Zoom! teeth whitening is a popular and effective in-office treatment option. Most patients who choose Zoom! whitening are able to achieve smiles six to ten shades brighter in just about an hour. Before treatment begins, we isolate the teeth to be whitened by placing protective plastic dams. Then, a coat of the Zoom! whitening gel is placed and a low heat accelerating light is applied to the smile. We will check the progress of treatment every twenty minutes, and reapply as necessary until patients achieve their desired results.

Take-Home
Teeth Whitening

Unlike store bought teeth whitening products, our professional take-home kits are able to provide the same dramatically brighter results possible with in-office teeth whitening. We provide a personalized dose of active whitening gel and a custom fitted whitening application tray. Used together, the quality teeth whitening gel and application trays provide the necessary materials and application methods to whiten teeth. The perfectly fitted application trays keep the personalized doses of professional grade whitening gel on the surfaces of teeth.

Additionally, the properly fitted application trays prevent neutralizing oral saliva from accessing the whitening gel and halting progress. Worn for about half an hour a day, patients will typically see their desired results after two weeks of daily application.

Benefits of Professional
Teeth Whitening

There are numerous benefits to investing in cosmetic dentistry results that you can count on, and teeth whitening is one of the simplest and most cost-effective treatments that will deliver stunning results. Some of the benefits of professional teeth whitening include:

• Predictable results up to ten shades brighter
• Professional application ensures safety and efficacy of treatment
• Flawless smiles you’ll be proud to share
• Improved confidence during professional and personal interactions
• People who are proud of their smiles are more likely to properly care for their teeth improving oral health

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

One factor that often stands in the way of patients and their ideal, bright smile is the cost of teeth whitening. Many people believe that visiting a professional for treatment is drastically more costly than buying products over-the-counter to use, but the truth is that you can actually save by choosing a trusted cosmetic dentist since there’s less risk to the health and safety of your mouth. Learn more about what can influence the cost of treatment and some easy ways to afford it!

Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening treatments are typically a set price. However, there are some instances in which you may require more than one treatment to get the results that you’re hoping for, including:

• If you have serious stains or discoloration
• Whether you have extrinsic (located on the surface of the enamel) or intrinsic (located deeper within the tooth) discoloration
• Why your staining has occurred (due to aging, taking certain medications, etc.)
• If you require dental work before being a good candidate for treatment, like a filling or crown

In any of these scenarios, our team at Sunrise Dental will discuss your plan with you, as well as walk you through a detailed cost estimate, so you know exactly what to expect to pay out-of-pocket before moving forward.

Types of Teeth Whitening & Their Costs

We believe in meeting our patients where they are, so they can enjoy convenient, safe, and effective treatment, which is why we offer both in-office and take-home professional teeth whitening. However, we realize that there are other options on the market that patients may look into, which is why we have a side-by-side breakdown of them all here:

• In-office teeth whitening can cost between $400 and $800, although in rare cases that may require multiple treatments, the cost could reach up to $1,000.
• Take-home professional teeth whitening that comes with custom-fitted trays and is prescribed through a dentist typically costs between $200 and $300.
• Over-the-counter whitening trays that you can purchase at your local pharmacy and aren’t custom fit are typically $100 or less.
• Whitening strips and gels are the least expensive option, ranging between $20 and $40 per box.

Store-Bought vs. Professional Teeth Whitening

If you’re only focused on cost, you may be tempted to just invest in whitening strips and gels that you can buy at the pharmacy, but it’s important to remember that when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, quality is reflected in the price.

Although professional teeth whitening is more expensive than over-the-counter products, not only is it safely administered by a professional using ADA-approved products that won’t erode the enamel of your teeth, but it also offers fast, virtually guaranteed results. Many patients feel these two benefits are worth the added cost.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment, which means that it will likely not be covered by a traditional dental insurance plan. However, our team partners with CareCredit to offer trusted financing for patients. Simply fill out an application and find out if you qualify for a little-to-no interest monthly financing plan!