Teeth Whitening – Lisle, IL
We Can Brighten Your Smile
First on the list of almost every patient who visits Arbor Dental Care for cosmetic treatment - a brighter smile! If you’d like to brighten your teeth, your dentist in Lisle offers both in-office and at-home treatment options. If you’re ready to get started, give our team a call. We’ll schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation to evaluate your current smile and create a plan to help you reach your smile whitening goals.
Types of Tooth Stains
There are essentially two kinds of tooth stains: extrinsic and intrinsic.
Extrinsic stains develop on the surface of the teeth. They typically form as a result of smoking/chewing tobacco or frequently consuming foods and drinks that discolor enamel, such as coffee, wine, berries, and darkly pigmented sauces. These stains can often be removed with regular brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings, but if they are more significant, they will require professional whitening to correct.
Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, are more severe, occurring beneath the surface of the teeth. They can be the result of trauma, overuse of certain medications, too much fluoride consumption during childhood, or erosion/thinning of the enamel. While even whitening toothpastes might not be effective at blasting away these stains, our whitening treatment definitely can be.
How Our Take-Home Whitening Trays Work
Unlike the store-bought varieties, our at-home teeth whitening kits use professional grade whitening gel and custom crafted application trays. This means the higher doses of whitener remain in place and active on the surfaces of teeth for a significantly longer time. The treatment process is entirely customized to meet patients’ unique goals. In most cases, patients begin to notice improvement right away, and they achieve their desired result after about two weeks of daily application. Of course, store-bought kits can come in handy for quick touchups in between or slight shade adjustments.
How to Make Your Results Last
While not even our professional teeth whitening treatment is designed to last forever, there are certain things you can do to extend the lifespan of your results as long as possible. Here are a few tips to keep you smiling bright:
- Brush your teeth twice a day, and use a whitening toothpaste at least once or twice a week.
- Floss at least once daily to prevent plaque from accumulating between your teeth and contributing to yellow stains.
- Attend a dental checkup and cleaning with us twice a year, or every six months. Regular cleanings remove surface stains before they can settle deep within the enamel.
- If you currently smoke or chew tobacco, we urge you to consider quitting.
- Limit your consumption of staining foods and drinks. Brush your teeth or rinse with water after eating/drinking these items.
- Sip staining liquids through a straw to minimize direct exposure to your teeth.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Brightening your grin can boost your confidence and improve your daily quality of life. However, most dental insurance policies don't cover the cost because this cosmetic service is intended to enhance your appearance more than your oral well-being. As a result, many patients want to know what they can expect to pay before deciding to proceed with professional teeth-whitening services.
You might not pay the same exact amount as someone else because it can depend on your unique situation. Read on to learn more about how your invoice is calculated, and feel free to contact us for additional information.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Although teeth whitening products typically have a set price, different considerations affect how many treatments you need to achieve the desired shade. Some factors that can impact the total due can include:
- Your dental condition. If we find signs of cavities or gum disease, you will be expected to cover treatments to address them.
- The type of discoloration. Extrinsic stains on your enamel from eating dark foods can usually be easily bleached away. Intrinsic blemishes in the lower layers may require repeat services, which raises your rate.
- The severity of the stains. Those with slightly off-white teeth may only need to pay for a single treatment, but darker stains might require multiple repetitions and increase the amount owed.
Types of Teeth Whitening and Their Associated Costs
Several methods can be used to lighten your smile, each with its own price range. It might vary slightly, but you can usually expect to pay the following for different options:
- In-office whitening treatment. Some dentists offer in-office appointments that can lift the color of your teeth by several shades in a single visit for anywhere from $400 to $1,000+.
- Take-home kits. Kits with professional-grade gels and custom-fitted trays can be purchased for a few hundred dollars.
- Over-the-counter whitening trays. These are one size fits all and can be $100 or less.
- Commercial products. Store-bought strips and gels can cost $20 to $40 per box.
Over-the-Counter vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
If your budget is your primary concern, you might wonder why you should invest in professional teeth whitening services when there are other more cost-effective options. However, the quality of dental products is often reflected in their fees. Many patients attempting to use store-bought products grow frustrated with a lack of results or develop sensitivity in their teeth or gums.
Our take-home kits include ultra-concentrated bleaching gels designed to minimize potential adverse effects while maximizing results. Plus, we include custom-fitted trays to prevent potential application errors that could lead to tenderness.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
We know that many people want sparkling white smiles but hesitate to move forward if they’re unsure they can afford it. We believe that you can’t put a price on looking and feeling like the best version of yourself, and so we offer flexible financing that can help. We’ve partnered with CareCredit so that, if your application is approved, you can break up your final invoice into more manageable installments.
Please let our friendly office staff know if you’re struggling with your application or need assistance with the paperwork. They’re familiar with the process and are happy to help!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Here are some questions we are asked regularly, along with our responses. Do you have more questions? Don’t hesitate to reach out to our team!
Does Teeth Whitening Cause Sensitivity?
The vast majority of patients do not experience any tooth sensitivity as a result of professional whitening treatment. The take-home solution is much more powerful than what you’ll find at the store, but it does not damage or impair your enamel—it only bleaches the stains, allowing your white enamel to shine through. If by chance you do experience some sensitivity after treatment, you should use a toothpaste specifically formulated for sensitivity. Also, tell us at your next checkup and cleaning, and we can give you a fluoride treatment to reinforce your enamel.
How Often Will I Need to Re-Whiten My Teeth?
Timing will vary from patient to patient, but professional whitening usually needs to be redone about every three years. At that point, stains can start to dim the brilliance of your smile. Again, the lifespan of your results will be affected by how well you take care of your teeth in between treatments. During your checkups, we’ll make sure you’re still happy with your coloration and remove surface stains with a thorough cleaning. If you ever wish to revitalize your brightness, we can provide another round of treatment.
Are DIY Whitening Hacks Safe?
The internet is replete with influencers who rave about whitening hacks, but not all of them are effective or even safe. For instance, some of them, like activated charcoal, can permanently damage your enamel. Even overusing whitening toothpastes can wear down the protective shield for your teeth, leading to greater sensitivity. The best alternative is to go with professionally supervised and prescribed treatment. Not only will you achieve more remarkable results, but you’ll also keep your smile safe throughout the process.
Am I a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
In order to get our take-home whitening kits, we need to make sure you qualify for treatment. The requirement is simple: you need to have healthy teeth and gums. That’s it! If you have a cavity, gum disease, or another problem, we will need to fix it first. Teeth whitening treatment on an unhealthy smile only leads to more damage or pain, which is why we screen for these issues during your consultation. As long as you meet this standard, you should be good to go on whitening.