Teeth Whitening – Brookline, MA
Bringing You a Gleaming, More Confident Smile
When you meet someone for the first time, the last thing you want is for them to be distracted by stains or discolored spots on your teeth. The brighter your smile is, the more confident you can feel about your overall appearance. As such, Dr. Sasson can offer you several options for whitening your teeth. To learn more about your choices when it comes to getting rid of stains and reclaiming a dazzling grin, give our office a call.
Why Choose Boston Smile Center for Teeth Whitening?
- In-Office and Take-Home Whitening Available
- Dentist with Decades of Experience
- Dedicated, Longstanding Team Members
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Our team will need to confirm that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to have teeth whitening performed without issues. Additionally, we’ll take the time to ask you about the changes you want to make to your smile; we need to have a clear idea of what it is you want to accomplish before we can decide whether it’s worth proceeding with professional whitening. Rest assured that we will carefully personalize your treatment plan according to your specific needs.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
When you first come to our office to ask about teeth whitening, we will walk you through the methods available and how they work. You can choose between an in-office whitening procedure or a take-home whitening treatment; here’s what sets these options apart.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
As the name suggests, take-home teeth whitening is done at home. (This setup makes it a flexible option.) In particular, it uses a kit that includes special trays and bleaching gel.
With take-home whitening, a patient wears the gel-infused trays for two hours daily. This process is repeated over roughly two weeks. Once done, it’ll give you a nice and bright smile!
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening takes place at our practice. Given this fact, it’s handled directly by our dentists. You can leave the work to their trained hands!
The in-office whitening process is fairly simple. At first, our dentists will apply a safe bleaching gel directly onto your teeth. They’ll then use a light to activate the gel, ensuring it penetrates your enamel more quickly. These two steps only take an hour, effectively brightening your smile by six to eight shades.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
One of the top questions that patients often ask when it comes to teeth whitening is, “How long will it last?” The answer is different for every patient, but one thing that should be emphasized is that the results will last longer if you take certain actions. Here are some recommendations for helping your smile continue to look its best:
- Take note of any foods or beverages that can cause stains (such as coffee or blueberries) and stay away from them as much as you can.
- Maintain a clean smile with regular brushing and flossing.
- Schedule a checkup and cleaning at our office every six months.
- Follow any recommendations our team gives you for touching up your smile.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Even if you want teeth whitening, perhaps you’re worried about its price. Fair enough – a nice and bright grin may sound expensive. In reality, though, the cost of teeth whitening varies by patient. Our dentists will need to see you before they can make an estimate. From there, they’ll strive to make your care as affordable as possible. Our team can even guide you through whitening’s cost factors and payment options. To learn more, just keep reading or call us for the details.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Technically, teeth whitening is usually one set price. That said, some factors can affect how many sessions you’ll need. These include the following:
- Stain Severity – If teeth are only mildly stained, they won’t need as many whitening treatments. Meanwhile, severely discolored ones will require a lot more.
- Stain Type – Some tooth stains are harder to treat than others. For instance, whitening works best on extrinsic ones caused by meals. It isn’t as effective on intrinsic stains (i.e., those within the tooth).
- Added Services – If you need other procedures before whitening, you’ll pay more for treatment. (Examples of these services include crowns, fillings, etc.)
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
In truth, there are various types of teeth whitening. Each has its own price, so which you choose will affect your treatment cost.
The teeth whitening types are:
- In-Office Teeth Whitening – The in-office option usually costs $400 to $800. However, the price can reach $1,000 or more in rare cases.
- Take-Home Teeth Whitening – When provided by a dentist, a take-home whitening kit with custom-fit trays is a few hundred dollars.
- “Over-the-Counter” Teeth Whitening – Non-custom whitening trays are priced at $100 or less.
- Teeth Whitening Strips/Gels – Known as the cheapest option, teeth whitening strips or gels are found at most stores. In particular, strips only cost $20-$40 per box and have enough material to treat teeth for two weeks.
OTC Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
At this point, you may wonder why pro teeth whitening is popular despite its high price. Well, the truth is that cosmetic dentistry’s cost reflects its quality. Higher amounts equate to excellent results.
You see, cheap whitening strips and gels don’t work well. They need multiple attempts to brighten teeth even slightly. However, pro teeth whitening brightens smiles by six to eight shades. Its in-office version only requires one visit to work, while at-home kits take two weeks rather than several months.
In light of these facts, don’t assume cheaper is better. Whitening with a higher price can deliver the smile you want!
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
To be honest, dental insurance won’t cover teeth whitening. It doesn’t see the procedure as medically necessary. Even so, there are other ways to make whitening affordable. You could always try a practice’s financing options. With the right one, bright teeth would become budget-friendly.
Just look at Boston Smile Center, for instance. We happen to work with third-party financiers like CareCredit. Through them, you could pay for whitening in small, monthly installments. You could then cover the costs gradually instead of all at once.
Boston Smile Center wants to make your white teeth affordable. So, go ahead and book a consultation with our office!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
You may fear teeth whitening is a painful procedure. However, that idea simply isn’t true. Dentists take steps to ensure whitening doesn’t hurt at all.
You see, the treatment’s bleaching gel is harmless. It shouldn’t irritate your teeth or gums. Plus, the dentist customizes the process to suit your smile. That means you’re much less likely to feel any tooth sensitivity.
Of course, there are exceptions. Perhaps your teeth are naturally prone to sensitivity. If so, don’t hesitate to tell the dental team. They can offer ways to reduce whitening aches. (These might include spacing out treatments, avoiding hot drinks, or using specialty toothpaste.)
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
In reality, no – teeth whitening gel doesn’t damage healthy enamel. The material shouldn’t erode the top layers of your pearly whites.
That said, things change if your teeth are compromised. Whitening gel causes issues for teeth affected by decay or gum disease. For that reason, you simply must get a dental exam before treatment.
At-home whiteners are also risky for smiles. Those like activated charcoal are abrasive and can wear away your enamel. You thus shouldn’t use them to fix discoloration.
Ultimately, it’s best to consult a dentist before you try whitening. They’ll let you know if treatment suits you. Even if you decide against it, they can provide hygiene tips that brighten your grin safely.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Sadly, dental crowns can’t be whitened like natural teeth can. A dentist’s whitening treatment won’t have any effect on them.
It all comes down to how whitening works. Usually, it uses bleaching gel to remove stains from enamel. However, this gel can’t seep into a crown’s nonporous material. That means it won’t brighten crowned areas. Worse yet, the gel could weaken the bond between your tooth and restoration.
Still, not all hope is lost. You can avoid crown stains with good oral habits – twice-daily brushing, not smoking, etc. Furthermore, you could replace a poorly shaded crown with a new one.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
Both professional and store-bought whiteners try to fix tooth stains. Regardless, though, this common purpose is their only similarity. The two whitening options rely on very different approaches.
On the one hand, store-bought whitening is generic. It uses one-size-fits-all trays and weak brighteners. That being the case, it isn’t very good at brightening grins. In fact, it usually leaves teeth with few (if any) changes.
In contrast, pro whitening is customized for each patient’s smile. It accounts for your current oral health and existing restorations. As such, the treatment always provides high-quality and safe results. You’re sure to get noticeably whiter teeth by the end of it.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Typically, results from teeth whitening last anywhere from three to six months. The key to preventing stubborn stains from resurfacing is taking really good care of your smile. For example, you should brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash consistently and come in for a dental checkup and cleaning every six months. It’s also important that you avoid unhealthy dental habits, like smoking. Lastly, do your best to limit your intake of dark-colored foods and drinks, like soda, balsamic vinegarette, and marinara sauce.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
Usually, take-home whitening kits take about two weeks of consistent use. In-office treatments, on the other hand, are much quicker; they can lighten your teeth by up to eight shades in an hour! That’s why patients who have a wedding, family reunion, job interview, or another important event rapidly approaching often choose an in-office treatment.
Important note: In some cases, restorative care is needed beforehand. If that’s the case for you, then it’s possible for a few weeks or months to be added to the front-end of your treatment plan. For that reason, we recommend coming in for your initial consultation sooner rather than later.
Are There Any Foods I Need to Avoid After Whitening My Teeth?
One of the leading causes of dental discoloration is dark-colored foods, like blackberries, soy sauce, and balsamic glaze. So, we recommend avoiding these following your teeth whitening treatment. Instead, do your best to stick to light-colored foods that are also smile-friendly, like oatmeal, plain yogurt, and bananas. That way, your teeth stay white, and your enamel stays healthy!
Are There Any Drinks I Need to Avoid After Whitening My Teeth?
Speaking of things that discolor your teeth, beverages like coffee, wine, and soda certainly make the list. That’s why we recommend steering clear of them, especially immediately following your whitening treatment. When you do get the green light to incorporate these back into your diet, make sure to use a straw, rinse your mouth with clean water afterward, and brush your teeth about 20 minutes later.
Does Dental Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening?
Although having dental insurance will help you save on preventive and restorative care, it doesn’t typically cover services that aren’t medically necessary, like teeth whitening. Don’t worry though – we have another financial solution available: flexible financing. So, if you are interested in whitening your teeth but you want to learn how to make the price more affordable, don’t hesitate to reach out to our Brookline dental team so we can provide you with details on CareCredit.