Cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening, tooth shape, veneers, and gum contouring are typically not covered by dental insurance. These procedures are not considered medically necessary and must be paid for totally by the patient because they are meant to just improve the appearance of your teeth.
How much does it usually cost to get your teeth whitened at the dentist?
The price of teeth whitening (at John T Green DDS) varies based on the type of whitening treatment you choose. Although at-home teeth whitening kits are less expensive than professional whitening methods, they may not produce as immediate effects and may require more frequent application. Your geographic location, whether any extra procedures are required, how frequently you have the operation performed, and what type of equipment is used to accomplish the teeth whitening are all factors that may influence the total cost of teeth whitening.
Average Cost of Teeth Whitening
A laser whitening treatment, which costs around $1,000 on average, is the most expensive (and most effective) approach for whitening teeth. While this is significantly more expensive than take-home kits or other teeth whitening products, such as gels, gums, or whitening toothpastes, which can range from $5 to $50, having your teeth whitened in-office will result in a significantly brighter smile because your dentist can use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide.
Having a personalized tray manufactured to fit your particular dental demands is a common alternative for patients who want faster and better outcomes but don’t want to spend a lot of money. Your dentist will provide instructions for wearing the trays at home once the tray has been made. The cost of these custom kits ranges from $250 to $500, plus an additional $30 for annual maintenance.
Preventing Staining from Occurring
Teeth staining can occur for a variety of causes, the most prevalent of which are poor dental hygiene, tobacco use, or excessive consumption of particular foods or beverages. Teeth discoloration might sometimes be a sign of a more serious problem. If you want brighter, whiter teeth but don’t want to pay for expensive dental work, there are a few things you can do to improve the appearance of your teeth.
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene: Practicing good daily oral hygiene practices is one of the most effective ways to avoid and correct discolored teeth. Brush and floss twice a day, preferably with a toothpaste that contains fluoride or whitening ingredients. It’s also a good idea to change your toothbrush every three to four months.
- Forego Staining Foods: While it may be difficult to avoid soda, tea, or a lovely glass of wine, each of these liquids can contribute to the staining of your teeth. Teeth stains can also be caused by foods like tomato sauce and some berries.
- Stop Smoking: There are numerous reasons why it is a good idea to quit smoking, one of which is that tobacco usage not only jeopardizes your health but also stains your teeth, particularly smokeless tobacco.
- Routine Dental Exams: In addition to leading a healthy lifestyle and eating a balanced diet, having your teeth cleaned every six months (or more frequently for patients with periodontal disease) allows your dentist to remove plaque and staining chemicals that will brighten your smile.
How much does it cost to bleach a tooth?
In-office teeth whitening costs an average of $650, but it can cost $1,000 or more depending on the type of substance used and how much your dentist charges.
In many cases, teeth whitening done in the clinic pays off. When compared to at-home treatments, more people claim they detect a difference in the appearance of their teeth after an in-office treatment.
The bleaching compounds used by a dentist are far more powerful than those found in whitening strips or other at-home procedures. Store-bought whitening strips typically contain no more than 10% hydrogen peroxide, one of the most prevalent bleaching chemicals. Hydrogen peroxide concentrations in in-office treatments range from 25 to 40%.
When you pay for your treatment using a rewards credit card, a brighter smile might be even more gratifying.
Is it worth getting your teeth whitened at the dentist?
How do over-the-counter teeth-whitening solutions stack up against professional teeth-whitening options? Is going to the dentist worth the extra money? Is it safe to whiten your teeth?
Over-the-counter remedies like Crest Whitestrips work OK, but they’re inconvenient to apply and usually only whiten the front six teeth a decent option if your back teeth are capped. Whitening toothpastes and rinses aren’t very effective, and any toothpaste will effectively do the same thing.
Whitening at the dentist’s office is more precise, easier to use, and gives greater results. In our office, we typically employ the tray system since it allows our patients the most options and is simple to touch up every few months to keep that gleam. Be wary of light-activated whitening. The light is more of a marketing gimmick than anything else, and it has never been demonstrated to improve the whitening process.
Many over-the-counter whitening treatments are ineffective because its chemistry is either too weak to bleach the teeth for long enough periods of time, or it is too strong to use and ingest. Professional teeth whitening is a safe, effective procedure that is carried out under the supervision of a dentist. In most circumstances, paying a little extra to see a dentist is worth it if you want long-lasting, safe results.
Yes, when done appropriately, teeth whitening is highly safe. My wife and two adult children’s teeth have all been whitened by me. I’ve even bleached my own teeth. Crest Whitestrips is the only over-the-counter product I could recommend because it is a regulated product. Anything else would be a gamble because we don’t know what the whitening agents are or how powerful they are. The cost of traditional tray whitening has decreased significantly. You should seek for a dentist that offers a ‘Whitening for Life’ service. It’s a great deal!
How long does teeth bleaching last?
The type of bleaching agent your cosmetic dentist uses will play a role in how long your teeth whitening results endure. Although hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide are the most common bleaching chemicals, there are diverse quantities and ways. Because there are so many options for teeth whitening, the average results can last anywhere from six months to three years. The majority of the time, though, people’s outcomes last around a year.
The longevity of your bleaching procedure is determined not only by the type of bleaching agent you use, but also by your lifestyle. This is one of the reasons why teeth whitening can last three years for one person but just six months for another. Diet and dental hygiene habits are the two most critical lifestyle factors that influence how long bleaching lasts.
Before we look at how these variables can affect how long your teeth bleaching results last, it’s crucial to understand how teeth bleaching works. The whitener is applied to the surface of your teeth and let to sit when you get your teeth bleached or whitened. It is absorbed into the enamel and dentin layers of your tooth at this period. Once inside these layers, the whitener triggers a molecular-level chemical reaction that effectively destroys the chemicals that cause tooth stains. Even after the whitener has been rinsed off the teeth, it will continue to destroy stains for another 24 hours.
The whitener is safely absorbed by the body after 24 hours and is no longer effective. As a result, it can only remove old stains and not fresh ones. This is why people who consume more brightly coloured meals and beverages see their benefits fade more quickly. Colored molecules are absorbed by the teeth in things like coffee, tea, wine, colored sauces, beets, and spaghetti sauce, to mention a few. The teeth will eventually become stained as a result of this.
Because some of these stains can be removed with regular brushing and flossing, it’s critical to maintain your daily oral hygiene regimen to ensure that your bleaching results last as long as possible. Dental cleanings every six months will also remove extra plaque, making it easier to maintain your teeth clean and stain-free. Brushing promptly after consuming highly colored meals or beverages might also assist to eliminate the pigments before they are absorbed by the teeth.
Overall, professional teeth whitening procedures have the potential to provide effects that last up to three years. However, what you eat and how you care for your teeth will unavoidably effect the longevity of your bleaching results. To keep your new smile, you’ll want to limit the amount of highly pigmented foods and beverages you consume, as well as follow good dental hygiene routines.
Why is teeth whitening so expensive?
Prescription gels, over-the-counter creams, and professional whitening procedures can restore the luster to your smile. According to the American Dental Association, all of these whitening treatments contain various peroxide components (ADA). The difference in the active chemicals present in the whitening agent is what makes professional whitening cost a little extra.
- Dental Supervision – Your dentist will do a dental checkup before to the whitening operation to ensure that your gums and teeth are healthy enough for the treatment and to identify if any crowns or veneers will not be whitened.
- Whitening Agents with a Greater Concentration – Professional in-office whitening methods are closely controlled and use a higher concentration of whitening gel. This may cause temporary sensitivity in some people, so the dentist may apply a gel to the gum tissue to protect the soft tissues of the mouth from the whitening gel.
- Faster Results – Despite the fact that the concentration of professionally applied whitening gel is higher than that of an at-home whitening treatment, results are noticeable right away rather than weeks later.
It’s critical to understand that teeth discolouration can be caused by an underlying disease or condition that necessitates dental treatment. So, before deciding on a procedure to brighten your smile, schedule an appointment with your dentist.
Can bleach damage your teeth?
Everyone wants to appear their best and have a more attractive smile. Professional teeth whitening might help you reach these aims in moderation, but some patients aren’t happy with the results of their treatments. In an attempt to imitate images of their favorite Hollywood superstars and their dazzling smiles, some patients seek regular and excessive teeth whitening sessions.
Bleachorexia is a new term coined by dentists to describe a fixation with over-bleaching one’s teeth in order to make them look as white as possible.
Not only can extremely white teeth appear artificial, but the procedure of over whitening can harm or even destroy your teeth.
What Happens When You Over-Bleach Your Teeth?
Bleachorexia has a variety of affects on your teeth, ranging from mild discomfort to outright pain. The severity of over-bleaching effects is determined on the product you’re using, how often you’re using it, and the state of your teeth to begin with.
Hypersensitivity
Teeth whitening with peroxide-based treatments can cause sensitivity to cold or hot foods, which is increased when you over-bleach your teeth. If the consumer stops using the bleaching product, this is usually not a permanent problem. When the bleaching agent is no longer utilized in a person’s dental hygiene routine, the sensitivity normally goes away.
Gum irritation
Another common side effect of over-bleaching your teeth is irritation of the gums and throat, as well as gum bleeding, which may be quite unpleasant. The gums and throat are unable to withstand caustic compounds such as peroxide, causing discomfort.
Erosion
Tooth deterioration can occur as a result of excessive bleaching. If you expose your teeth to bleaching substances for an extended period of time, the enamel that protects your teeth may be destroyed. This can lead to long-term oral health problems like tooth decay and fractures, as well as a lot of discomfort.
Scheduling a dental visit with your dentist to analyze the health of your teeth and plan a safe, customized smile makeover tailored to your needs is the safest approach for achieving a whiter smile.
Is teeth whitening bad for cavities?
Dentists employ bleaching chemicals like hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen carbamide to remove stains and discolouration from the inner and outer surfaces of teeth during teeth whitening treatments. These chemicals erode tooth enamel and can aggravate teeth that have already been compromised by disease.
After teeth whitening, a cavity-ridden tooth might become extremely inflamed, causing pain, discomfort, and increased sensitivity. In some situations, whitening treatments can result in irreversible tooth damage.
If the tooth is already decaying, things are significantly worse. Whitening procedures are ineffective in removing stains and discolouration caused by dental decay, and they might actually worsen the condition of the tooth.
A patient’s tooth decay does not preclude them from receiving teeth whitening procedures. It simply implies that before whitening the patient’s teeth, the dentist must cure any cavities or decay.
Dealing with cavities and tooth decay
Composite resins are an excellent choice for filling cavities. The composite can be tinted to match the patient’s whitening procedure’s intended shade of white. Before filling the tooth with composite, the dentist would usually clean it out. A curing light is used to solidify composite resin, which has a putty-like consistency.
A root canal may be required if a tooth has been significantly affected by tooth decay. This entails clearing out the soft tissues in the pulp chamber of the tooth and then sealing it up. The dentist may wait until the patient’s whitening procedures are finished before crowning the tooth.
What to expect during teeth whitening
Teeth whitening procedures are frequently performed with bespoke mouth trays. The dentist takes a mold of the patient’s mouth and sends it to a lab where the mouth trays are made. The tray is used to submerge the patient’s teeth in the whitening substance while also preventing the chemicals from entering the patient’s jaw and causing gum irritation.
After the mouth tray has been filled with the whitening product, the patient bites down on it and holds it there for 60 to 90 minutes. The dentist takes the mouth tray out of the patient’s mouth and rinses his or her teeth. To alleviate tooth sensitivity, a fluoride treatment may be used. After each whitening treatment, the patient’s teeth should be noticeably whiter. To achieve the correct hue, most patients will require multiple treatments.
How can I whiten my teeth professionally?
Drinking sodas or other staining beverages throughout the day may help you stay alert, but it will do nothing for your teeth. Years of stains from dark-colored meals and beverages can cause yellowing or browning of the teeth. Brushing and flossing twice a day may not be sufficient to achieve the dazzling smile you desire. Following are a few tooth whitening choices in Las Colinas, TX, at various price points, including both professional-grade and over-the-counter kits, to help you get a whiter smile that will knock ’em dead.
Flossing, brushing, and using mouthwash on a regular basis is a fantastic place to start. Additionally, keeping a travel-sized oral hygiene kit in your purse or briefcase for usage at the office or school is a good idea. Give your teeth a quick once-over when you stop to use the restroom or take a coffee break. You’ll be improving your overall oral health while also enhancing your smile.
If you use a drugstore whitening treatment in addition to your regular brushing, flossing, and mouthwash routine, you may notice slight improvements. Many varieties of tooth brightening solutions, including as whitening toothpaste, whitening strips, and bleaching gels, are available at most retailers and pharmacies in Las Colinas, TX. It is critical to always follow the instructions given in the box.
There are many different brands of bleaching pens and strips available at many different merchants and drug stores. The whitening strips are simple to apply to your teeth and are relatively undetectable. After your teeth are clean and dry, you may use the whitening pen to carefully apply a bleaching solution to them. Allow the strip or gel to set for the time specified on the packaging once you have correctly applied it to your teeth.
Retail retailers sell one-size-fits-all teeth bleaching kits with dental trays, and many of them work in a similar way to the professional oral trays used in dentists’ clinics. The personalized fit is one of the key differences between store-bought and professional whitening solutions. A nonprofessional whitening kit’s teeth trays may not fit comfortably or produce uneven results. Furthermore, because over-the-counter bleaching gels aren’t suited for your unique needs, you may develop intolerance to hot and cold foods and drinks, among other issues.
You can buy a special type of light to improve the results of some tooth whitening gels or strips. After applying your brightening solution or strips, LED mouth tray devices are fitted around the teeth. LED mouthpieces have a set exposure period, and it’s critical that you follow the instructions to the letter.
You should be aware that store-bought teeth whitening treatments will not produce the same level of results as teeth whitening procedures performed by your dentist. Because over-the-counter medicines have limited strength, your results may be uneven, depending on your discolouration and whether you have any bridges or crowns, for example. Furthermore, these products may cause sensitive teeth and gums. Ask your dentist about over-the-counter teeth whitening options, how they compare to in-office procedures, and if any of them would be appropriate for removing your specific stains.
Routine oral checkups and expert cleanings ensure the health of your teeth and gums while also improving the appearance of your smile. Cleaning your enamel of collected debris and bacteria is a great way to brighten your smile. Ask your dentist about the professional teeth whitening systems they provide if you want more obvious results. For a complete smile makeover, they may provide prescription-strength teeth whitening treatments, professional DIY whitening systems, and dental veneers.
Some dentists offer professional do-it-yourself whitening equipment to patients who prefer to whiten in the privacy of their own homes. A DIY whitening system from your dentist can provide a much closer fit and consistent results with personalized dental trays and an unique whitening solution tailored for your sorts of stains. Over-the-counter kits are clearly inferior to systems provided by your dentist. After applying the whitening gel to the trays, you place them in your mouth for the amount of time your dentist specifies. When you’re ready, remove the trays, properly clean them, and store them for future use. You can replenish your whitening gel at your next appointment. Store-bought whitening treatments should not be used in conjunction with professional kits since they can harm the trays. An at-home whitening kit can be used as a stand-alone procedure or to extend the effects of a professional treatment.
Cosmetic veneers might be an excellent alternative for a whole smile makeover to effectively make your teeth more brilliant and cover other noticeable problems (such chips, additional spacing, extreme discolouration, and worn-down teeth). Veneers are custom-made to look like natural enamel and to fit over the teeth without gaps. Before inserting the veneers, your dentist will need to gently shave away a small piece of your tooth enamel. You’ll have a new, dazzling grin as soon as they’re in place.
In a professional laser whitening treatment, your dentist will first apply a whitening solution to your teeth before using a laser light to whiten them. The laser’s heat activates the whitening solution, resulting in even more dramatic results. When you need speedy results before an important event or if you have dental restorations, a laser whitening treatment is ideal. Internal discolouration can be reduced using laser teeth whitening procedures that store-bought solutions can’t.
It’s aggravating to get minor results or heat and cold sensitivity from store-bought whitening solutions. Our dentists at MINT dentistry in Las Colinas provide whitening treatments both at home and in the clinic, as well as ceramic veneers. All of these options can be tailored to your cosmetic needs, resulting in stunning results without jeopardizing your teeth. Make an appointment at our Las Colinas, TX location to learn about all of our in-office and at-home whitening options so you can flaunt a sparkling, sexy smile.
Does Blue Light help whiten teeth?
If you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, you’ve probably tried over-the-counter teeth whitening solutions that didn’t work. While these products can lighten the color of your teeth over time, they aren’t powerful enough to make a noticeable hue difference. They also don’t completely eliminate stains from teeth, and even when they do, it can take weeks or months to attain your goals. Professional whitening procedures performed in-office use a higher concentration of whitening agents for a shorter period of time, resulting in quick and long-lasting results. Furthermore, using LED blue light with your whitening treatment helps to brighten and whiten your smile even more.
Why won’t my teeth whiten?
Porcelain and most cosmetic bonding materials are resistant to traditional whitening treatments. If you have porcelain veneers, dentures, crowns, or dental implants, or if you’ve had cosmetic bonding or composite tooth-colored fillings, any whitening process will be ineffective.