Teeth Whitening

Professional teeth whitening comes in two options: an in-office procedure and at-home whitening with a solution provided by your dentist. In-office procedures cost between $600 and $1,500, depending on the method used and whether or not additional tools, such as lasers, are used. Whitening kits provided by your dentist cost between $300 and $600, depending on the results you want to achieve and the total length of treatment.

Teeth whitening results can last between 6 months and 3 years, depending on the type of whitening, your diet, lifestyle habits, and oral hygiene routine. Maintaining an effective daily hygiene routine, abstaining from smoking, and avoiding staining foods and beverages will help you preserve the results for longer. Additionally, we recommend visiting your dentist for professional cleanings and fluoride treatments twice a year to remove surface staining tied to plaque and tartar accumulation.

Professional teeth whitening is safe if it is done with your personal oral health needs in mind. A responsible dentist always thoroughly examines the health of your teeth and their enamel before choosing a whitening method and the strength of the solution to prevent enamel damage. On the other hand, using over-the-counter whitening solutions is never safe as they are not designed with your personal needs and goals in mind and are likely to produce unpredictable results, burn your gums, or cause permanent enamel damage and tooth sensitivity.

In-office teeth whitening offers results in just one dental visit, as your dentist can use more potent whitening solutions and additional tools, if necessary, in a controlled setting of a dental office. At-home whitening involves using kits provided by your dentist for 1 to 2 weeks, arriving at the desired results gradually.  

Professional teeth whitening can make your teeth up to 8 shades whiter. However, the results may depend on the type of stains or discoloration you have and the initial health of your enamel. People with weaker enamel might be recommended to opt for less dramatic results or to work towards them gradually in order to protect their dental health.

Professional teeth whitening may cause temporary sensitivity that typically resolves within 7 to 10 days. This happens because the bleaching agent makes the enamel of your teeth temporarily more porous to penetrate its deeper layers and lighten the dark pigment.

An in-office procedure of teeth whitening typically takes 30 to 90 minutes, depending on the method used and the results you want to achieve. At-home whitening with kits provided by your dentist takes 1 to 2 weeks, during which you will use your whitening solution daily.

Professional teeth whitening can remove many deep stains. However, the results depend on the cause of the discoloration. In the majority of cases, whitening works well for yellowing from age, stains from coffee, tea, red wine, or tobacco, and mild to moderate discoloration that has penetrated beneath the enamel surface. However, gray or blue-gray discoloration, stains caused by certain medications, fluorosis, or darkening related to trauma or root canal treatment may not respond to a whitening procedure. These types of discoloration may be better remedied with dental bonding or veneers.