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tooth whitening cost

Teeth Whitening – A Complete Guide

Getting your teeth whitening is among the most popular cosmetic treatments in America. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 90% of Americans requested tooth whitening during a visit. The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry also reported that tooth whitening is the most common thing people request is to improve their smile.  So what is it all about? Is tooth whitening worth it? What is involved in getting a brighter smile? Today we will take a look at these questions and more as we explore what goes into getting a better smile. Some of the techniques and products can be used at home, but we will also take a look at professional teeth whitening which gets you better and faster results.

Why Are My Teeth Yellow Even Though I Brush Them?

Over time, it is natural for the teeth to discolor due to a variety of factors. These include:
  • Food and drink. Coffee, tea, and wine are just some of the foods that can stain the teeth. What do they have in common? They all have pigments that can attach to the enamel, the white outer part of your tooth. 
  • Tobacco use can also have a major impact on your oral health beyond just tooth discoloration. The tar and the nicotine in tobacco each contribute to the discoloration. Nicotine turns yellowish and stains surfaces when exposed to oxygen.
  • Tooth trauma. Sometimes a tooth will turn a different color as it reacts to an injury. The tooth will reinforce itself by laying down more dentin, which is a darker layer beneath the translucent enamel. 
  • Medications can also discolor the teeth, which can be a side effect of some antihistamines, antipsychotics, and high blood pressure medications. Other medications can also discolor teeth, such as antibiotics and chemotherapy.
  • Age is the most common cause of tooth discoloration. The outer layer of the teeth, the enamel, will naturally become thinner so that the darker, more yellow dentin layer will show through. 

What Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening describes any process in which the teeth are made shades lighter. This can be achieved by changing the color of the enamel, the hard outer layer of the tooth. The most common active ingredient in teeth whitening is hydrogen peroxide and is either delivered as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.  The hydrogen peroxide will break down unstable free radicles in the tooth, which allows for small, less heavily pigmented tooth enamel. These reflect less light, and so have a whitening effect.  Dental professionals should be consulted in order to correctly identify and correct the type, intensity, and location of the tooth discoloration. How long the tooth is exposed to the whitening agent, and the concentration of the bleaching compound determine how white the tooth will become.  Dentists have the best access to the tools and techniques that can powerfully and quickly transform your smile from drab yellow to shining pearly white. 

How Do Dentists Whiten Teeth?

When seeking an in-office treatment, you have a few options. You can:
  • Have the dentist create a mold of your teeth and then using that newly-made tray apply a bleaching gel to the teeth for 2 to 4 weeks.
  • Laser whitening can whiten the teeth. A bleaching agent is carefully painted onto the teeth and then a powerful laser is shone onto the teeth, activating the whitening properties of the bleach. This takes about an hour.
  • Chairside bleaching is where the dentist applies a protective gel to your gums or a rubber shield and then applies a bleaching agent to the teeth. This often only takes one dentist visit.

What Is The Best Whitener For Your Teeth?

If you are not ready to spend the money to get your teeth professionally whitened, then you do have a few at-home options to choose from. The market offers lots of options that can fit easily into your lifestyle and routine. You are sure to find the right treatment for your smile and your tooth sensitivity.  Some options include:
  • Tooth whitening strips. These are versatile little strips of plastic loaded with a bleaching agent that easily sticks to the teeth without slipping around. Some even come with a lightweight blue light device that helps to activate the bleaching gel, so that it can penetrate the enamel more. This is the same technology that dentists use in their offices, just on a smaller scale. The strips are generally applied for about an hour.
  • Budget options include whitening toothpaste. These are fairly cheap with most only being a few dollars more than regular toothpaste. These come with whitening agents of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for a double approach to whitening. You won’t see the same results as other whitening products, but it is great for preventing stains and lifting stains off the teeth.
  • For sensitive teeth, you can find special whitening strips there as well that can feature natural ingredients, including salt, coconut oil, sage oil, and lemon peel oil. These can even be used on crowns, porcelain caps, and veneers. 

Is Teeth Whitening Bad For Your Teeth?

Teeth whitening is not without some side effects. There is always a chance that your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals that are used in the bleaching. If you already have sensitive teeth this chance increases.  There is also the risk of bleaching the gums by improperly applying the bleaching gels, and some whitening at-home kits can damage the enamel if not properly applied.  This is why professional teeth whitening is recommended. Dentists are trained to be able to properly apply the bleaching agents in order to get you the best results. They are also able to do so faster, and the results last many times longer than at-home kits. 

What To Avoid After Teeth Whitening

The top five foods to avoid after teeth whitening include:
  1. Dark or strongly colored liquids. These include red wine, coffee, and tea. Also drinks like soda, and tomato juice makes the list. If it can stain a white shirt, it could stain your teeth.
  2. Acidic beverages. This is where dark sodas back a one-two punch. They are both dark and acidic. The same goes for fruit juices and alcohol. The acidic environment created by these drinks can stain your newly whitened teeth.
  3. Sugary foods. Soda, cakes, cookies, and anything sweet can stain your teeth by encouraging bacteria growth which can lead to tooth decay and discoloration.
  4. Food with added color, or natural color. Things like soy sauce, ketchup, and chocolate. Lay off these foods until your teeth are no longer sensitive.
  5. Anything that could stain a white shirt. Refrain from these foods for the first 24 hours after a whitening treatment in order to maintain and maximize your treatment.

Do Teeth Whiteners Work?

Short answer: yes!  Long answer: Tooth whitening works best for people who have yellow teeth. They are less effective for people with brown teeth, and if your teeth are damaged and are gray or purple, tooth whitening may not be the best option for you. Because it can be complicated to find the cause of tooth discoloration, it is best to consult a dentist who can pinpoint what the cause is and recommend a course of treatment in order for you to get your best smile. 

How Much Does It Cost To Have Your Teeth Professionally Whitened?

Professional teeth whitening has an average cost of $650. This figure can climb to near $1000 depending on the products used and the rates of your dentists. In most cases, the cost is well worth it.  People report that they are able to see a difference in appearance in their teeth after just one treatment. This is because the bleaching agents used in the treatments are considerably more powerful than any available in an at-home kit. These kits are often no more than 10% hydrogen peroxide, where in-office treatments are close to 25 and 40%. 

Q&A

How Can I Whiten My Teeth In One Day?

A professional teeth whitening session can lighten your teeth dramatically with an hour of treatment. But, if you need your teeth whitened today, there are a few options you have. While none of these three treatments will dramatically change your smile, they can help shine it up.
  1. Brush with a tooth whitening toothpaste
  2. Use activated charcoal 
  3. There is limited evidence that oil pulling with an oil like coconut oil can help whiten the teeth.

How Can I Make My Yellow Teeth Whiter Naturally?

There are a number of things you can do to help whiten the teeth naturally. These include:
  1. Brushing your teeth. Good oral hygiene is the key to a bright smile.
  2. Baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. These are easily found in whitening toothpaste.
  3. Coconut oil pulling can help whiten the teeth, and its as easy as using mouthwash.
  4. Apple cider vinegar can be used to whiten the teeth.
  5. Lemon, orange, or banana peels can be used to help whiten the teeth.
  6. Activated charcoal is a great addition to any at-home routine.
  7. Eat foods with a high water content to help keep your teeth stain-free

Can You Really Whiten Your Teeth At Home?

With many of the kits on the market today, you can actually whiten your teeth at home. There are a number of gels, kinds of toothpaste, and whitening strips that you can choose from. Some even include a light similar to the one used by dentists to whiten the teeth. Golden Smiles Dental in Rancho Cucamonga, CA can do all the necessary dental work to determine the option that’s right for you. Golden Smiles Dental proudly serves the Rancho Cucamonga area with a full range of Dental & Implant services.  Give us a call at (909) 481-8990 to schedule an appointment.
Teeth Whitening

How Much Is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening has proven to be one of the most popular treatments in America, with a proliferation of at-home kits, gels, and strips. Professional whitening treatment is also available, but the question remains, what does teeth whitening cost? And is it worth it? In today’s article, we’ll explore the different options that are available on the market and how much they cost. Your journey to a brighter smile starts now!

Professional Teeth Whitening versus At-Home Whitening

First, let’s take a look at the different treatments on the market. 

At-Home Whitening

There are a bevy of options to choose from if you want to whiten your teeth at home. These options include:
  • Whitening Toothpaste. These are used to remove surface stains and gently polish and remove the stains on the teeth. 
  • Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips & Gels. These clear, peroxide-based gels are applied with a small brush to the teeth or are applied using clear plastic strips. These often contain hydrogen peroxide and are used to bleach the teeth. Care must be taken in order to properly bleach the teeth. Results can be seen within a few days and final results are generally sustained for a few months.
  • Whitening Rinses. These are like mouthwashes, in that they freshen breath, reduce dental plaque and gum disease while whitening the teeth. However, this treatment may not be as effective as other over-the-counter treatments. 

Professional Teeth Whitening

When you go to the dentist to get your teeth whitened they often will use a tray-based tooth whitener. These are filled with a gel-like peroxide that then sits in the mouth in order to bleach the teeth.  You can also take advantage of a quick and powerful treatment that involves applying the whitening product directly onto the teeth and then combined with heat, a special light or a laser. Results can be seen within one 30 to 60-minute treatments. Sometimes multiple treatments are needed. This kind of treatment often is the most long-lasting and sometimes can be the most expensive.

The Cost of Different Treatments

When it comes to at-home or over-the-counter treatments they can run as low as a few dollars for a tube of whitening toothpaste, to as much as $40 for an at-home treatment kit. Each kit often will contain enough strips to last about a week or two.  There are also over the counter tray treatments that can cost up to $100. There can be augmented by a custom-fitted tray from your dentist, which will sometimes cost $400 or less. These solutions can be quite cost-effective but they often do not last as long or offer as dramatic of results. They often need a multi-week commitment to their consistent use in order to be effective. This may not work for everyone’s schedule but that is where in-office treatments can help.  When it comes to professional tooth whitening, cost often is the biggest factor to prevent people from going ahead. The average cost of an in-office teeth whitening is $650, but it can climb to $1,000 or more depending on the type of product used and how much your dentist charges.  For most people, this investment pays off. People will often notice the difference after a single treatment. This is because the bleaching ingredient is much stronger than anything that will be available in the store. Generally, those treatments contain 10% peroxide, while professional treatments contain between 25 and 40% hydrogen peroxide.

Does Dental Insurance Cover Teeth Whitening Cost?

Often dental insurances do not cover teeth whitening, as it is considered a cosmetic expense. However many do offer affordable dental plans that may help out with some of the costs. Many dentists will often offer several third-party financing options that can help with the cost of an in-office treatment. If you think that you want to get your teeth whitened, or speak to one of our experts about teeth whitening cost and you live in the Rancho Cucamonga, CA area, give Golden Smiles Dental a call for your consultation at (909) 481-8990. Our expert team will be more than happy to answer your questions.
Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening – Your Complete Guide

Teeth whitening has become a big industry as more and more people want to find ways to make their smiles brighter. There are now so many different options available from state-of-the-art treatments using lasers to at-home teeth whitening kits using bleaching gels. But how do you choose between the many options available? What are the benefits of each method and how effective are they? This guide on teeth whitening will show how each treatment works and the pros and cons of each. With this guide, you can be best informed about how cost-effective each treatment is so you can make the right choice to get whiter teeth.

How to Get White Teeth

There are a number of basic methods in use to whiten teeth today. These include:
  • Using gels, strips, and trays containing a percentage of a special bleach
  • Laser treatment
  • Teeth whitening toothpaste
  • Teeth whitening mouthwash
The best teeth whitening method to choose depends on how much your budget is and how fast you want to see results. Additionally, you must consider how permanent you want the treatment to be and how much discomfort you are willing to go through. Please note that these treatments only work on natural teeth. Things like dentures, fillings, veneers or dental implants will remain the same color.

What Makes Teeth Discolored?

Teeth are generally not naturally bright white. The enamel that coats the teeth is a blueish-white color and is translucent. The dentin — the material beneath the hard enamel — is a yellow color and that shows through the enamel.  The enamel grows thinner as a person ages, so it is natural for teeth to look darker or more yellow as we age. However, there are a number of foods and drinks that are strongly colored and acidic in nature and other factors that can accelerate discoloration. These include:
  • Berries
  • Sauces like curries and tomato sauce
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Wine
  • Sugary drinks
  • Smoking
  • Braces
While the best way to maintain your smile is to avoid staining them, however, that is always not that simple. You can minimize the staining power of these foods by eating them with foods that prevent tooth staining like cheese, lettuce, celery, carrots, apples, and cauliflower. These foods help clean the teeth through friction and can neutralize the acid that damages the enamel.

In-office Teeth Whitening Treatments

It is prudent to visit your dentist and discuss with them potential teeth whitening options. Their treatments are very effective and they know how to perform them safely and can assist in case of any side effects.  In-office treatments are divided into three general types: Laser teeth whitening, Zoom teeth whitening, and professional bleaching.

Laser teeth whitening

Laser teeth whitening sounds futuristic and dangerous, but it is actually quite simple. Lasers are used to speed up the bleaching effect of a concentrated gel that is applied to the teeth. This makes it the most instant teeth whitening method, but also one of the most expensive. First, a rubber seal is applied around the gums to prevent the bleaching product, likely containing hydrogen peroxide, from bleaching the gums. Then the dentist will shine a laser on your teeth and accelerate the teeth whitening process.  This is an intense teeth whitening process that can give you results after just one visit. It also has the greatest potential for sensitivity after treatment. However, this sensitivity is temporary. Additionally, your dentist can recommend steps to take in case of greater sensitivity.

Zoom teeth whitening

This kind of whitening uses a technology from Philips that uses a powerful LED light to accelerate whitening instead of a laser. This process is less intense, coming with a lower chance for sensitivity but this can mean that you will need to do multiple sessions of about 45 to 60 minutes. Follow this method by an at-home course of teeth whitening treatment to prolong the results.

Professional bleaching

This is the cheapest form of in-office treatment where the dentist will apply professional grade tooth whitening gel via custom trays. This kind of gel is much stronger than the gels available for in-home treatments. This means they can produce much greater results than commercially available kits. The dentist will start by taking an impression of your teeth to create the custom tray. Then, you can go home and use the gels at home. The trays can be left in overnight, which makes it convenient so you don’t have to wear it during the day. Check with your dentist to see what options they have available.

At-home Teeth Whitening Treatments

These at-home kits are best used after a professional treatment to maintain the brightness of your teeth. These treatments include:
  • LED whitening
  • Bleaching trays
  • Teeth whitening strips
  • Whitening toothpaste

LED Whitening

These kits emulate the professional level of LED treatment that is available at an in-office treatment. These come with a tray that sometimes can be molded to fit your teeth, a bleaching gel, and an LED light to activate the bleaching agent.  These may offer good immediate results but they may quickly fade away or require multiple applications.

Bleaching Trays

Over the counter bleaching trays are similar to the LED at-home treatments. They come with an accelerator fluid that is applied directly to the teeth before the gel is used. The treatment can take between five to thirty minutes daily, depending on the strength of the gel.  These treatments will generally require a week to two weeks in order to get better results. Some products require that you combine the beaching trays with products like pens, polishers, and kinds of toothpaste. These combined can create good short-term results. One risk with this kind of treatment is that the whitening kits are not custom fit to your mouth so there is a greater risk of the beaching agent leaking out and burning or blistering other parts of your mouth. Additionally, you may not get the best coverage with these methods.

Teeth Whitening Strips & Toothpastes

These are small plastic strips that are attached to the teeth and are a cleaner and easier way to apply a bleach than gels or trays. Most of the brands generally are required to be placed on the teeth for about 30 minutes and then they are removed, but some even naturally dissolve after the 10-15 minutes of wear.  These can do a good job of brightening your front teeth but they aren’t going to be as effective for the teeth in the back of the mouth. They are a cost-effective method that can be used to produce good results quickly. This is a great solution for quick and painless options if you needed to whiten your teeth in time for a photo shoot. Tooth whitening kinds of toothpaste are good for removing surface stains. These won’t change the natural yellowing that comes with a reduction in enamel. This is also the cheapest option which makes it a very popular option to give your smile a little boost. They can also be used to prolong the results of more powerful treatments.

How Much Does It Cost To Have Your Teeth Whitened?

The cost of teeth whitening depends greatly on the method chosen. You can spend as little as five dollars or less on a tube of teeth whitening toothpaste. Or you can potentially spend much more on in-office laser treatment.  With teeth whitening, what you pay for is what you get. Professional in-office teeth whitening costs are going to be much more than home treatments, but you are gaining the experience and expertise of a trained dentist who can work with you to create a treatment plan that fits with your needs.  Additionally, many dentists offer financing options to help mitigate the cost of treatment. You should also check to see what coverage your dental insurance might provide. If you think you would like to see what tooth whitening treatment is good for you, and you live in the Rancho Cucamonga, CA area, give Golden Smiles Dental a call for your consultation at  (909) 481-8990. Our expert team will be more than happy to answer your questions.