Teeth Whitening in South Windsor
Has your smile started to lose its luster? Pearly whites not looking so… pearly anymore? Professional teeth whitening in South Windsor is a wonderful way to erase the years from your appearance and smile with full confidence once again. Dr. Sara Curcio offers three options in teeth whitening -- keep reading to learn more about each, and which may be best for your smile.
Professional Teeth Whitening Options
There is more than one way to dramatically improve the appearance of your smile through teeth whitening. Your South Windsor dentist offers three options, which we have described in more detail below. The one that is right for you depends on your budget, timeline, and personal preference.
- Opalescence In-Office Whitening: This option can reveal the full results after just one, one-hour visit to our office. A special solution is applied to the tooth enamel and removed after whitening is complete.
- Opalescence Go: Patients who prefer to reveal their results gradually may prefer this option, which allows more freedom and flexibility with an incremental whitening treatment.
- Take-Home Trays: The most affordable option in whitening is usually this option. Fill these customized take-home trays with the special bleach and wear them for half an hour each night for about two weeks.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
When you are ready to whiten your smile, the best method is through partnering with your dentist. While you can purchase an over-the-counter whitening treatment at the pharmacy or drugstore, the best results happen when you team up with a professional.
Some of the most considerable benefits of teeth whitening performed with your dentist include:
- Professional-grade solutions are far stronger than what you can buy over-the-counter
- Having several options allows you to choose the one that suits your lifestyle best
- Teeth whitening is an affordable way to make a dramatic improvement to your smile
- Customized treatment options allow your dentist to make special considerations for sensitivity as needed
- After teeth whitening is complete, many patients are encouraged to perform better at-home hygiene
Maintaining Your Results
Professional teeth whitening can brighten the teeth by up to 8 shades and may last for many years with proper upkeep. Once you have completed the treatment, keep the following tips in mind to maximize the results and keep your smile dazzling white for a long time to come.
- Curb consumption of highly pigmented foods and beverages
- Drink dark sodas and coffee through a straw
- Rinse your mouth after consuming things that are likely to stain your tooth enamel
- Visit your dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning to keep your smile clean and healthy!
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Knowing how much your professional teeth whitening treatment will cost cannot be determined until you schedule a consultation with Dr. Curcio. Different severities of stains and discoloration can ultimately affect the price of your treatment as well as whether you will need additional services to ensure better oral health. If you would like a more thorough explanation, though, about what factors are included in the cost of teeth whitening treatment, keep reading.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Your smile is vastly different than others who may also be suffering from intrinsic and extrinsic stains. This is why a scheduled consultation with your cosmetic dentist is necessary. Not only will Dr. Curcio go over your oral and overall health history, but she will also decide if additional treatments are required to address gum disease or tooth decay.
Also, she will look at your tooth stains and determine how extensive your whitening treatment will need to be to achieve your desired results.
Finally, you and Dr. Curcio will decide whether in-office treatment or take-home whitening is best for your needs.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
There is no shortage of teeth whitening products on the market. Local drugstores carry all types of solutions that tell patients they can pay less yet receive high-quality results. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.
To give you a better idea of how each type of whitening compares, look at the breakdown below:
- In-Office Whitening: $400-$500
- Take-Home Whitening: $200-$300
- Store-Bought Trays: $100
- Strips, Gels, and Pens: $20-$30
Fast Teeth Whitening VS Inexpensive Teeth Whitening
No one blames you for wanting to save money while working toward a whiter smile, but the truth is that you may end up spending more in the long run if you continually buy low-grade products. Store-bought kits, strips, toothpaste, and pens do not contain high-quality whitening agents – a factor that not only increases the chance of tooth sensitivity but also leaves patients like yourself with bland results.
Although professional teeth whitening is more expensive, you can expect your smile to be several shades brighter because of the high-grade whitening gel that is used. Whether it is applied in-office or within custom trays that you use at home, the results you can expect are designed to last much longer.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Dr. Curcio understands the difficulty that can come with paying for any kind of cosmetic treatment, especially since dental insurance will be unlikely to cover the cost. This is why she partners with CareCredit Financing. This third-party company makes it easy to enroll in one of their many plans. Offering low- and no-interest payment plans, you can avoid the high upfront cost of teeth whitening and instead, pay for your treatment over time.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Teeth whitening is non-invasive, so it does not involve the use of any drills or scalpels. Many patients have an easy and relatively comfortable experience as they are whitening their teeth.
However, please note that some people experience a temporary increase in dental sensitivity after a teeth whitening treatment. That can happen because the whitening formula opens tiny pores in the teeth, which can allow outside stimuli to irritate the sensitive inner layers of the teeth.
The increased sensitivity usually goes away within a few days. In the meantime, you can reduce discomfort by eating foods that are not hot, cold, spicy, or highly acidic.
What Is the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
In many cases, professional and over-the-counter whitening products use similar active ingredients. However, there are some key differences between the two options:
- Professional formulas from a cosmetic dentist in South Windsor are usually more concentrated, so they can provide more noticeable results in a shorter period of time.
- Professional formulas can be customized to the needs of each individual patient.
- Because professional take-home kits often use custom trays, the risk of soft tissue irritation is minimized.
- Professional whitening takes place under the supervision of a highly skilled dental team in order to optimize its safety and effectiveness.
Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
If you are bothered by the color of your teeth, whitening might be right for you!
Of course, you will still need to attend a consultation with our team. We want to make sure that your teeth are healthy enough to be whitened. In other words, you should not have any untreated cavities or gum disease. We will also verify that the type of discoloration you have tends to respond well to whitening formulas.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
When proper precautions are taken, teeth whitening does not damage enamel or pose any threat to your long-term oral health.
Of course, there are a few notes that you should keep in mind:
- Overuse of certain whitening products may wear away your enamel, so you should not use them too often or leave them on your teeth for too long. Be sure to follow the instructions for any product that you use!
- Some “hacks” for teeth whitening use very abrasive or acidic ingredients, which can damage enamel. You should only use whitening products that have the ADA seal of approval.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Unfortunately, no, teeth whitening products do not work on dental crowns or other types of restorations. If you whiten your teeth, your restorations will stay the same color while your natural teeth become brighter. This might result in a mismatched smile.
If you are unhappy with the shade of your dental crown, you might need to get it replaced. Our team can take a look and talk to you about your options for achieving your aesthetic goals.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Are you interested in improving your smile with professional teeth whitening? Partnering with the team at South Windsor Dental is a great place to start! Contact our office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Curcio today.