Teeth Whitening in San Antonio

With help from your teeth bleaching dentist, you can smile broadly again, confident that your teeth are restored to their former brightness. Professional dental whitening treatments are fast and simple, and they’re affordable too. If you’re wondering whether teeth whitening treatments can bring back your gleaming smile, take a look at the information on this page, or call our office to schedule a consultation.

What Are the Advantages of Professional Teeth Whitening?

Most people choose in-office teeth whitening for its immediate, dramatic results. The procedure is closely monitored, so we can ensure that your gums stay safe during the procedure. In-office dental whitening, also known as chairside whitening or power bleaching, uses extremely concentrated bleaching gel. This gel is responsible for the procedure’s stunning results, and it works most effectively on teeth discolored by long-term smoking, chewing tobacco or consuming deeply pigmented foods or beverages.

Some tooth discoloration is not responsive to the procedure, though, including teeth discolored by tetracycline or decay. Stains caused by problems deep within the tooth also cannot be whitened with the procedure. Restored teeth won’t lighten during the in-office treatment because restoration materials in fillings, veneers and crowns aren’t susceptible to bleaching agents.

Before treatment, our knowledgeable teeth bleaching dentist will perform a complete examination to identify the root cause of your tooth discoloration. At this time, we’ll also make sure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for treatment. We’re delighted to work with you to find the best whitening solution for your smile, so give us a call to get started today. We feature Opalescence for in-office and take home teeth whitening.

Is Teeth Whitening at Home Effective?

If you prefer whitening your teeth at home, we also offer convenient professional at-home whitening kits made just for you by your dentist. These kits are nearly as effective as our in-office whitening treatments, lightening your teeth up to six shades.

To make your kit, we first take impressions of your teeth. These impressions are used to make whitening trays that fit your teeth perfectly. You’ll also receive professional-grade teeth whitening gel to put in your trays. You’ll wear the tray an hour a day for two weeks to get the best results.

How Much Does Professional Teeth Bleaching Cost?

The cost of teeth whitening varies broadly, based on your individual needs and the level of whitening you want to achieve. Typically, teeth whitening costs factor in issues such as the number of treatments to be performed, whether you need at-home whitening kits and if the dentist will need to blend the color of your fillings, crowns or veneers after treatment. Of course, one of the major factors influencing your cost is the type of whitening system you choose, so your dentist will discuss your whitening system options with you. To discover more about your potential teeth whitening cost, set up an evaluation with one of our dentists.

Professional versus DIY Teeth Whitening Products

If you’ve looked at teeth whitening options at your local drug store, you may be amazed at the many options. From dental whitening trays and strips to gels, toothpastes and rinses, there are countless choices. In spite of this vast array of do-it-yourself teeth whitening solutions, there are many reasons our patients find better results with professional dental whitening. Our teeth whitening gel is more potent than over-the-counter gels, providing faster and more consistent results. With professional whitening procedures, you also benefit from professional supervision that helps ensure that your gums aren’t irritated by the bleaching solution. If reliable, consistent and safe results are important to you, professional dental whitening is often your best choice.

What Occurs During a Teeth Whitening Procedure?

While the procedure varies a bit from one type of whitening system to another, most procedures share many of the same steps. Keep reading to find out what to expect during a typical whitening treatment:

1. To begin, your teeth are cleaned and checked.
2. Photos are taken so your dentist can compare your post-treatment tooth color to your original tooth color.
3. A gentle cheek retractor helps keep your lips and cheeks away from your teeth and the bleaching gel.
4. Gums are protected from the irritating bleaching gel.
5. Throughout the procedure, several layers of bleaching gel are applied to your teeth. Each layer is applied, set, then removed before another layer is applied.
6. An intense light is sometimes used to accelerate your whitening results.
7. After your procedure, your tooth-color improvement is evaluated to determine if you need to schedule a follow-up treatment or if you need an at-home whitening kit.

We’re always here to help if you’re ready to regain shiny pearly whites. Call us today to discover the ease and convenience of teeth whitening in San Antonio.