Teeth Whitening – Worcester, MA
You’ll Have a Stain-Free Smile in No Time
When you look in the mirror, are you happy with your smile? If you aren’t because your teeth are stained, you might be tempted to purchase a whitening kit from a local pharmacy or shop. Don’t! Not only do these over-the-counter kits underdeliver time and time again, but they also don’t take into account things unique to you, like if you have any dental crowns or fillings. That’s why it’s best to opt for a professional teeth whitening treatment. If you want to learn more about this cosmetic dental service, including how it works, keep reading or schedule a consultation with our Worcester dental team.
Why Choose Winthrop Street Dentistry for Teeth Whitening?
- Top-Rated Dental Team
- Flexible Dental Financing Options Available
- Open Five Days a Week
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
In order to determine if you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening, our talented dentists will need to first conduct a comprehensive oral exam and learn about your smile goals. The good news is that this smile-enhancing service is usually an option for patients who are unhappy with the shade of their teeth because of frequent coffee consumption, certain medications, or simply aging.
Important note: Your teeth and gums need to be healthy before we can whiten your smile. So, if we discover decay or an infection during the initial consultation, we will need to address that first. Then, we can move forward with the desired cosmetic dental service.
How Does Take-Home Teeth Whitening Work?
Unlike over-the-counter kits, which rely on one-size-fits-all applicators, our take-home whitening treatments use personalized trays. Plus, our brightening gels are potent enough to break down even the most stubborn stains safely. We’ll give you everything you need to whiten your teeth from home, including instructions for the amount of time to wear the trays each day. In about two weeks, you should achieve optimal results!
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
To make your results last, we recommend:
- Brushing your teeth after every meal
- Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash daily
- Steering clear of dark-colored foods, like BBQ sauce
- Using a straw when drinking dark-colored foods, like coffee
- Getting a dental checkup and teeth cleaning twice a year
- Visiting us for touch-up whitening treatments
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Most patients don’t feel comfortable committing to cosmetic services such as teeth whitening without first reviewing the overall cost of care. However, since every case is unique and everyone has different goals for their smile, we won’t be able to provide an accurate estimate until you’ve attended your consultation. During this visit, we’ll cover some of the factors that can influence the overall price, and we’ll cover all your whitening options. We’ll also happily answer any financial-related questions you have, but in the meantime, contact us if you have any initial concerns!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
There are some factors that can affect whether the teeth whitening process will be more or less expensive:
- Patients with severe staining may need multiple treatments to fully achieve their desired shade.
- If you have cavities, gum disease, or other oral health issues, they’ll need to be addressed before you can start whitening to avoid irritation and unfavorable interactions.
- Teeth whitening treatments are designed to be used on the teeth – not dental restorations. If you want a uniformly white smile, you may need to replace existing dental work first.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
Different forms of teeth whitening treatment come with different costs. Here’s a brief breakdown of what you can generally expect:
- In-Office Whitening Treatment – These professional treatments typically cost anywhere from $400 to $800, or more in rare circumstances.
- Take-Home Whitening Kits – Provided by your dentist, these kits feature custom-made whitening trays and effective bleaching agents. They usually cost a few hundred dollars.
- Store-Bought Whitening Trays – These “over-the-counter” products are inferior to professional options, and the price reflects this lowered quality. They typically cost $100 or less.
- Strips, Gels, & Whitening Toothpastes – These are going to be the cheapest whitening options, as well as the least effective. A standard pack of strips typically costs between $20 and $50.
DIY Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
If your budget is limited, you might be tempted to go with the most affordable teeth whitening option, rather than the most effective. It’s important to understand while these products might have inexpensive initial costs, you’ll end up getting exactly what you pay for – lackluster results. Plus, the future need to re-whiten will only rack up additional costs.
Professional teeth whitening, while more expensive, ensures beautiful, lasting results that are customized for your unique smile. This guarantee is not something that store-bought products can deliver – your dentist will use tools and ingredients that ensure much better results. In the long run, you’ll end up saving money because you won’t have to do touch-ups as frequently!
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Since teeth whitening is a form of cosmetic dentistry, it’s not usually covered by dental insurance – the exception to this is services that also offer oral health benefits, but unfortunately, teeth whitening is purely aesthetic. That said, there are some things you can do to make your service more affordable. Our practice is proudly partnered with CareCredit, a third-party financer that offers qualifying patients monthly plans with flexible payment windows and low-to-no interest rates.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Is There Anything I Shouldn’t Eat After Whitening My Teeth?
Yes! In addition to using a straw when drinking coffee and other dark-colored beverages, you should avoid BBQ sauce, blackberries, tomato soup, and the like (especially in the days immediately following your whitening treatment). We recommend eating plain yogurt, white fish, oatmeal, and other foods that are light in color instead. That way, you can enjoy the results for more than a few weeks.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
Naturally, you might be curious how our take-home whitening products differ from the ones you can buy at your local pharmacy or grocery store. To start, our treatments consist of powerful brightening products that are customized to your smile goals. Conversely, over-the-counter products contain diluted brightening gels, which under-deliver time and time again. Another key difference is that we complete a comprehensive exam to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy. This is crucial because, if they aren’t, you can experience numerous problems, including considerable sensitivity.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
Take home whitening treatments are designed to gradually brighten your smile over the course of two weeks. That said, you will start to notice improvements much sooner – often after just one use! So, you won’t have to wait long to see the stains start to lift.
Important note: If you are interested in whitening your teeth for a special event, like a wedding, you shouldn’t wait until a week or two before. We need time to provide any preliminary services that are needed. It’s also possible that you’ll need more than one whitening treatment to achieve the results you desire. So, schedule your consultation sooner rather than later!
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Unfortunately, the results of your whitening treatment won’t last forever. Don’t worry though – there are several ways you can prevent stubborn stains from resurfacing quickly, like steering clear of dark-colored foods and beverages. It’s also important that you break bad habits, like smoking, and that you commit to a solid oral hygiene regimen at home.
Is Teeth Whitening Covered By Dental Insurance?
Typically, treatments that aren’t medically necessary aren’t covered by dental insurance. Since teeth whitening falls under that category, you’ll most likely have to pay for the price out-of-pocket. The good news is that CareCredit can help make the cost fit into your budget – whatever that may be! So, don’t hesitate to take a look at their payment plans to see if any of them work for you.
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
If you haven’t started the teeth whitening process because you’re scared that it will hurt, don’t worry – we go out of our way to make your journey to your dream smile pain-free. That starts with customizing your treatment plan and extends to sharing helpful tips, like using a desensitizing toothpaste afterward.
