Teeth Whitening

An in-office procedure of professional teeth whitening costs between $600 and $1,800, depending on the type of whitening used and how white you want your teeth to be. Solutions for at-home whitening provided by your dentist typically cost between $300 and $600.

Professional teeth whitening results can last between 6 months and 3 years, depending on the type of procedure, your oral care routine, diet, and personal habits. Your results will last longer if you adhere to the following rules:

• Spend 2 full minutes brushing your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
• Floss every evening.
• Add a water flosser to your evening routine, followed by traditional flossing and brushing
• Avoid staining foods and beverages, such as red wine, black coffee and tea, brightly colored spices, beet root, and foods and drinks with artificial dyes. 
• Visit your dentist twice a year for professional cleanings and fluoride treatments.
• Abstain from smoking.

An in-office professional teeth whitening procedure can make your teeth up to 8 shades whiter in a single procedure. However, the results you will have may depend on the condition of your tooth enamel and your oral health in general. People with weak enamel might be recommended to opt for gentler solutions to avoid tooth sensitivity or enamel damage.

An in-office professional teeth whitening procedure can make your teeth up to 8 shades whiter in a single procedure. However, the results you will have may depend on the condition of your tooth enamel and your oral health in general. People with weak enamel might be recommended to opt for gentler solutions to avoid tooth sensitivity or enamel damage.

Teeth whitening can cause tooth sensitivity. However, with professional teeth whitening, the sensitivity is temporary and usually goes away in about a week as your enamel heals after the procedure. On the other hand, teeth whitening with over-the-counter or DIY solutions may not only cause permanent sensitivity but also irreversible enamel damage.

An in-office teeth whitening procedure takes 40 to 90 minutes depending on the method used and how much whiter you want your teeth to get. If you opt for at-home professional teeth whitening with a solution provided by your dentist, it may take one to several weeks of using whitening trays for a couple of hours each day to achieve the desired results.

Professional teeth whitening can effectively remove or lighten some deep stains and discoloration. However, not all types of stains respond to whitening. After an in-person examination, your dentist will be able to tell you if whitening is going to be effective in your case. If your stains can not be removed with whitening, you might be recommended dental bonding or veneers instead to mask the stains.

Professional whitening is always better than over-the-counter solutions because it is much safer for your oral health. Before the professional whitening procedure, your dentist will check the condition of your teeth and gums to choose an optimal solution that will deliver desired results safely. On the other hand, using over-the-counter solutions at home often leads to permanent sensitivity, enamel damage, and gum burns. 

In the first week after a teeth whitening procedure, we recommend avoiding hot and cold foods and beverages to prevent unpleasant sensations caused by temporary tooth sensitivity. Also, do not brush your teeth too harshly and switch to a soft-bristled toothbrush. In the first week and beyond, people with whitened teeth are also recommended to abstain from staining foods and beverages, avoid smoking, and avoid over-the-counter whitening solutions.