Teeth Whitening – Burbank, CA
Get Rid of Your Yellowed Grin
It’s normal enough to get tooth stains over the years. After all, teeth naturally discolor due to a great many factors. Still, most people don’t like dealing with a yellow grin. They find stained teeth distracting at best and unpleasant at worst. Thankfully, you can always get teeth whitening to help your smile shine. The treatment brightens your enamel, ensuring your pearly whites live up to their name! If you’d like to learn more, just keep reading or book a consultation !
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Really, nearly anyone can qualify for teeth whitening treatment. Its requirements aren’t that strict. However, there are some things you should keep in mind.
For starters, not all tooth stains are the same. Teeth whitening works best on extrinsic ones caused by foods and drinks. In contrast, treatment is less effective for intrinsic stains – those that occur beneath your enamel.
Furthermore, whitening won’t fix discoloration from lost enamel. There aren’t any stain particles to remove in that case. As a result, teeth whitening wouldn’t have the right effect. That said, our office could still suggest other cosmetic options – porcelain veneers, etc.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Here at Dr. Ruiz & Associates, we offer two whitening methods. The first is a take-home bleaching kit personally approved by our team. On the other hand, the second is an in-office treatment performed by Dr. Ruiz himself. Regardless, our offerings’ results will be tailored to your needs. The main differences in the whitening options are their means and timelines.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
For take-home teeth whitening, you must wear gel-infused bleaching trays. Keeping them on your teeth for a few hours daily over two weeks has a strong effect. In particular, you can expect visibly whiter and brighter teeth by the end of the process. Your grin will even be six to eight shades whiter!
Of course, such results only come from our dentist-provided kits. Store-bought versions don’t work nearly as well and put your teeth at risk.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Per its name, in-office whitening is done personally by an actual dentist. The procedure is quite simple and lasts about an hour or so.
With this option, the process follows a few simple steps. First, Dr. Ruiz will apply a powerful whitening gel to your teeth. He’ll then wait about 15 minutes for the material to break up your tooth stains. Afterward, he’ll repeat the prior actions a few more times until your grin has reached the desired whiteness level.
Tips for Maintaining Your Whiter Smile
Teeth whitening results aren’t permanent, so you’ll want to ensure they last as long as possible. With that said, try out the tips below:
- Eat More Dairy – Most dairy products have calcium that strengthens teeth/ Plus, they lack dyes that stain enamel.
- Avoid Stain-Agents – Some foods and drinks have tannins, which are stain agents. Therefore, reduce your intake of such items.
- Get Touch-ups – Once a prior whitening starts wearing off, get a new one so your smile stays bright.
- Practice Good Oral Care – If you brush and floss your teeth daily, you’ll prevent food and plaque from causing long-term stains.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
If you want to roll back the years on your smile, professional teeth whitening can be the ideal solution for you. While you can be sure to enjoy the benefits of brightening your pearly whites, it’s a good idea to understand the price of the treatment. We can also compare our procedures with store-bought options so that you’re aware of the differences in value. Here are several things to consider regarding the cost of teeth whitening.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
In many cases, teeth whitening has a set fee, but several factors can impact the number of times you may require the treatment before you can achieve your cosmetic goals. Some of the most common ones include:
- • The kind of discoloration: Extrinsic stains are less challenging to lift compared to intrinsic stains.
- • The severity of staining: If your smile is heavily stained, you may require several treatments to reach your desired results.
- • Additional services: Any underlying or developing oral health issues like cavities or gum disease will need to be addressed before performing teeth whitening treatment—each of which will have its own cost.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
Teeth whitening can come in various forms and range in effectiveness and cost. Here’s what you can expect from each:
- In-office teeth whitening: This procedure typically costs around $300 and $800, but can go up to $1,000 in rare cases.
- At-home teeth whitening: These professional take-home kits can go for a few hundred dollars.
- Over-the-counter teeth whitening trays: These trays can be bought at your local store/supermarket and usually cost less than $100.
- Store-bought whitening gels/strips: As the most affordable options, these boxes can go for $20 to $40 and have enough product to last around a couple of weeks.
Inexpensive vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
Though it may be tempting to go for a lower-priced teeth whitening solution, you should first consider the quality of the treatment. In most cases, store-bought products like strips and gels may not accomplish your desired results, especially if you have severe discoloration. With professional teeth whitening, our team can help brighten your enamel by several shades, and the procedures can be completed in just two weeks or even a single appointment! When deciding on your treatment, be sure to consider the quality of your results and the timeframe that fits your schedule.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Dental insurance doesn’t usually cover cosmetic dental services, but it doesn’t mean you’ll be out of options for making your treatment more manageable. Our team is proud to partner with CareCredit, which can help break up the cost of your teeth whitening procedure into monthly payments. Their plans also come with low-to-no interest, meaning you can save more money while improving your pearly whites!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Although we’ve already covered a lot of information about the teeth whitening process on this page, we thought it would also be helpful to answer some FAQs as well. If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for or have a question specific to your dental needs and smile goals, then don’t hesitate to get in touch with our Burbank dental team. We’d love to help!
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
It’s common for patients to be concerned that whitening their teeth will hurt. However, the most you will feel is some slight sensitivity. Even then, our team takes active measures to prevent that from happening. For example, if you’ve struggled with discomfort stemming from this stain-removing service in the past, we can space out your appointments or recommend a good desensitizing toothpaste to use in the interim. Simply put, our Burbank dental team wants your journey to your best smile to be completely comfortable, and we’ll do whatever we can to make sure that happens!
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
The difference between professional and store-bought whitening treatments largely comes down to the products used. For example, the brightening gels at your local store are diluted so they are safe to sell over the counter, which means they can maybe lighten your teeth a shade or two. Conversely, professional treatments are customized to you, ensuring you get stunning, noticeable results while preserving your oral health.
It's also important to note that treatments from your dentist start with a thorough oral exam to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy. Of course, the same cannot be said for OTC kits. Plus, there is room for error when taking the DIY approach, which is often why patients complain of uncomfortable dental sensitivity after whitening their teeth.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
If you opt for in-office teeth whitening, there’s a chance that you can achieve the results you desire in just an hour! Take-home whitening kits deliver equally as beautiful results, but it usually takes a week or two. Naturally, another important factor to consider is how significant your dental discoloration is. The more severe it is, the longer it will take to address. Don’t worry – we can give you an estimate of your treatment timeline during your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
Is Teeth Whitening Expensive?
Compared to more extensive cosmetic dental treatments, like veneers, teeth whitening is pretty cost-effective! At your consultation, we will give you an estimate of the price so you have an exact number to work with. We will also review all of the financial solutions available, like CareCredit, so you can pursue your smile goals without stressing about the cost.
