Teeth Whitening Midlothian

Why Do Teeth Stain?

Teeth can experience two kinds of stains: extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic stains are caused by the food and drinks you consume, tobacco habits, and normal enamel erosion. They only appear on the surface layer of the teeth and can usually be removed with over-the-counter whitening products or even just regular brushing. However, some extrinsic stains are quite stubborn and therefore require professional whitening treatment to remove.

Intrinsic stains are more severe and typically caused by aging, trauma, excessive fluoride consumption at a young age, and antibiotic staining (specifically tetracycline). These stains actually used to be considered permanent until modern advancements in teeth whitening treatments made it possible to dramatically reduce their appearance.

How Does In-Office Whitening Work?

If you would prefer to drastically alter your smile in just one hour, then in-office whitening is just the thing for you. We will apply a bleaching gel that is powerful enough to remove those annoying intrinsic stains. Then we’ll switch on a heat lamp that’s focused on the problem areas of your smile. This activates the bleaching gel and allows the molecules in the stains to break down. Once we wash off the whitening agent, your smile should be up to eight shades brighter!

How Does Take-Home Whitening Work?

For more gradual results, we have take-home whitening. First, we’ll take impressions of your bite to design custom-made trays that fit you. Next, we’ll instruct you to wear your trays combined with our potent bleaching gel for a prescribed amount of time each day, usually around 30 minutes. Over the next two weeks or so, your smile will become brighter. You can stop whenever you feel satisfied with your results.

How Long Will My Results Last?

The amount of time that your results last will depend heavily on a few lifestyle factors, such as your tobacco use, oral care habits, and food and beverage consumption. However, professional teeth whitening can last quite a long time if you brush and floss daily, reduce your consumption of darkly pigmented food and drinks, and regularly get whitening touch-ups, either at-home or in-office.

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

Dr. Johnson and the rest of our team in Midlothian are happy to provide in-office and take-home teeth whitening solutions to help brighten your smile and boost your confidence. However, most dental insurance policies don’t cover the cost of services intended to enhance your appearance more than your oral health.

If you’re concerned about whether you can afford to achieve the perfectly tinted grin, continue reading to learn more about how pricing is determined and how our office helps make treatments more affordable!

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Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

Although teeth whitening solutions do typically have set pricing, a few factors that can potentially impact how many repetitions you need to reach your goals, such as:

• The severity of your condition. Those with darker stains are more likely to need repeated treatments, increasing the total cost.
• The type of discoloration. Extrinsic blemishes in your enamel tend to respond better to bleach than those in the lower layer of dentin.
• Other necessary services. If we find cavities, gum disease, or other issues requiring treatment, you’ll be responsible for paying for the necessary procedures.

Popular Types of Teeth Whitening and Their Typical Costs

If you’re unhappy with the shade of your teeth, there are several potential ways to improve their tone and boost your confidence. We’ve outlined several options with their typical costs for your convenience, below:

• In-office procedures. We can potentially lighten your grin by several shades with a single in-office visit, which often ranges between $400 and $800.
• Professional take-home kit. We can also send you home with everything you need to achieve quality results from home, usually for several hundred dollars.
• Over-the-counter trays. It’s sometimes possible to purchase one-size-fits-all applicator trays for $100 or less.
• Store-bought products. Many stores carry gels and strips, often for $20 to $40 per box.

How Are Over-the-Counter and Professional Teeth Whitening Different?

Are you looking at the figures above and wondering why you should invest in professional whitening services when there are cheaper methods available? You might think you can save money with store-bought options, but unfortunately, they often contain diluted bleaches that are less effective. They might not provide consistent coloration across your enamel, and you could develop sensitivity if you misuse or overapply the gel.

Meanwhile, Dr. Johnson uses ultra-concentrated solutions to mitigate potential discomfort and produce optimal outcomes. Whether you prefer the instant results of an in-office visit or the convenience of brightening your grin from home, you’re more likely to achieve your smile goals with professional whitening services.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

Although your dental insurance isn’t likely to cover teeth whitening, there may be benefits that can be applied to your visit, such as your examination, that can help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses.

However, we understand you may be uninsured or concerned about the cost of your treatment, so we also offer the following options to help make procedures more affordable:

• Flexible Financing. We have partnered with CareCredit and Lending Point to offer flexible payment packages that allow you to divide your total invoice into more manageable installments over a designated period if your application is approved.
• In-House Dental Plan. For a flat annual fee, you gain access to standard preventive services, including exams and imaging.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

Teeth whitening is one of the most common and affordable ways to enhance your smile. However, you want to be well-informed before committing to the treatment. Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about professional teeth whitening. If you don’t see your question listed below, don’t worry! Just give our office a call and we’d be happy to get you the information you’re looking for and get you set up for a consultation.