Teeth Whitening – McKinney, TX
Put Some More Flash in Your Smile
Everyone experiences some staining and discoloration of their teeth over the years. Many people enjoy foods and beverages like coffee, tea, red wine, and berries, but these items are high in pigments and dyes that can become trapped in your enamel. Thankfully, Dr. Steve Cha and the rest of the team at Lake Forest Dental of McKinney are trained and equipped to provide professional teeth whitening treatments that deliver stellar results. Here’s a brief guide to how our teeth whitening treatments work, but please contact us if you have any questions.
Why Choose Lake Forest Dental of McKinney for Teeth Whitening?
- Experienced Cosmetic Dentist
- At-Home and In-Office Treatment Options
- Financing Plans Available
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth chew through a lot of material over the decades, and many items are heavy with pigments and dyes that can stain or discolor the enamel. Stains and discoloration are considered extrinsic if they are located on the surface of a tooth or intrinsic if they are embedded beneath the enamel. Teeth whitening can be a great option for virtually any patient with healthy gums and teeth, and it can also significantly bolster a patient’s confidence, helping them to make stunning first impressions in professional and social situations.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
While there are many brands of teeth whitening products available at stores, using them can often lead to lackluster results or even oral injuries due to user error, poor manufacturing, or a lack of professional supervision. Our professional teeth whitening treatments are customized to meet each patient’s needs and preferences, and they are carefully and safely administered by a qualified dentist. We offer Zoom! teeth whitening treatments to ensure fantastic results.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
A take-home whitening kit from our office includes a set of customized dental trays and a tube of professional-grade whitening gel. You’ll only have to apply the gel to the trays and wear them for an hour daily for two weeks to achieve remarkable results. Since these kits are customized for your mouth, you won’t have to worry about uneven whitening or the whitening agent irritating the gums like you would with store-bought kits.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
We offer Zoom! teeth whitening treatments that can be completed in about an hour at our office. Dr. Cha will place barriers in your mouth to protect your soft tissues before applying a few layers of concentrated whitening agents and activating them with a special light. This safe and effective treatment can significantly brighten your teeth in a short amount of time, making it great if you have a special event like a job interview or a wedding coming up.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
After having your teeth whitened, you’ll certainly want the results to last for as long as possible. While you can come in for touch-up treatments as needed, you can also take measures to preserve your results. Enjoy white dairy products to help your teeth stay bright and strong while avoiding foods and drinks that are high in stain-causing pigments and dyes. It’s also crucial to maintain a proper oral hygiene regimen at home and visit our office every six months for a checkup and cleaning.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Before you commit to teeth whitening, it’s only natural to check this treatment's price. (A brighter smile that “breaks the bank” won’t do you any good long-term.) That said, you’ll need to consult our team for a precise estimate; the cost of teeth whitening varies by patient. Once you’ve met us in person, we’ll find ways to make your care affordable and outline some helpful payment options. For more details, please keep reading or call us in the coming days!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening typically has a set price, but many factors can affect how many sessions you need. The more common of these elements include:
- Stain Severity – As you’d expect, patients with dark and severe discoloration need extra whitening sessions. Deeper and darker stains take more effort and time to remove.
- Stain Type(s) – If you suffer from extrinsic stains (i.e., those from outside sources), you may only require one or two whitening sessions. In contrast, having intrinsic stains (i.e., those below the enamel) means you’ll likely need further help; such discoloration is hard to fix.
- Prior Care – Before you get teeth whitening, you might need dental fillings, dental crowns, etc. In that case, your final treatment cost will be higher than usual.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
The price of your teeth whitening will also depend on the type you get. After all, there are four kinds of this smile-brightening procedure:
- In-Office Teeth Whitening – With an average of $ 400- $ 800 per session, in-office teeth whitening is the most expensive kind. Its maximum cost can even rise to $1000 in special cases.
- Take-Home Teeth Whitening – A normal take-home whitening kit can cost a few hundred dollars, assuming it has a dentist's approval. However, the final price can vary.
- “Over-the-Counter” Whitening Trays – Since they follow a one-size-fits-all approach, store-bought whitening trays cost little. Most patients can get them for $100 or less.
- Teeth Whitening Strips/Gels – The average person doesn’t have to pay much for store-bought whitening strips and gels. For the most part, the price of a single box of them is only $20-40.
OTC Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
You know how “pro” teeth whitening is more popular than the store-bought kind, despite its higher price? Well, the reason it’s so well-liked is simple: it offers better results.
Remember, price reflects quality in cosmetic dentistry. Store-bought strips and gels have low costs precisely because they don’t work well over time. On the other hand, pro-whitening treatment provides superior results that justify its higher price. This latter option brightens your enamel by as many as ten shades, so it exceeds what kits or similar items can do.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Dental insurance rarely covers teeth whitening, but you can still make the treatment more affordable. Just rely on our practice’s helpful payment options, including:
- In-House Membership Plan – By paying a moderate annual fee, you can get a discount on non-preventive procedures like teeth whitening.
- Flexible Financing – Our office is proud to work with both Cherry and CareCredit, reputable 3rd party financiers. Either one would let you pay for teeth whitening in manageable monthly installments.
To get a brighter smile that fits your budget, see us soon. We’ll work with you to provide affordable care!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
How Can I Reduce the Cost of Teeth Whitening?
As you may have already guessed, dental insurance providers don’t usually cover the cost of teeth whitening treatments. The good news is that there is another way you can make the price more affordable: flexible financing! At our office, we welcome payment plans with Cherry and CareCredit. As a result, you can break up the total cost into smaller, more manageable chunks that suit your budget.
Can I Drink Coffee After Whitening My Teeth?
We don’t recommend drinking coffee immediately following your teeth whitening treatment, no. With that said, we also know that some of our patients enjoy starting their morning with a hot cup of coffee or an iced latte. If that’s the case for you, then make sure to take the necessary precautions to prevent the liquid from lingering on your teeth, like rinsing your mouth thoroughly when you’re done and brushing your teeth about 20 minutes after that.
What Should I Eat Following My Teeth Whitening Treatment?
In an effort to prevent stubborn stains from resurfacing, we recommend eating smile-friendly foods that are lighter in color. A few examples include plain yogurt, white fish, cottage cheese, bananas, and egg whites. At the same time, you should steer clear of pigmented foods and sauces, such as BBQ sauce, beets, dark chocolate, and marinara sauce.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
The length of your teeth whitening treatment in McKinney will depend on a few factors, including:
- If any preliminary care is needed – Sometimes, a tooth-colored filling or gum disease therapy is needed before we can focus on lifting stubborn stains. If that’s the case for you, then we will need to add a few weeks onto the front-end of your treatment plan.
- If you choose an in-office or take-home treatment – In-office treatments can lighten your teeth by up to eight shades in a single visit. Take-home products, on the other hand, usually take about two weeks to deliver the same results.
- How subtle or dramatic you want the results to be – If you want to address a few slight stains, then you likely will only need one teeth whitening treatment. If you want more dramatic results, then we may need a second round to achieve the level of brightness that you desire.
All that to say, if you want a white, vibrant smile in time for an upcoming event, like your best friend’s wedding, you shouldn’t wait until the last minute to schedule an appointment with our cosmetic dentist. Instead, you should get in touch with us several months beforehand so we have plenty of time to give you the healthy, gorgeous smile that you deserve.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
No, the results of your teeth whitening treatment in McKinney will not last forever. Don’t let that discourage you, though. After all, you can prolong the results for 6+ months if you take good care of your smile! More specifically, we recommend brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing consistently, and using a straw when drinking coffee.