Teeth Whitening – McKinney, TX
Effective, Professional Solutions for Brighter Smiles
A bright smile gives you a pulled-together, youthful appearance, which is one of the many reasons teeth whitening treatments are so popular. Unfortunately, the majority of patients who come to OakBrook Dental & Orthodontics for professional teeth whitening have already wasted time and money on store-bought whitening kits that were ultimately ineffective. There is good news, though: we offer reliable, safe, and convenient treatments at our McKinney office! You can give us a call to schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation, but you’re also welcome to read on if you want to learn more.
Why Choose OakBrook Dental and Orthodontics for Teeth Whitening?
- Top-Rated Dental Team in the Area
- Convenient Hours, Including Weekends
- CareCredit Flexible Financing Available
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
If you’re not confident about the appearance of your smile, teeth whitening may be an option for you. The best way to find out is by scheduling a teeth whitening consultation. From there, one of our dedicated dentists can identify the cause of the discoloration and determine if this cosmetic dental treatment is right for you. They will also check your mouth to ensure there aren’t any untreated dental issues, like tooth decay or gum disease, since your teeth and gums must be healthy before moving forward.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
The very first step of the process is the consultation, which is when we’ll help you determine the underlying cause of your dental discoloration and create a personalized plan. Then, we will determine if an in-office treatment or a take-home treatment is ideal for you. If you are interested in learning a little more about each, read on!
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
In addition to the fast, effective in-office treatment, Zoom! also has a line of take-home teeth whitening kits. Unlike store-bought products, these kits include professional doses of whitening gel as well as a custom-crafted application tray that keeps your whitening gel on the surfaces of teeth where it belongs. As a result, you’ll be able to receive the same results as in-office teeth whitening over the course of two weeks of daily application. You will only need to apply the whitening gel for about 30 minutes a day.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
While store-bought teeth whitening products use low doses of whitening agents and ineffective application methods, Zoom! whitening treatment uses customized doses of professional-grade teeth whitening gel to deliver the desired whitening results. The process is simple. We begin by isolating the teeth with rubber shields. Then, we apply a layer of whitening gel. The key difference in Zoom! whitening and other treatment options is the activation light. We place the low heat light over the teeth, and it accelerates the chemical teeth whitening process. Every twenty minutes, we will check your progress. Most patients see their desired results after about an hour.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Typically, patients enjoy their results for 6+ months. That said, the longevity of your results is dependent upon a number of factors, including how well you care for your smile. That’s why we encourage our patients to:
- Brush and floss regularly
- Avoid staining drinks
- Eat light-colored foods, like bananas and white fish
- Scheduling a dental checkup and cleaning biannually
- Kick tobacco use to the curb
- Get touch-up whitening treatments periodically
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Even if you have your heart set of achieving a brighter and more beautiful smile with teeth whitening treatment from OakBrook Dental & Orthodontics, it’s still understandable that you are probably interested in how much the procedure will cost. While we’ll need to see you for your consultation before we can give you a proper price estimate, considering a few factors can help you get an idea of what to expect. Here’s a quick guide to how teeth whitening treatments are priced at our McKinney office as well as a few options for making them more affordable.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening treatments usually have set prices, but certain factors can affect how many sessions you will need to achieve your desired results. These can include:
- The severity of your discoloration.
- The nature of your discoloration – Stains can be caused by exposure to acids, pigments, dyes, and tannins as well as age, genetic conditions, and certain medications. They can be extrinsic, meaning located on top of the enamel, or intrinsic, meaning located beneath the surface of the tooth.
- Preliminary treatments – Some patients will need to receive restorative work like gum disease therapy and dental fillings before they can receive teeth whitening safely.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
Teeth whitening can come in several forms that are priced differently. These include:
- In-office whitening: Our dentist can brighten your smile in about an hour at our McKinney office, which usually costs between $400 and $800 for a single session.
- Professional take-home kits: We can provide you with a high-quality whitening kit that can deliver magnificent results in about two weeks for several hundred dollars.
- Store-bought whitening kits: These products include one-size-fits-all dental trays and typically go for a hundred dollars or less.
- Retail strips or gels: The cheapest option by far, two-week supplies of these products are usually sold at pharmacies for twenty to forty dollars.
Cheap Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
When you consider the lower prices of retail-grade whitening products, you may wonder why professional brightening services are so popular. Professional whitening treatments can reliably and safely deliver superior results in brief timeframes, but retail options often produce only lackluster results after several months of use, and they injure some users due to error or poor manufacture. Trusting your whitening treatment to the team at OakBrook Dental & Orthodontics is the best way to ensure you achieve your ideal smile.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
The team at OakBrook Dental & Orthodontics is proud to offer flexible financing options from CareCredit as well as our in-house payment plan for qualified patients. These can be great ways to break the cost of your teeth whitening treatment into easy monthly payments, but we are also excited to offer our Free Teeth Whitening for Life special. At any checkup at our McKinney office, feel free to ask about this offer so you can receive a complimentary customized application tray and a tube of professional-grade whitening gel. Please contact our office if you’d like to find out more.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does teeth whitening hurt?
You don’t have to worry about any pain. Whitening gels are customizable, so your cosmetic dentist in McKinney can cater your treatment to your specific needs. It’s important to tell your dentist if you’re prone to sensitivity. They may recommend using desensitizing toothpaste to reduce the risk of any discomfort. They will also advise you to skip any hot or cold foods and drinks for a day or two. You can lessen your risk of discomfort by spacing out whitening treatments, including any OTC products or home remedies.
How do teeth become discolored?
There are a number of reasons why teeth may become discolored, and by determining the underlying causes of tooth staining before we begin treatment, our team is able to offer more predictable teeth whitening results. Some of the most common causes of dental discoloration include:
- Consuming dark colored foods and drinks (red wine, coffee, berries)
- Aging, excessive tooth enamel wear, and genetically thinner enamel all lead to a yellow tooth color due to the exposure of the dentin layers of teeth
- Over-consumption of fluoride during dental development can lead to brighter white staining on teeth called fluorosis
- Taking tetracycline medications during dental development may lead to dark staining on teeth
- Tobacco use can cause teeth to appear yellow, gray, or have darker staining
Does teeth whitening damage enamel?
Contrary to many rumors, whitening systems won’t harm your enamel if your teeth are healthy. In addition, it’s important to invest in the qualifications of a cosmetic dentist to brighten your smile safely. Don’t overuse any whitening treatments, including OTC systems or home remedies, to avoid causing irreversible damage to your smile. Whether you want to use an in-home treatment or OTC options, it is best to always consult with a dentist first.
Is teeth whitening permanent?
Unfortunately, your results won’t be permanent; however, they can last for several months to many years with the right care. You can protect your investment with a solid oral hygiene routine at home and regular care from your dentist. It is best to avoid anything that can compromise your results, like consuming dark foods or beverages often. If you smoke or use tobacco, you may want to kick the habit to prevent tar and nicotine stains. If your bright smile begins to fade, your dentist can provide you with a touch-up kit to preserve your investment.
Is teeth whitening effective on dental crowns?
Dental crowns aren’t porous. As a result, whitening treatments won’t have any effect on their color. Your dentist will advise against whitening products because the agents can weaken the bonding material holding your restoration to your tooth. If you are concerned about color inconsistencies, your cosmetic dentist will create the strategy you need to ensure seamless results, such as replacing the crown. You can avoid future discoloration by not smoking and following the same practices as you would for your natural teeth.
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