Teeth Whitening – Fresno, CA
Creating a Brighter Smile
How would you describe the color of your teeth? You would probably prefer them to be a gleaming white, but oftentimes you may find that they’re more dull or yellowed than you would like. With teeth whitening, Dr. Reintjes can help you achieve a brighter, younger-looking grin! Our Fresno practice offers ZOOM! in-office whitening along with take-home kits; call us to learn more about how each option works and how they can help you get rid of any unsightly discoloration on your smile.
Why Choose the Fresno Family Dental Office of Byron L. Reintjes, DDS for Teeth Whitening?
- Quick, Convenient ZOOM! In-Office Whitening
- Reliable Professional Take-Home Kits
- Team That Forms Strong Relationships with Patients
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
As long as your teeth and gums are in good health overall, you should be able to have professional teeth whitening performed safely. Our team will need to figure out the source of the discoloration (which might be present above or below your enamel) in order to make sure that teeth whitening will help you get the results you want. If your teeth and gums are particularly sensitive, let us know; we’ll need to take that into account when planning your treatment.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
We’ll outline your options for teeth whitening and help you decide which one is right for you. Here’s what you can expect during the teeth whitening process depending on whether you choose the take-home method or an in-office procedure.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
We’ll give you a whitening kit that includes bleaching gel and custom oral trays. Our team will provide instructions for wearing the trays on a daily basis. Many people achieve the results they want after about 10 to 14 days. This approach may not be as quick as in-office whitening, but for certain patients, that’s a worthwhile tradeoff for being able to improve their smiles while resting at home.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
ZOOM! in-office whitening can brighten your grin by as many as 8 shades in a single appointment. A specially formulated gel is applied to the teeth and activated with a UV light in order to break down the particles that make up stains. Oftentimes in-office whitening consists of three sessions that are each about 15 minutes long. (Of course, the exact number of sessions depends on your needs.)
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
How can you keep your smile looking beautiful once you’re done with teeth whitening? One of the biggest things you’ll need to pay attention to is your diet. Be careful around anything that can stain teeth, such as coffee and berries; you can switch out such foods and beverages with white dairy products.
Good oral hygiene is always an important step for maintaining a brilliant grin. Remember to brush and floss every day, and make sure that you’re visiting our office at least once every six months for a professional cleaning.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
If you have your heart set on a bright and dazzling smile, one of your first questions will probably be, “How much will it cost?” While the price varies from patient to patient, our team at Byron L. Reintjes, DDS is ready to help you find it! Read more below to learn about the factors that affect the cost of teeth whitening and how you can make your treatment more affordable.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
While there is a base cost for whitening treatments, it’s rarely the price we quote our patients because it can fluctuate. Some of the variables that can affect the cost of your teeth whitening include:
- The Need for Preparatory Procedures: If you have some dental issues such as cavities or gum disease, Reintjes will need to treat them first. Otherwise, the whitening chemicals may cause sensitivity or damage.
- How Deep Your Discoloration Is: Extrinsic, or surface stains, are much easier to remove than discoloration that has made its way deeper into your tooth enamel. This may necessitate multiple treatments to achieve your desired results.
- If You Have Dental Restorations: Reintjes will also need to determine if you have discolored dental restorations. Whitening chemicals have no effect on crowns, fillings, or other treatments. So, you may need to have them replaced to match your brightened smile.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
There are multiple types of teeth whitening treatments available, and all of them come at varying price points. Here are some of the most common and what you can expect to pay for each:
- Generic Strips and Gels: These can be found at nearly any grocery store or pharmacy. Each box tends to run around $20 - $40.
- Over-the-Counter Whitening Kits: These kits are a little better than boxed strips and usually cost less than $100.
- Professional Take-Home Whitening: Our take-home kits use the same chemicals as our in-office treatment but are made for your convenience. They're usually priced at around a couple hundred dollars.
- In-Office Whitening Treatments: The fastest, most dazzling results come from our in-office whitening treatments. These generally cost from $400 to $800.
Fast Teeth Whitening VS Inexpensive Teeth Whitening
So, why is there such a big disparity between the lowest-priced solution, and the top-of the line option? The answer is time and quality. Many patients who have had our professional treatments would rather spend a little more to ensure fantastic and long-lasting results with fewer issues.
Attempting to get the same quality of results with over-the-counter products often takes weeks of repeated use. Over time, this can cause enamel wear and tooth sensitivity, risking discomfort and gum irritation. So, it’s important to consider not just the cost of your treatment, but also the expected outcome and the safety of the process.
Options For Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
One of the biggest issues facing patients trying to afford their whitening treatment is the fact that most insurance plans won’t cover cosmetic or “elective” procedures. This leaves you with few options when it comes to fitting your desired treatment into your budget.
However, our team understands this, and that’s why we offer flexible financing through CareCredit. With this service, you can pay for your treatment up front and pay it off in smaller, low-to-no-interest installments!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
Luckily, teeth whitening doesn’t damage healthy enamel. Its gel is non-toxic and won’t decay or erode your pearly whites.
Still, things are different when you have oral issues. Whitening chemicals can harm teeth marred by decay or gum disease. Plus, overusing whiteners can sometimes wear down enamel. As such, consult your dentist before trying anything. Even if they warn you to skip whitening, they can offer insights into dental products and oral hygiene habits. Such guidance would help you achieve your smile goals safely.
You should also avoid at-home whitening methods. These products do more harm than good, worsening your oral health. In particular, don’t use things like activated charcoal or hydrogen peroxide.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Sadly, no – teeth whitening effects aren’t permanent. They can only last a few months to a few years at most. Once that period ends, you’ll need to get touch-up treatments to preserve results.
Of course, it’s possible to prolong the effects. You simply need to follow the right tricks. These include the following:
- Stick to Good Oral Hygiene – If possible, brush your teeth twice daily. Also, floss at least once daily. These actions keep stains from setting on your smile.
- Avoid Poor Dental Habits – Smoking is notorious for causing yellow and brown teeth stains.
- See Your Dentist Often – With regular checkups and cleanings, a dentist can keep your grin white and shiny.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
To be honest, dental crowns can’t be whitened like natural teeth. Their materials aren’t compatible with whitening services.
You see, whitening relies on bleaching gel to work. The latter seeps into your enamel to remove tooth stains. However, crowns are non-porous. That means whitening gel can’t affect their color. At most, it’ll brighten your natural teeth while leaving the caps alone.
Still, there are potential workarounds. You can prevent crown stains with good oral habits. In particular, you could stop smoking, avoid dark-colored drinks, and more. Otherwise, replacing a stained crown with a new one is always possible.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
True, both pro whiteners and store-bought ones try to lift tooth stains. That said, this shared quality is where the similarities stop. Dentist-approved whitening has features that make it superior.
If you didn’t know, over-the-counter whitening is generic. It relies on one-size-fits-all trays and diluted brighteners. So, it isn’t very effective at making teeth look lighter. Instead, this method will leave your smile with few (if any) changes.
In contrast, pro whitening is customized for your unique grin. It accounts for your oral health and considers your existing restorations. As a result, the treatment is safe and highly effective. You can expect to get dramatic results in just one visit!
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