Teeth Whitening — Fort Lauderdale, FL
Brighter Smiles Through Professional Care
As you age, your teeth are exposed to foods and drinks that stain them. Though your teeth may be perfectly healthy, they can appear damaged and make you look older. Fortunately, if you have deep stains or want to achieve a brighter smile quickly, Seaside Family Dentistry offers professional teeth whitening in Fort Lauderdale, FL that can help you acquire a beautiful, youthful-looking, bright smile.
Types of Tooth Stains
Tooth stains fall into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are the yellow and brown stains that occur on the surface of your teeth. Intrinsic stains occur inside your teeth, making them appear gray or blue. Some surface stains can be removed with whitening toothpaste and over-the-counter teeth-whitening kits. However, these approaches are limited and can be painful or can cause tooth and gum sensitivities. Professional-grade products are needed to remove deeper extrinsic and intrinsic stains and to treat individuals with sensitive teeth and gums.
Professional Teeth-Whitening Options
There are several approaches to teeth bleaching that Fort Lauderdale cosmetic dentist Dr. Kellner can use to help you whiten your smile by eight to 14 shades in a short amount of time.
- In-office teeth bleaching: During your dental office visit, Dr. Kellner will apply to your teeth the teeth-bleaching agent, typically in the form of a gel, then will use a whitening lamp to accelerate the bleaching process. Standard visits last 90 minutes.
- At-home teeth bleaching: Dr. Kellner will provide you with a teeth-bleaching gel and a mouthguard to put it in that has been customized to your bite. He will then assign a teeth-bleaching regimen for you to follow. Results typically take a little longer than the in-office option; however, the process takes place within the comfort and convenience of your own home. It typically takes 10 to 14 days to achieve the desired results with this method.
Our Teeth Whitening Systems
We use the following teeth-bleaching systems to help you achieve a bright white smile:
KöR® Deep Bleaching:
This treatment will give you your brightest smile. Using custom-fit, specially fabricated whitening trays that seal in the bleaching agent, Dr. Kellner can complete your treatment in just two visits to your Fort Lauderdale dental office. The trays are designed to protect your gum area so that there is no irritation.
Opalescence®
From Ultradent, Opalescence offers carbamide peroxide gels in a range of concentrations for your specific needs, using an impression-free take home kit. Opalescence-35 is the strongest formulation considered safe for dentist advised teeth whitening at home.
Opalescence lightens internal discoloration caused by medication or tooth trauma to whiten natural teeth, while fillings and bonding materials remain unaffected. Superficial stains from foods, drinks and smoking are also treated.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
You’ll probably want to understand the costs of our teeth whitening treatments before you commit to the process. While the final price tag will vary depending on your situation, we can explain what factors influence the cost so you can have a better idea of what you can expect. Feel free to contact us directly to discuss your options with our dental team!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Several factors can affect the cost of your teeth whitening treatment. A few of these include:
- The level of discoloration: Teeth with severe discoloration or stubborn stains may require more than one treatment to achieve their ideal shade.
- Required preparations: Patients need to be in good oral health for teeth whitening, so any tooth decay or gum disease will have to be resolved beforehand.
- Crowns or veneers: Since teeth whitening won’t work on artificial dental structures like crowns or veneers, they may need to be removed before treatment and replaced afterward to give the smile a consistently white color.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
The cost of your teeth whitening service will largely depend on the type of treatment you choose. Our office offers:
- In-Office Whitening – We use KöR® Deep Bleaching products to achieve superior whitening results in as few as two visits. This can cost anywhere between $400 and $800.
- Take-Home Whitening Kit – With Opalescence® take-home whitening kits, you can achieve remarkable results in the comfort of your own home for about a few hundred dollars.
- “Over-the-counter” whitening trays – These store-bought kits can cost about a hundred dollars.
- Whitening Strips/gels – These products from your pharmacy or grocery store can cost up to forty dollars.
Inexpensive Teeth Whitening Vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
While this might seem tempting, it’s important to remember your desired results and the risks that can come with faulty products.
While our professional teeth whitening treatments may cost more than these store-bought products, that is because they are top-quality treatments that deliver superior results. Since these treatments are performed under the watchful eye of our team, you won’t have to worry about uneven discoloration or irritation of the soft tissues in your mouth due to poorly fitting dental trays or low-quality bleaching agents. With our teeth whitening treatments, you can bet on having both a safe procedure and a stunning smile!
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
While dental insurance providers don’t usually cover cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening, we offer convenient payment options to make these treatments more affordable. Our office offers CareCredit financing to help make teeth whitening treatments affordable. This way, we can divide the total cost into easily manageable monthly payments. To make things even better, our plans involve no money down, no interest, no up-front costs, and no annual fees! We also offer Compassionate Finance options that allow clients to determine their own monthly payments.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does teeth whitening cost?
The cost of teeth whitening varies according to the type of treatment you are receiving and how deep your stains are. At Seaside Family Dentistry, we will work with you to find an affordable whitening treatment that is right for you.
Are teeth whitening results permanent?
The longevity of your teeth-whitening results depends greatly on how you care for your teeth after the treatment, as well as on how often you indulge in food and drink that causes stains. Results can last anywhere from several months to three years.
Are there any risks or side effects associated with teeth whitening?
Gums and teeth may become sensitive during your treatments.