Teeth Whitening Houston

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Over the years, your teeth can acquire stains from beverages, tobacco use, and certain medications. If the discoloration has left you feeling less than confident about your smile, don’t wait – get in touch with us to schedule a consultation. Once we know more about your dental needs and smile goals, we can determine if you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. Fortunately, many patients who have healthy teeth and gums are!

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

If you are looking for teeth whitening in Houston, Texas, come to Smiles of Memorial! Once we have a chance to complete a comprehensive oral exam, our expert staff can determine if this is the best smile-enhancing treatment for you. If the answer is “yes,” then we can achieve the results you desire with either an in-office or take-home treatment.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

Many people choose take-home whitening treatment because it allows you to brighten your smile in the comfort of your own home. If you choose this smile-enhancing service, we will take a mold of your teeth and create two thin, flexible plastic mouth trays. You will fill the trays with whitening gel and then position them over your teeth. The trays are usually left on for about an hour at a time. With consistent use, you can achieve the gorgeous results you desire in just two weeks!

In-Office Teeth Whitening

In-office teeth whitening treatments, on the other hand, can lighten your teeth by eight shades in just one visit. Another perk of this cosmetic dental service is that we handle the entire process for you, including the application. As a result, you can relax comfortably in the treatment chair. Once we’re done restoring your brilliantly bright smile, we’ll provide you with helpful tips on how to maintain your results (more on that in the next section).

Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile

Whether you choose an in-office treatment or take-home products, you want the results to last. Rest assured, Dr. Tran will provide you with helpful tips to prevent stubborn stains from resurfacing, like:

• Brushing for two full minutes each morning and night
• Using a straw when drinking coffee
• Eating white fish, egg whites, and other light-colored foods
• Breaking bad habits, like smoking
• Scheduling a dental cleaning twice a year
• Getting touch-up whitening treatments as needed

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a great way to enhance to natural beauty for your smile. However, people put off treatment because they are worried about the cost. Since everyone’s treatment is a little bit different, the cost can vary. During your consultation, we will go over the exact cost of your treatment so that you don’t run into any surprises. Until then, here are some things to consider.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

The cost of professional teeth whitening varies on several factors. Here are some of the most prominent ones.

• Types of Discoloration: Intrinsic stains are more difficult to lift than extrinsic stains, so they may require other treatments.
• Severity of Discoloration: If your teeth have dark stains, they may need additional whitening sessions to achieve your goals.
• Other Services: If you have existing dental issues, like gum disease or tooth decay, they need to be treated and eliminated ahead of time.

Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?

There are multiple teeth whitening options out there. Here is what you can expect in terms of the cost for each one.

• In-Office Teeth Whitening: In-office teeth whitening ranges from $400 to $800. In some areas, it can be over $1000.
• Take-Home Teeth Whitening: Professional take-home whitening kits usually cost a few hundred dollars.
• Over-the-Counter Trays: Teeth whitening trays that you find over-the-counter are usually $100 or less.
• Over-the-Counter Strips/Gels: This is the cheapest teeth whitening option available. These boxes cost between $20 and $40 and contain enough product to last a couple of weeks.

Inexpensive Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening

When you look at the numbers above, you may be wondering why anyone would choose professional teeth whitening when over-the-counter treatment options are so much more affordable. With cosmetic dentistry, the results that you see are clearly seen in the cost of the treatments that you get. If you choose cheaper strips and gels, you won’t see significant results – especially with darker discoloration. Professional teeth whitening treatment gives you noticeable results in a fraction of the time.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

Teeth whitening isn’t covered by dental insurance because it is an elective treatment. However, are happy to accept patients through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. If you have questions or need help applying, don’t hesitate to let us know.