Teeth Whitening – Azle, TX

Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is usually one set price, but there are some factors that can cause variations in its cost. Such factors include:

• The severity of your discoloration. Deeper stains might take more time to correct and require a stronger bleaching formula.
• The cause of the discoloration. Age-related discoloration, stains caused by medication, and food stains may all require different whitening approaches.
• The type of stains. Some stains are extrinsic (on the surface of the enamel), while others are intrinsic (inside the enamel). Intrinsic stains can be more challenging to address.
• Additional care. Some patients require fillings or other restorative care before they can safely move forward with whitening.

Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost? 

There are a few types of teeth whitening, all of which come at different prices:

• In-office teeth whitening may cost $400 - $800. In some cases, though, it can run $1,000 or more. The price depends on a patient’s unique situation and the professional whitening products that are being used.
• Take-home whitening kits, such as those we offer at Rubal Dentistry Azle, often run a few hundred dollars.
• Over-the-counter whitening kits often cost less than $100. However, they do not come with custom bleaching formulas or custom whitening trays.
• Whitening strips and gels that you can purchase online or over-the-counter are often less than $50. A package usually has enough product for a two-week whitening course.

Professional Teeth Whitening vs. Inexpensive Teeth Whitening 

After considering the above-listed numbers, you might wonder why anyone would choose professional whitening over cheaper OTC options. There are a few reasons:

• Professional whitening delivers faster, more noticeable results. Professional whitening products are more concentrated and can bring about noticeable results in a short period of time.
• Professional whitening is safe. With the supervision of a skilled dentist, there is very little risk that your whitening treatment will harm your teeth or your gums. Not all cheaper whitening methods are completely safe.
• Professional whitening is more comfortable. Custom whitening trays may reduce the risk that the bleaching formula will irritate your gums.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

Teeth whitening is a purely cosmetic procedure, so dental insurance almost never covers it. However, its price is usually low enough that patients feel comfortable paying for it out of pocket. You might also be eligible to use CareCredit to pay for your whitening over the course of a few months via a low-interest payment plan.

Teeth whitening is a great value! To learn more about it and its cost, get in touch with our team today. We look forward to helping your smile shine!

Does teeth whitening treatment hurt?

Not at all! Teeth whitening should not cause any discomfort as it’s being applied, whether you opt for in-house whitening or use take-home kits provided by Rubal Dentistry Azle. Furthermore, the whitening formula is designed to reduce the risk of experiencing tooth sensitivity, an issue patients have mentioned before when visiting other practices or using over-the-counter whitening products. Of course, we encourage you to let us know if you’ve had issues with discomfort or sensitivity in the past and we’ll make sure the process is as smooth as possible ahead of your whitening procedure.

Will teeth whitening brighten my dental restorations?

Unfortunately, teeth whitening only works on natural enamel. That means dental fillings, crowns, bridges, and dentures will not really respond to the bleaching ingredients present in whitening products, even professional-grade varieties. Instead, you’ll want to look over different cosmetic treatments to address imperfections in restorations, including dental bonding and metal-free restorations. Dental bonding involves the use of composite resin which is color-matched, bonded, and cured to natural enamel. Metal-free restorations are also customized to match your existing teeth, ensuring the best esthetics possible.

Is take-home whitening less effective than in-house whitening?

Take-home whitening makes the use of the same materials that we use in the office but with a lower strength of bleaching ingredients. This is because the whitening is done over a two-week period, rather than in just one hour in the office. However, just because the bleaching strength is lower does not mean you can’t get the results you’re looking for. In fact, many patients appreciate the convenience of take-home whitening because it lets them achieve their ideal smile on the go and perform touch-ups to keep their smile bright and stain-free!

How do I keep my smile white after treatment?

While we recommend visiting our office every six months to complete routine checkups and cleanings as well as touch-ups for stubborn stains, we also recommend taking at-home steps into account. For example, brushing twice a day and flossing daily are not only key to keeping plaque at bay, but removing stains that settle on teeth. Additionally, it’s helpful to reduce your consumption of richly pigmented foods and beverages, especially immediately after you complete a round of whitening. This includes wine, dark colas and teas, tomato and balsamic sauces, and anything else that you could expect to stain materials like fabric.