Teeth Whitening – Studio City, CA
Light Up the World with Your Smile
Wish you had a whiter smile? Fortunately, we can help! In fact, one of the main focuses for Dr. Shahrestany is to create absolutely gorgeous smiles for our patients with effective, personalized, and comfortable treatments like teeth whitening. To learn about our take-home and in-office options, as well as tips for maintaining your bright, white teeth, read on or get in touch with our team to schedule a consultation.
Why Choose Studio City Dental Arts for Teeth Whitening?
- Talented Dentist with 20+ Years of Experience
- Flexible Financing Available
- Convenient Appointment Times
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Good candidates for teeth whitening are often patients who are experiencing dental discoloration due to consumption of dark-colored foods and beverages, like marinara sauce and coffee cake. Another important qualification is good oral health. After all, using a whitening treatment on a tooth that is decayed will only damage it further. Ultimately, the best way to determine whether or not you are a candidate is by scheduling a consultation with our talented Studio City cosmetic dentist.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
In short, how it works depends on the type of teeth whitening treatment you choose. At Studio City Dental Arts, we offer both take-home and in-office options to ensure you can get the results you desire in whichever way is most convenient for you. Learning a bit more about each solution is as easy as reading on!
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Did you know most teeth whitening trays are only useful for about 25-35 minutes? This is because whitening gels mix with saliva when the trays sit in the mouth. The antioxidant enzyme peroxidase is found within saliva and it breaks down peroxide, which is the main ingredient in whitening gel. Fortunately, using KoR Whitening prevents this from happening! The trays are designed to keep saliva and harmful fluids out of the trays, creating a longer time-period for the whitening gel to whiten your teeth.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
If you’d prefer to lighten your teeth at our office, then ask us about Zoom! teeth whitening! With this clinically tested and effective solution, we can brighten your teeth up to EIGHT shades in a single visit. For this reason, this option is often the most ideal for patients who have a wedding, family reunion, or job interview rapidly approaching.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
If you want the results of your teeth whitening treatment to last, it’s important to care for your smile. Don’t worry – this doesn’t involve anything too cumbersome. To prevent stubborn stains from resurfacing, make sure to:
- Brush your teeth after each meal
- Floss and rinse with mouthwash each night
- Visit your dentist for a checkup and cleaning biannually
- Use a straw when drinking coffee, soda, wine, and other dark-colored beverages
- Quit unhealthy dental habits, such as smoking
- Get touch-up whitening treatments as needed
If you want to learn more about professional teeth whitening – from the process to the cost – then we encourage you to schedule a consultation. We look forward to giving you the bright, beautiful smile you desire!
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Fully understanding the cost of cosmetic dentistry is always a little bit challenging for patients, and teeth whitening in particular has several different kinds of products on the market, which adds a fair amount of confusion.
At Studio City Dental Arts, we don’t want you to stress about finances, so we try and be as transparent about the price of our treatment as possible. We’ll be able to give you an exact estimate when we meet you in person, but until then, here are a few things worth knowing about teeth whitening.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Typically, teeth whitening is offered at one set price that depends on the variety of whitening gels you’re getting. However, the overall cost of the treatment can depend on several factors that have nothing to do with the price of the whitening kit itself.
For one, serious stains and stubborn discoloration could require multiple rounds of whitening treatment, which adds to the cost. We also won’t perform teeth whitening if you’re dealing with serious tooth decay, so you should consider whether you could need fillings before getting whitening.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
As we mentioned before, teeth whitening comes in a variety of forms, each of which with its own distinct price point. First of all, there’s professional teeth whitening, both in-office and take-home. In-office teeth whitening usually costs anywhere from $400 to $800, occasionally hitting up to $1000 in certain cases. Take-home kits are less expensive, usually costing just a few hundred dollars.
Then there are the over-the-counter whitening trays, which are significantly cheaper and lower quality. DIY whitening tray kits are usually around $100, and whitening strips usually clock in at between $20-40 a box.
Cheap VS Professional Whitening
If you’re interested in whitening your smile on a budget, you may be tempted to reach for one of the over-the-counter whitening options mentioned above. However, there’s a reason why they’re so cheap—they don’t work very well.
The whitening gels that come with these products are more often than not weaker than what you’d get from a professional, meaning that you’ll either get sup-par results or overuse the product in an attempt to get a white enough smile. If you’re looking to get a whiter smile, you should make sure you’re getting something that works.
Options For Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Teeth whitening is considered to be purely cosmetic by dental insurance companies, which means that you’ll be hard-pressed to find a plan that will pay for it. Thankfully, there are other ways to make teeth whitening affordable.
We partner with the healthcare credit firm CareCredit to offer financing options to our patients. If you qualify after a credit check, you’ll be able to split the cost of teeth whitening into monthly payments. Most patients can get this financing with little-to-no interest, meaning that you should have no problem making this treatment fit into your budget.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Even if you want to try teeth whitening, you may have lingering concerns. That’s only natural – you want to feel sure about your chosen treatment. (You might not get your preferred results otherwise.) Luckily, Studio City Dental Arts has a solution: Below are the answers to some common whitening questions. By reading them over, you’ll better grasp how teeth whitening in Studio City works. If you need other details, though, don’t hesitate to call our office for them.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
Ultimately, the time needed for teeth whitening varies. Treatment runs shorter or longer based on the type you receive.
With in-office whitening, the process only requires a one-hour dental visit. The dentist uses this timeframe to apply the bleaching gel and expose it to a specialized light. Afterward, your smile will look up to eight shades lighter. The in-office option is thus ideal when preparing for a milestone event on short notice.
In contrast, take-home whitening needs a few weeks to work. It has the patient wear bleaching trays for several hours daily for 14 days. At the end of this period, though, the results are comparable to in-office whitening.
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Thankfully, teeth whitening is a painless treatment. Dentists take every step possible to ensure it goes smoothly and comfortably.
You see, the bleaching gel used for care is harmless. Repeated studies have shown it doesn’t cause any lasting discomfort. The material can result in minor tooth sensitivity post-treatment, but this effect is minor and temporary. Furthermore, such an outcome is rare and often minimized by tailoring the gel amount.
Of course, don’t hesitate to tell us if your teeth are prone to sensitivity. We can space out your treatments if necessary. Our team can also suggest ways to manage sensitive enamel, including specialty toothpaste.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
Ultimately, no – professional teeth whitening doesn’t damage your enamel. The gel it uses is well-tested and won’t harm the tooth layer.
That said, whitening chemicals can cause other problems. They may trigger side effects if your teeth are weakened by decay or infection. As such, confirm your oral health and get a dental exam before treatment.
Furthermore, there is a risk to over-the-counter whiteners. Those like activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide are abrasive and can wear away enamel. For that reason, they typically do more harm than good.
How Can I Make My Teeth Whitening Results Last?
Teeth whitening results can last a few months to a few years. That said, the actual lifespan will depend on how you care for your smile. For long-lasting effects, then, follow the habits below:
- Practice Good Oral Hygiene –Brush twice daily, floss once daily, and use mouthwash regularly. That way, fewer stains will accumulate on your enamel.
- Attend Dental Checkups – As much as possible, see your dentist for six-month dental checkups and cleanings. These visits prevent stains and clean hard-to-reach mouth areas.
- Limit Meals with Stain Agents – Try to ingest fewer dark-colored foods and drinks. After all, these items have tannins and other agents that stain enamel.
- Avoid Poor Dental Habits – Smoking is known to cause yellow tooth stains.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Unfortunately, the results of teeth whitening aren’t permanent. They tend to last about 1-3 years at most. Consequently, you’ll need touch-ups if you want to preserve the effects.
Fortunately, you can take steps to help whitening last. These include twice-daily brushing, once-daily flossing, quitting smoking, and visiting the dentist.
In contrast, take-home whitening needs a few weeks to work. It has the patient wear bleaching trays for several hours daily for 14 days. At the end of this period, though, the results are comparable to in-office whitening.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
True, both professional and store-bought whitening are meant to fix tooth stains. In reality, though, they tend to be quite different.
On the one hand, over-the-counter whiteners are one-size-fits-all. They rely on standardized trays and diluted, mass-produced brighteners. As a result, their effects are minimal at best and don’t tend to last long. They also carry significant risks due to using abrasive materials.
Meanwhile, professional whitening is thoroughly customized. A dentist tailors it based on a dental exam, thus accounting for your restorations and present oral health. That means the treatment is safe, effective, and provides dramatic results quickly.