Teeth Whitening – Houston, TX
Get a Brighter Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening
Do your teeth look stained, discolored, or dull? Are you tired of wasting time and money on storebought whitening products that don’t seem to do anything but make your teeth sensitive? With a professional whitening treatment, you can safely and effectively remove up to eight shades of discoloration right at Dr. Alani’s office in about an hour, or in the comfort of your own home with a take-home kit in approximately two weeks.
Why Choose Dr. Terri Alani for Teeth Whitening?
- Take-home and in-offivailable
- We happily accept flexible financing
- Get noticeable results in just one treatment
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth can become stained for many reasons, including certain medications, diet, smoking, and even simply due to age. There are two different types of stains: intrinsic (when the stains are inside the tooth) and extrinsic (when the stains are on the outside of the tooth’s enamel). Unlike whitening pastes and strips, professional whitening can safely and effectively remove both.
Professional whitening is an excellent choice for any patient who wants to feel more confident with their smile in both personal and professional settings, or even just for their own benefit.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
There are many different types of teeth whitening available, including those over-the-counter products you can buy at your local pharmacy, and professional whitening available only from your dentist.
Professional whitening is different, because it’s customized specifically to meet your unique needs. With either an in-office Zoom! treatment, or a take home kit from Ultradent or DenMat LumiBrite, you can safely and easily remove up to eight shades of stains and discoloration in a fraction of the time of OTC products.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Take home teeth whitening kits are excellent for patients who are looking for the convenience of whitening at home or away but on their own schedule. While you can always purchase a take-home kit from your local department store, professional kits from Dr. Alani are different because they use higher concentrations of quality ingredients, meaning you can achieve your desired results in about two short weeks, from anywhere you want, even in your pajamas!
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In office teeth whitening is a great treatment for patients who are short on time but not on the desire to get noticeable results. Zoom! Whitening can be completed in Dr. Alani’s office in about an hour, removing up to eight shades of stains and discoloration in just one convenient treatment. These treatments are perfect if you’ve got an upcoming special event such as a job interview, wedding, or graduation photos.
Zoom! Whitening ingredients have been proven to be both safe and effective, giving you the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Now that you’ve invested your time and money in professional whitening, it makes sense to maintain your results for as long as possible. Here are a few ways to extend the life of your whitening:
- Come see Dr. Alani for touch-ups when necessary.
- Take-home kits can be refilled as needed.
- Eat a diet rich in white dairy products to help keep your teeth strong and bright.
- Avoid consuming foods and beverages high in stain-causing tannins.
- Maintain an excellent oral hygiene routine, including visiting Dr. Alani every six months for your regular, biannual checkup and cleaning.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
As with any dental procedure, cost is a big factor to consider. Compared with other treatments of its kind, teeth whitening is an affordable way to get the confidence boost you’ve been looking for. Still, many patients wonder if it’s worth it. If you’re unhappy with the color of your smile, the cost of teeth whitening can be a small price to pay for a big improvement in how you look and feel! Read more below to see how customizable whitening treatments are and how we can help you stretch every dollar.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Every smile is different, and every patient will have different desires, goals, and timelines. At our Houston dental office, we want to match the treatment to your needs while staying within your budget. Here are some factors we often consider:
- Whitening Method: We offer both in-office and take-home whitening solutions, both with their own price points.
- Type of Discoloration: Extrinsic, or surface stains, are much more receptive to the whitening process than intrinsic ones that are within your enamel.
- Severity of Staining: The milder your discoloration is, the fewer treatments you may need to achieve your desired results.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
There are many kinds of whitening solutions out there with a wide range of prices. Here’s what you can expect from each in terms of cost:
- Boxed Strips and Gels: The cheapest option by far at around $20 to $40 per box with enough product for around two weeks of treatment.
- Over-the-Counter Kits: These are typically around $100 and use the same process as professional take-home kits. However, they’re one-size-fits-all and the whitening agents are not as strong as professional-grade formulas.
- Professional Take-Home Kits: For a few hundred dollars, you can get these completely customized trays with concentrated whitening gel.
- In Office Zoom! Whitening: The fastest method with the most dramatic results by far. At our office, you can expect the treatment to run from $400 to $800.
Fast Teeth Whitening VS Inexpensive Teeth Whitening
Every whitening option is on a sliding scale between speed and expense. While you may see great results from cheaper store-bought products, they tend to be slower and carry the risk of overuse. In contrast, our professional whitening solutions are faster, safer, and offer more dramatic results.
Do you have a big event coming up soon? Then choosing a faster option may be worth the cost, especially if you’re not happy with the color of your teeth. On the other hand, if you have a few weeks or months to spare, cheaper products might be enough. It all depends on your budget and your timeline.
Options For Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Whitening is one of the more affordable cosmetic procedures, but it can still seem inaccessible due to a lack of insurance coverage. If you have your heart set on a dazzling smile, don’t worry, our team at Terri Alani, DDS can help.
We’ve partnered with CareCredit, a flexible medical financing option that helps patients get the care they need. Once you’re approved, you can use your CareCredit card to pay for your treatment and split the cost into easy monthly payments.
If you’re shopping around for a whitening solution that matches your lifestyle and budget, schedule a consultation with Dr. Alani. She can examine your teeth, make recommendations, and help you explore all your options.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does teeth whitening hurt?
The concern that teeth whitening will hurt is a common one among individuals who are considering cosmetic dental care. As a customized treatment, this type of service is unlikely to cause serious sensitivity – a problem that commonly occurs when using store-bought kits. However, if you tend to experience tooth pain when eating or drinking something cold or hot, let our team know beforehand. We can adjust your treatment accordingly.
You might also consider spacing out your treatments, using a desensitizing toothpaste, or avoiding hot or cold beverages altogether.
Does teeth whitening work on dental crowns?
No, you should not expect teeth whitening to brighten your dental crowns. These custom restorations are not porous like traditional tooth enamel, so they cannot absorb the bleaching agent that is used. Actually, the ingredients found within whitening products can weaken the bond between your tooth and dental crown, creating complications down the road.
This is why it’s best to share this information with your dentist before you assume you are a good candidate for cosmetic treatment. One way you can avoid discoloring your dental crowns is by taking the same approach that you do with your natural teeth. You’ll need to practice good oral hygiene at home, visit us for regular dental cleanings, give up smoking, and limit your exposure to darkly pigmented foods and beverages.
There is also the option to replace your crown if you are unhappy with its shade.
Is teeth whitening permanent?
No, professional teeth whitening (or store-bought kits) is not permanent, which means you will need to pursue additional treatment if you want your results to last over time. Generally, the effects of teeth whitening can last several months or a few years, depending on the type of treatment you receive and how well you take care of your teeth.
If you want to make sure your results last longer, make sure you adopt a good oral hygiene routine at home, continue to see our team for six-month dental checkups and cleanings, and give up bad lifestyle habits, like smoking.
Is teeth whitening expensive?
When you compare teeth whitening in Uptown Houston to other cosmetic dental treatments, like veneers, you will be pleased to learn that it is extremely cost-effective. Although dental insurance will not pay for this kind of service because it’s not medically necessary, there are other ways to lower your out-of-pocket costs.
At the dental office of Dr. Terri Alani, we welcome CareCredit Financing. This means that you can enroll in a low or no-interest financing plan that allows you to pay off your balance over time. It works similarly to a credit card and includes no surprise fees.