Take-Home Teeth Whitening – St. Peters, MO

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

If you’re not satisfied with the color of your smile when you see your reflection, teeth whitening can potentially benefit you. However, it’s not always the best solution to get the desired results, so you must schedule a consultation with Dr. Makwana to ensure you’re a good candidate.

You may be surprised to learn that there’s more than one type of tooth discoloration. Extrinsic stains exist on the outermost layer of enamel and can be cleared away with topical treatments. If you have blemishes in the deeper layers of dentin, though, then you have intrinsic stains that can’t be effectively addressed with whitening. You might require a different procedure, like dental bonding or veneers, to mask these kinds of imperfections instead.

How Does Take-Home Teeth Whitening Work?

You might worry that take-home kits won’t achieve your ideal shade, especially if you’ve tried over-the-counter options without success. The truth is that commercially available products often contain bleaching ingredients that are less effective and often cause sensitivity if they’re overly abrasive or aren’t applied correctly.

Take-home teeth whitening kits are a simple and effective way to lighten your grin from the comfort of your living room. Our team can provide you with all the supplies you need to achieve a noticeably brighter grin in just a couple of weeks. We use the Opalescence professional whitening system and include customized trays that fit your mouth like a glove. These high-quality materials increase the accuracy of your application for better results while minimizing potential sensitivity and discomfort.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile

Your results can last for several months to years, depending on how well you care for your teeth. You can keep the lighter hue longer by:

• Avoid dark foods and drinks. Coffee, tea, sodas, red wine, berries, and other culprits can darken your teeth again. You might want to minimize your consumption to maintain your results.
• Clean your teeth consistently. Brush and floss twice daily to remove any plaque that staining ingredients might cling to.
• Apply touch-ups when needed. It’s not uncommon to need more than one application to achieve and maintain your ideal shade.
• Eat more dairy. Foods with lots of calcium, like milk and yogurt, can help keep your teeth strong and bright.

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

If you’re looking for a way to enhance the natural beauty of your smile, teeth whitening is a great option. In addition to being a quick process, it is one of the most affordable cosmetic treatments out there. During your visit with us, we will discuss the exact cost of your treatment so you will know exactly what to expect. In the meantime, here’s what you should know about the cost of teeth whitening.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

In most cases, teeth whitening is one set price. However, there are several different factors that can affect the number of treatments you need to achieve your goals. Here are some of the most prominent ones:

• Severity of Discoloration: If you have a lot of dark staining on your teeth, you could need multiple whitening treatments to lift the discomfort.
• Types of Discomfort: It is a lot easier to lift extrinsic stains than intrinsic stains.
• Additional Treatments: If you have any oral health issues, like tooth decay or gum disease, these will need to be treated first. You should consider their costs as well.

Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?

There are several types of teeth whitening to choose from, and they are all at different price points:

• In-Office Teeth Whitening: In-office teeth whitening can brighten your smile multiple shades in a single appointment. It usually costs between $400 and $800.
• Take-Home Teeth Whitening: Professional take-home teeth whitening kits can transform your smile in a couple of weeks. They usually cost a few hundred dollars.
• Over-the-Counter Trays: Teeth whitening trays that you find at your local drug store usually cost $100 or less.
• Over-the-Counter Strips/Gels: This is the most affordable option. These boxes usually cost between $20 and $40 and contain enough product to last for a month.

Inexpensive Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening

When you look at the cost of the different types of teeth whitening, you may be wondering why someone would splurge on professional treatment when over-the-counter options are so much more affordable. This is because the quality of the results that you see is clearly reflected in the amount that you pay. When you pick up cheaper strips and gels, you will see little to no results, or it will take several months before you notice changes.

When you opt for professional teeth whitening, you can show off beautifully whiter teeth in a small fraction of the time. We will also examine your teeth ahead of time to ensure that there aren’t any issues that could be aggravated by the whitening agents. Ultimately, by choosing professional teeth whitening, you can expect a faster, safer, and more effective treatment.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

Teeth whitening is not covered by dental insurance because it is an elective procedure. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you are left completely on your own. We are happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. To learn more about your financial options, don’t hesitate to contact one of our friendly team members.