Because of the ready availability of over the counter teeth whitening strips, many people believe that teeth whitening is simple. In reality, when working with more concentrated formulas of hydrogen peroxide, it’s a bit more complicated. Here’s what our process looks like:
When you first come in for a teeth whitening appointment, we’ll start with a conversation about what your goals are, how long it might take, and what it might cost. Each case is unique. Different people have different goals and different starting points, so this step is important for you to understand what’s possible and what the process might look like to get there.
One of the things people don’t understand about teeth whitening is that it can hurt. That’s why we take our patients through a two week desensitization protocol that can help reduce the discomfort of teeth whitening by up to 80%. This involves using a prescription toothpaste that you leave on for 25-30 minutes, taking ibuprofen before treatments, and a desensitization rinse.
At this point, there are two paths you could take: In Office or At Home teeth whitening. In office teeth whitening is a little more expensive (about $100 more per visit) but the results are faster because we can use a more concentrated solution. Effectively, you can get the results of 8-10 at home applications in about 90 minutes.
At home you apply the solution yourself every day for 10-14 days, leaving it on for 45-60 minutes each time. So, in the end, you can actually achieve more whitening at home than a single dental appointment, but it takes time and effort. For some people that’s worth it! For others, the ease and efficiency of having the whitening done at the office is a better fit.
After having your teeth whitened no substances of significant color should go into your mouth for two days. That means NO red wine, no red sauce, no coffee or tea, no blueberry pie, etc. This can completely ruin a teeth whitening.
Also, keep in mind that most people are going to have some tooth sensitivity after a treatment (whether in the office or at home). Using a desensitization routine, like ours, before the procedure will help, as will over-the-counter medications like ibuprofen. Just know that this is normal and take care of yourself.
The best way to determine that is to make an appointment! Call us at (312) 642-1014 or schedule an appointment online.
In general, yellow stains come out the best though black stains can also be removed.
Teeth whitening will almost always lead to some amount of tooth sensitivity. This sensitivity can be reduced by up to 80% with a good desensitization regime, like ours, before the treatment.
However, there are a few groups of people who should avoid teeth whitening. If you have gum recession, tooth decay, acid reflux or gerd, already have tooth sensitivity, or recently got your braces off, the teeth whitening treatment will be significantly more painful than normal. We recommend treating these underlying conditions (or waiting a while in the case of braces removal) before proceeding with teeth whitening.
The cost of teeth whitening is different for every case. You can get phenomenal results for $100-2,500. Most cases are around $400-500. Effectively, the more rounds you need, the more expensive it will be.
Even at the high end, when compared to the cost of veneers, teeth whitening can be a very cost effective way to brighten up your smile.
When discussing teeth whitening, dentists measure results in “shades.” A shade is the smallest difference a human eye can detect between two colors. Most people who get professional teeth whitening get 2-9 shades whiter.
As you might expect, 2 shades is noticeable but subtle, while 9 shades is fantastic! If you’ve done a lot of over the counter teeth whitening strips already, you may only get 2-3 shades whiter, while people who have not done teeth whitening before can expect more dramatic results.
Call us at (312) 642-1014 or schedule an appointment online. We will answer any questions and concerns, and help you determine whether porcelain veneers are right for you. Our office is conveniently located at 845 N Michigan Ave Suite 922 E downtown Chicago.