Teeth Whitening

In-office whitening happens in a single visit. We isolate and protect your gums and soft tissue, apply a stronger professional gel to the front teeth, and let it work in timed cycles. Because we control the application, we can use a more concentrated formula than anything sold over the counter, and you leave with the result already visible. This suits patients working against a deadline — a wedding, a reunion, graduation photos, a new job — and anyone who would rather not manage trays at home night after night.

Take-home whitening starts with impressions or a scan so we can fabricate custom trays that fit your teeth closely. A close fit matters: it keeps the gel on the enamel and off the gums, which is where generic boil-and-bite trays and one-size strips tend to fall short. You wear the trays for a set period each day over a couple of weeks, and the color shifts gradually. Patients who prefer to go at their own pace, who have sensitive teeth and want a gentler ramp, or who like keeping trays on hand for an occasional refresh often choose this route. Some patients do both — an in-office visit to make the initial change, then trays to maintain it.

Whitening works on natural tooth structure, not on dental work. Crowns, bridges, porcelain veneers, and composite bonding keep the shade they were made in, so if you have restorations on your front teeth, we plan around that. Sometimes the answer is to whiten first, then replace an older filling or crown to match the new shade. That coordination is straightforward for us because our doctors handle crowns, bonding, and veneers in-house, and we have an on-site dental lab for fabrication and adjustments.

We also want a healthy mouth before we start. Active decay, untreated gum disease, or a cracked tooth can make whitening uncomfortable and should be addressed first. A cleaning beforehand helps too — removing surface buildup lets the gel reach the enamel evenly. During an exam we check for these issues and include an oral cancer screening as part of our routine care. Not every kind of discoloration responds the same way; staining from food and drink generally lifts well, while deeper intrinsic discoloration may respond more slowly or call for a cosmetic option like veneers or bonding instead. We'll tell you honestly what we think whitening can and can't do for your teeth.

A few things worth knowing before you decide:

• Temporary tooth sensitivity is common during and shortly after whitening and typically eases
• Results are not permanent — stain-causing habits will gradually dull the color again
• Existing crowns, veneers, bonding, and fillings will not change shade
• Whitening is a cosmetic treatment, so it's generally not covered by dental insurance

Payment, Plans, and Booking

Because whitening is cosmetic, most plans don't contribute toward it, so we're upfront about cost before anything starts. We accept cash, checks, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express, and we offer CareCredit financing for patients who'd rather spread payments out. Our in-house membership plan — $199 a year for adults, $99 for patients 17 and under — covers exams, X-rays, two cleanings, and two fluoride treatments at 100%, with 20% to 50% off other treatment, no deductibles and no waiting period.

We see patients of all ages from Woodhaven, Trenton, Riverview, and Flat Rock, and consultations are complimentary. Call us and we'll look at your teeth, talk through in-office versus take-home, and help you pick the one that fits your schedule. Se habla español.