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Teeth Whitening – Summerfield, NC

Get a Whiter Smile in a Snap

If you have discolored teeth, you know firsthand how unpleasant they are. After all, their stained looks ruin your smile, self-confidence, and more. That said, you don’t need to put up with yellow or brown enamel. You could always consider teeth whitening in Summerfield! With this service, we at Magnolia Shores Family Dental would make your pearly whites live up to their nickname. If you’d like to learn more, just keep reading or book a visit to our office — we’ll happily share the details!

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

A patient being evaluated for teeth whitening in Summerfield

In most cases, those with tooth stains are the best whitening candidates. However, keep in mind that treatment works best for extrinsic staining — marks on enamel left by dark-colored foods, tobacco, and other such factors. It has less effect on the intrinsic kind, which occurs below the tooth surface and can’t be bleached away.

On the other hand, whitening is also ideal for patients who want more confidence. Since the procedure gives you shiny teeth, the resulting smile could help you feel secure in professional and social scenarios.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

A woman receiving teeth whitening in Summerfield

Magnolia Shores Family Dental offers two ways to whiten enamel. The first is a take-home bleaching kit, approved by our team for personal use. Meanwhile, the second is an in-office KöR teeth whitening done with Dr. Parry. Each option delivers stellar results that meet a patient’s unique desires. Still, their differing approaches result in varying treatment timelines.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

For a take-home whitener, a patient wears gel-infused bleaching trays. Doing so for a few hours daily over two weeks leads to whiter, brighter teeth. In fact, patients should expect their final smile to be lighter by six to eight shades!

Remember, only dentist-provided kits produce quality outcomes. Store-bought varieties are often inferior and risky for teeth.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

KöR teeth whitening would have you visit Dr. Parry’s office for treatment. He’d then apply a safe and effective bleaching gel to the fronts of your teeth. Once activated with a special light, this gel whitens your smile fairly quickly.

Unlike a take-home kit, the in-office method only takes about an hour. It’s thus ideal if you need to whiten in a hurry — perhaps for a special occasion like a wedding or job interview.

Tips for Maintaining Your Whiter Smile

A close-up of a patient who received teeth whitening in Summerfield

Ultimately, the effects of teeth whitening in Summerfield aren’t permanent. As such, you’ll need to work to maintain them. You can do so by using the following tips:

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

A person calculating costs while a ceramic tooth and coins sit in the foreground

So, perhaps you’d like to get your teeth whitened. After all, the treatment would make your smile brighter than ever! However, you may fear the cost of teeth whitening is too high. A dazzling grin wouldn’t be worth “breaking the bank.” That said, you can trust Dr. Parry and his team to make whitening affordable. They’ll give you an exact treatment estimate and walk you through the financing process. To learn more, just keep reading or call our office for the details.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

A woman selecting a shade of color for teeth whitening

Teeth whitening usually has one set price. Even so, several factors affect how many treatments you’ll need to reach desired results. These include the following:

  • Severity of Discoloration –  If your teeth are seriously discolored, treating them will likely cost more.
  • Type of Discoloration – While whitening is great at fixing extrinsic stains from meals, it’s not as effective for intrinsic stains. Selecting the latter kind is thus more expensive.
  • Preliminary Services – To ensure whitening is effective, your dentist may need to give you fillings or crowns. In that case, the price of treatment will rise.

Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?

A young woman getting teeth whitening at a dentist’s office

During the initial consult, our team will also explain the types of whitening and their costs. The four most common ones are:

  • In-office Whitening – This option is priced anywhere from $400 to $800. In rare cases, though, the cost may reach $1,000 or more.
  • Take-Home Whitening – Take-home kits from dentists – which include custom-fit trays and a special bleaching gel – usually cost a few hundred dollars.
  • Over-the-Counter Trays – Being sold by stores, over-the-counter trays are one-size-fits-all. As such, they typically cost $100 or less.
  • Teeth Whitening Strips – Teeth whitening strips or gels can be found at most supermarkets and pharmacies. In fact, they’re generally the cheapest option due to their price of 20-$40 per box. For just that amount, a container has enough strips for up to two weeks of treatment.

Professional Teeth Whitening vs. OTC Teeth Whitening

A woman using a teeth whitening strip

Since it’s pricier, you may wonder why professional whitening is the more popular choice. Wouldn’t store-bought whiteners be better liked due to their low cost?

The reason for this situation is that price reflects the quality. Put another way, cheaper dental products tend to be less effective. Store-bought strips and gels, while inexpensive, offer poor results. Meanwhile, dentist-provided whiteners provide quick and dramatic results. Whether in-office or at home, they can (and will) lighten your pearly whites by six to eight shades!

As you can see, whitening’s effect is just as (if not more) crucial as its price. Keep that fact in mind as you consider the type you get.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

A man paying the cost of teeth whitening

Since teeth whitening is elective cosmetic work, it’s seldom covered by dental insurance. Still, other ways exist to make the procedure affordable. Here at Magnolia Shores Family Dental, for example, we offer things like:

  • Membership Plans – For a low annual (or monthly) fee, our savings plans can give you a 10% discount on all non-preventive dental work.
  • Flexible Financing – By relying on third-party services, our practice lets patients pay for care in monthly installments. That way, you can manage the cost of whitening gradually.

Teeth Whitening FAQs

A young dentist holding teeth whitening samples while surprised with an idea

So, you’re considering teeth whitening in Summerfield? That’s fantastic news – the treatment could help your pearly whites live up to their name! Still, you may want to know more about it before committing. Doing so will settle whether whitening is right for you. Luckily, Magnolia Shores Family Dental can help: here are the answers to some oft-asked teeth whitening questions. Read them over to learn how whiteners can transform your grin. Otherwise, call our office for further details.

Is Teeth Whitening Safe?

Rest assured: teeth whitening from a dentist is highly safe. In fact, various measures ensure it doesn’t hurt your smile.

 

You see, dentists’ whitening agents are thoroughly vetted. They undergo FDA and ADA testing to make sure they don’t cause any harm. Plus, these solutions’ percentages are adjusted for your treatment. You’ll thus receive safe care that gives you a bright, white grin!

 

Of course, the same isn’t always true of store-bought whitening. Not all of its products are tested for safety. Therefore, treatment with a dentist is usually the safer option.

 

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?

When done professionally, teeth whitening is both effective and quick. The treatment's timeline, though, depends on whether you get in-office or at-home care.

 

If you choose in-office whitening, the process only requires a one-hour visit. This appointment will apply bleaching gel directly onto your teeth. From there, Dr. Parry will activate the gel with a special light. You’ll then have a smile that’s six-to-eight shades whiter!

 

The at-home option, meanwhile, takes longer to work. It has you wear bleaching trays for a few hours daily over two weeks. That said, the quality of results is similar to the in-office method.

 

What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?

True, both professional and store-bought whitening lift tooth stains. Even so, however, they have different traits and methods.

 

For example, consider over-the-counter whiteners. These products rely on one-size-fits-all trays and diluted brighteners. Consequently, they don’t work very well and produce uneven results.

 

In contrast, professional whitening is tailored to each patient. It begins with a dental exam that notes your unique smile, treatment goals, and more. That way, the dentist can whiten your smile as safely and effectively as possible.

 

Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?

Unfortunately, no – teeth whitening doesn’t work on dental crowns. Bleaching gel only whitens enamel, not artificial materials. Even worse, whiteners can actually weaken the bond between a crown and its tooth. You’d then face oral health complications.

 

However, there are ways to work around the crown-whitening conflict. One approach is to keep your crowns from discoloring with good dental habits. On the other hand, you could always replace a poorly-shaded crown with one better suited to your smile goals.

 

To ensure your crown matches your enamel, talk to your local dentist. They’ll know the best way to combine whitening results with your dental cap.

Have Questions? Ask Dr. Parry