Teeth Whitening – Merrillville, IN
Brightening Stained and Discolored Teeth
Even if you take good care of your teeth, stains and discolored spots can still appear. As such, it’s probably no surprise that about 80% of Americans between the ages of 18 and 49 wish they could have whiter teeth. The good news is that a brighter smile could be yours with a professional teeth whitening treatment from Dr. David Fried and Dr. Kenneth M. Fried. If you’re interested in enhancing your appearance with teeth whitening, call our office today.
Why Choose United Dental Centers of Merrillville for Teeth Whitening?
- Convenient In-Office Whitening
- Customized Take-Home Whitening Kits
- Two Highly Experienced Dentists
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
When you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, teeth whitening is likely one of the first possible solutions to come to mind. But is it right for you? We can help you find the answer to that question once we have examined your teeth and narrowed down the cause of your dental discoloration.
Keep in mind that your mouth needs to be healthy before you can receive teeth whitening. Our team can check your grin for signs of cavities and gum disease; if any issues are found, we can treat them as needed.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening can take two different forms: a take-home kit or an in-office treatment. Here’s a look at what these options entail:
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
When you opt for take-home teeth whitening, you will be given a kit that contains a number of trays designed specifically for you. These trays are meant to be filled with professional-grade whitening gel and worn over the teeth on a daily basis. You should start to notice a dazzling difference in the way your smile looks after about two weeks of using the kit.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
With in-office teeth whitening, you can sit back in the dental chair while our team works to help you achieve a more beautiful grin. We’ll apply a powerful bleaching gel to the teeth to get rid of the stains that have been bothering you. Thanks to this procedure, you can get the brighter smile that you’ve been dreaming of in about an hour.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
If you’re happy with your enhanced smile, you may be wondering what you can do to maintain it. There are a number of simple steps you can follow to help extend the lifespan of the results of your teeth whitening:
- Reducing your consumption of coffee, soda, and anything else that can stain teeth.
- Maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing at least two times a day, rinsing with mouthwash, and flossing.
- Breaking bad habits like smoking.
- Scheduling a visit with our team every six months so that we can clean your teeth.
- Having your smile touched up every once in a while.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
It’s natural to wonder how much professional teeth whitening costs. No one wants to pursue treatment that might be financially out of reach, but fortunately, brightening your smile doesn’t have to come at a high price. Our team at United Dental Centers of Merrillville is here to explain the various factors that are considered when crafting a cost estimate, so review the following information and call us if you have any questions.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is generally a set price; however, each patient requires a unique plan to ensure necessary results are achieved. This is why our team will meet with you to discuss your goals and determine the following factors:
- The severity of your stains and discoloration
- The type of stains that are evident (age-related, medication-related) and whether they are intrinsic (inside the tooth) or extrinsic (on the surface)
- Whether preliminary procedures are required before beginning the teeth whitening process (i.e., gum disease treatment, dental fillings, dental crowns, etc.)
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
There are many different options you can choose from when it comes to professional teeth whitening; however, just because something is cheaper does not mean that the results are better. Below is a breakdown of the cost that is associated with each type of whitening experience:
- In-Office Professional Whitening: $400-$800 (can reach as high as $1,000)
- Take-Home Professional Whitening: $200-$300 (these often come with custom-made trays)
- Store-Bought Whitening Trays: $100 or less (these trays are one-size-fits-all)
- Whitening Strips, Pens: $20-$40 depending on the product used
Fast Teeth Whitening VS Inexpensive Teeth Whitening
Purchasing a $20 product may sound nicer to your wallet than spending $500 or $600; however, the results you can expect to achieve are likely to leave you displeased with your investment. When using store-bought trays, strips, or pens, you may only see a slight difference in the brightness of your smile. Unfortunately, many of these products only target surface stains, so if intrinsic discoloration is a problem, you shouldn’t expect dramatic results.
Instead, professional teeth whitening, whether in-office or take-home, offers a much faster timeframe and a longer-lasting, brighter smile. Treatments performed in our office usually only take one hour, and our take-home kits can have you seeing a noticeably whiter set of teeth in about two weeks.
While seeing a trusted cosmetic dentist will require you to invest more of your money, you’ll find that the process is safer, more effective, and leaves your teeth less likely to suffer from sensitivity.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
At United Dental Centers of Merrillville, we understand that paying for professional teeth whitening may feel like an impossible task because of the inability to use your dental insurance. However, we want our services to remain accessible for any budget. This is why we partner with CareCredit Financing to make cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening a financial possibility.
By enrolling in one of their low or no-interest payment plans, you avoid surprise fees and having to pay the entire amount upfront. Instead, based on the monthly program you choose, you can stay within your budget while paying it off over time.
