(412) 854-2310Teeth Whitening in Pittsburgh
Address Noticeable Stains, Reveal a Gorgeous Grin
Over time, coffee, tea, tobacco, wine, and certain medicines can cause stubborn stains to surface, resulting in your pearly whites no longer living up to their name. If this sounds all too familiar, then consider professional teeth whitening in Pittsburgh. With our in-office and take-home treatments, we can brighten up your smile and restore a youthful appearance. To learn more, schedule an appointment with one of our talented cosmetic dentists or read on!
Why Choose Advanced Dental Solutions of Pittsburgh for Teeth Whitening?
- Convenient Appointment Times, Including Evenings
- In-Office and Take-Home Treatments Available
- CareCredit Flexible Financing Welcome
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is incredibly safe and low-impact, meaning that just about anyone who is unhappy with the color of their smile is a good candidate for the treatment. The primary exception is patients who are dealing with oral health problems like gum disease and tooth decay. This can cause complications for the treatment, which means that it’s usually necessary to treat these issues before undergoing teeth whitening.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Teeth whitening, which is one of the most common cosmetic dentistry procedures, is used to improve the beauty of your natural smile. But how does it work? The stain-lifting process will look different depending on whether you choose an in-office or take-home treatment. We’ll discuss each one in-depth during your consultation, but feel free to read on if you want to learn more in the meantime.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
While store-bought products contain flimsy, one-size-fits-all applicators, we provide our patients with custom trays. This ensures even distribution of the brightening gel and less waste due to a precise fit. Plus, various concentrations can be selected to fit the patient’s tooth whitening goals and sensitivity. With consistent use, the desired results are often achieved in just two weeks!
In-Office Teeth Whitening
We’re proud to use ZOOM!®and Sapphire™ at our office. This involves us placing a protective barrier over your gums and lips. Then, the tooth whitening agent is applied to the teeth and is activated by a whitening light. Typically, the process takes 1-2 hours.
The results can be achieved in a very short time, but a whitening plateau is often reached if they’re performed alone. For this reason, we usually recommend a combination of in-office and take-home treatments.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Depending on how well you take care of your teeth, you can expect the results of your teeth whitening to last anywhere from a few months to a few years. If you want your smile to shine for as long as possible, it’s important that you:
- Commit to a solid oral hygiene regimen at home
- Limit your intake of foods that could discolor your teeth, like dark chocolate
- Use a straw when drinking coffee
- Avoid stain-causing habits, like smoking
- Schedule a dental checkup and cleaning every six months
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is one of the most convenient and affordable ways to improve one’s pearly whites. Still, you’ll want to know everything that goes into the price of your treatment as well as what can impact the overall value. Our team will evaluate your situation and discuss the cost estimate during your initial consultation, but here are some things to consider beforehand.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
While this cosmetic service typically comes at a certain fee, some factors can influence how much you’ll end up paying to achieve your desired results. Some of the common ones to consider include:
- The kind of discoloration: Extrinsic (outer) tooth stains are much easier to get rid of compared to intrinsic ones.
- The severity of staining: More complex or extensive discoloration might require multiple applications of teeth whitening treatment, meaning you may have to pay more overall.
- Preliminary services: Our team will want to address any underlying issues we might find, such as decay or gum disease, before moving forward with your cosmetic procedure.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
Here’s a brief look at the kinds of prices you can expect from various types of teeth whitening treatments:
- In-office teeth whitening: Professional teeth whitening at your dentist’s office can typically go for $400 to $800.
- Take-home teeth whitening: Using at-home professional teeth whitening kits can often cost around several hundred dollars.
- Store-bought whitening trays: You can usually purchase teeth whitening kits at the local supermarket for $100 or less.
- Over-the-counter gels/strips: The most affordable cosmetic option, store-bought whitening strips/gels can usually be purchased for between $20 and $40.
Inexpensive vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
While it might seem more convenient and cost-effective to go for less expensive options for teeth whitening, you should remember that the quality of cosmetic treatment usually correlates with the price. Store-bought products often use lower-grade bleaching agents, meaning they might not provide the results you’re hoping for and may require multiple treatments to get somewhat close to what you want. Meanwhile, professional teeth whitening uses high-quality solutions that are both safe for your teeth/gums and can lift stains with ease. Furthermore, our results can also last much longer compared to store-bought products, meaning you won’t have to spend as much money on touch-up treatments.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Like most cosmetic services, teeth whitening will not be covered by dental insurance. However, this doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get the help you need to make your treatment more manageable. Our team is partnered with CareCredit, which offers plans so that you can get the treatment you deserve through monthly installments instead of the entire sum upfront. Additionally, these plans often come with little to no interest, allowing you to save more in the bank!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Whitening solutions work because of the pores on the enamel, allowing it to penetrate deep into the tooth and remove stains. Every material used in dental crowns is non-porous – while this prevents stains from building up in the first place, it also renders teeth whitening ineffective.
If you’re interested in changing the color of your dental crown, it’s usually necessary to replace the restoration altogether. So, it’s important to be persistent with dental hygiene, preventing the buildup of stains in the first place.
Is Teeth Whitening Covered By Dental Insurance?
Teeth whitening isn’t considered to be medically necessary by insurance companies, which means that it’s virtually never covered. Every plan is different, and it’s usually worth checking anyway; however, you should plan to either pay out of pocket or rely on financing services in order to pay for your teeth whitening treatment.
What Should I Eat Following My Teeth Whitening Treatment?
Following your teeth whitening treatment, it’s important that you avoid stain-causing foods, like tomato soup, dark chocolate, and beets. It’s also a good idea to steer clear of pigmented sauces and condiments (i.e., marinara sauce, BBQ sauce, ketchup). Instead, fill your plate with cottage cheese, plain yogurt, bananas, and other foods that will help prolong the lifespan of your results.
Can I Drink Coffee After Whitening My Teeth?
We don’t recommend drinking coffee in the hours following your teeth whitening treatment, especially if that’s what caused the noticeable discoloration to surface in the first place. Even after you do get the green light to drink it again, it’s important that you take certain precautions to prevent the residue from lingering on your teeth, like using a straw and rinsing your mouth thoroughly with water when you’re done.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Take?
There are several factors that play a role in the answer, including how severe the existing stains are. With that said, it usually takes about two weeks to see the full results of whitening. That’s why it’s so important not to wait until the last minute to schedule an appointment, especially if you want a bright, beautiful smile for a special occasion, such as your wedding.