Teeth Whitening – Grand Island, NE
Quick Solutions for Brighter Smiles
At our Grand Island cosmetic dental practice, we can put the gorgeous in your grin with our in-office and take-home teeth whitening services! While our Zoom! teeth whitening products to give you a whiter, brighter smile—up to eight shades—in about an hour, our customized take-home kits allow you to remove stubborn stains at your convenience and in just a few weeks. If you want to learn more about the smile-enhancing treatments we offer, don’t hesitate to get in touch or read on.
Why Choose Stec & Stines Cosmetic & Family Dentistry for Teeth Whitening?
- In-Office and Take-Home Teeth Whitening
- Oversight by Three Experienced Dentists
- State-of-the-Art Whitening Techniques
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
If your smile looks yellow, dull, or stained, you’re not alone. Enamel is very porous and absorbs colors from foods, drinks, and lifestyle habits, such as smoking. As a result, your teeth may not look their brightest due to everything from your morning cup of coffee to the natural aging process and certain medications. When you come in for teeth whitening, our Grand Island cosmetic dentists will examine your teeth and gums, pinpoint the source of your discoloration, and determine if professional teeth whitening is safe for you.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Our team at Stec & Stines Cosmetic and Family Dentistry is proud to offer both in-office and take-home whitening treatments. As a result, the process of addressing stubborn stains will depend largely on which one you choose! Here’s a quick overview of both:
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you prefer to whiten your teeth in the convenience of your home, we provide Lumibrite take-home teeth whitening kits. Lumibrite comes in two different flavors, mint and fruit, and has a high-grade whitening gel that will brighten your smile in fourteen days or less. Your kit will also include customized mouth trays, which fit comfortably as you whiten.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
The good news is that Zoom! teeth whitening has been used by more than 10 million patients seeking whiter, healthy-looking smiles. Clinical studies have shown that whitening your teeth is safe and effective, and it is one of the simplest and quickest ways to enhance your smile. We can usually perform your entire treatment in about an hour at our Grand Island cosmetic dental practice.
Teeth Whitening & Sensitivity
For some patients, their teeth and gums may feel more sensitive after teeth whitening. However, Zoom! teeth whitening includes mild desensitizing agents to minimize your tooth and gum sensitivity. In many cases, patients don’t experience any side effects. If you’re worried about experiencing sensitivity, then talk to our Grand Island dental professionals about your concerns.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Whitening treatments are designed to last for a long time, but it is possible for your teeth to become discolored again. Smoking, eating pigmented foods, and drinking tannin-based beverages can still stain your teeth, even when they have been whitened. For that reason, we recommend adopting habits like using a straw when drinking coffee, brushing your teeth after each meal, and eating light-colored foods, like oatmeal. Of course, we also can provide a touch-up kit for maintaining your new smile.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is sometimes used as people’s first foray into cosmetic dentistry, and if that’s you, you might naturally wonder a little bit about what you can expect the procedure to cost. While you can’t usually expect teeth whitening to be covered by dental insurance, that doesn’t mean that it has to break the bank.
If you want to know more about the cost factors related to teeth whitening, here’s some information that could help you.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is typically offered at one set price, though there are a few factors that can cause the overall cost of your treatment to vary. The first is which kind of teeth whitening you choose, which we’ll break down in a moment. You might also need multiple rounds of teeth whitening if the discoloration to your teeth is severe.
It’s also critically important you’re in good oral health before beginning any kind of cosmetic treatment, so you should think about whether any treatments like fillings or crowns will be necessary before your treatment.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
There are different varieties of teeth whitening, and each of them incur a different cost. While cost isn’t the only factor at play here, it is one that you should likely consider if you’re going to invest in the treatment.
First there are the whitening treatments you’ll get from us. There’s in-office whitening, which typically costs $400-800, and take-home whitening kits, which go for a few hundred. The former is done within a single appointment in our office while the other is done on your own time over the course of two weeks. However, you can expect to get incredible results from either option.
Then there are store bought teeth whitening options, which tend to be cheaper (in every sense of the word). Over-the-counter whitening kits typically cost something like $100 dollars, and whitening strips that are around $40 per box.
Fast Teeth Whitening VS Inexpensive Teeth Whitening
While the prices can make over-the-counter teeth whitening sound appealing, it’s worth pointing out that teeth whitening is a situation where you absolutely get what you pay for. When you get professional teeth whitening from us, we’ll tune the whitening solution that we use to your particular needs. This isn’t the case when it comes to store-bought whitening.
Without that precision, you could see results that aren’t quite what you’d like. Even worse, you may wind up overusing a particular whitening solution inadvertently in an attempt to get the results that you’re looking for, causing problems for your smile.
For these reasons, it’s a good idea to come to a professional if you’re interested in teeth whitening.
Options For Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Even though you can’t expect dental insurance to pay for your teeth whitening, there are options available to you that can potentially help to make your care much more affordable.
We work with CareCredit, a financing firm that offers low-to-no interest loans to patients who qualify. You can split the cost of the treatment you receive from us into affordable monthly payments, which makes it an excellent option if you’re trying to make the care fit your budget.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Is your smile looking a little bit dull? Teeth whitening could be that quick solution you’re looking for to enhance the natural beauty of your pearly whites. However, you may still have some unanswered questions, so we’re here to help! Here are the answers to some of the most common questions we receive about teeth whitening in Grand Island. If you don’t see the information that you’ve been looking for below, just give us a call . We’d be happy to walk you through the treatment process and get you scheduled for an appointment.
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Many patients are hesitant to commit to treatment because they are worried that it will be painful. Fortunately, since professional teeth whitening is entirely custom, you are much less likely to experience tooth sensitivity. If your teeth are more prone to being sensitive, don’t hesitate to let us know. By spacing out treatments, avoiding hot beverages, and using specialty toothpaste, this unpleasant sensation can be significantly reduced.
Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
If you are struggling to smile confidently due to stubborn stains and discoloration, you are likely a good candidate. However, the best way to find out is by scheduling a consultation with us. This way, our team can conduct a thorough examination and learn more about your smile goals. If your teeth and gums are in good health, then we can begin working on your custom treatment plan. If there are any dental issues present, these will need to be addressed before we can proceed.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?
Teeth whitening does not damage healthy enamel. However, if your teeth are compromised by decay or gum disease, the ingredients used can cause issues. That’s why we conduct a comprehensive dental exam beforehand to ensure that your smile is in good health. Additional damage can come from at-home remedies that do more harm than good, like using activated charcoal and hydrogen peroxide to attempt to address discoloration. If you want to whiten your teeth, you should always consult with your dentist first. This way, you can discuss the best way you can achieve your smile goals safely.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
Teeth whitening is not permanent. Typically, results last anywhere from a couple of months to a few years depending on how well you care for your teeth. To prolong the results, you should implement a solid, at-home oral hygiene routine, attend your six-month dental cleanings, and avoid poor dental habits.