Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a solution to brighten your smile and restore confidence. Many people keep their smiles to themselves, embarrassed by yellowed or stained teeth from age or wear. We provide two types of affordable teeth whitening including custom take-home whitening trays and in-office laser treatments. Our dentists work with individually to help patients achieve their best and brightest smile.
- Antibiotics – The use of antibiotics during childhood, or exposure to high levels of fluoride or tetracycline can cause dull or discolored teeth
- Certain foods – Coffee, tea, and foods and drinks with tannins (like red wines) can stain teeth
- Tobacco – Both smoking and chewing tobacco can lead to discoloration
- Genetics – Once again, heredity reigns
- Age – Teeth can darken as you get older
EPIC In-office laser teeth whitening*: Laser whitening is a quick in-office treatment which uses a soft laser to whiten tooth enamel. Patients can see as much as 4-6 shades difference in only around 20 minutes of treatment time.
Take home whitening gel trays: These custom-made whitening trays work to eliminate stains on the teeth caused by factors like daily wear, certain foods, tobacco use or genetics. Using whitening trays gently and effectively removes stains from tooth enamel.
Once you’ve decided to brighten your smile, you can either use over-the-counter remedies or choose to let a dentist whiten your teeth. At-home treatments include:
- Rinses – These easy-to-use, mouthwash-type rinses whiten smiles gradually, since they’re only in contact with teeth for a short time.
- Toothpastes – Since these toothpastes remove surface stains with enzymes or mild abrasives, they can make teeth sensitive.
- Gel strips – For best effect, these peroxide-based strips need to be applied once a day, usually for 30 minutes to two hours, and work best when used for 10 to 20 days.
- Whitening gels – Though these whiteners can be applied with a toothbrush or cotton swab, they’re most commonly used with plastic mouth trays. A gel-filled mouth tray can whiten teeth faster than the other methods, but is more likely to irritate gums, since the trays are not custom-made.
Dentists also use mouth trays, but fit them to your mouth. And since dentists can protect your gums during the procedure, they can use stronger whitening agents than at-home remedies contain, and can lighten your teeth as much as ten shades in just an hour.
Which to choose? If your teeth and gums are in good condition, cost is an issue, and time is not of the essence, a do-it-yourself remedy may work just fine, though it will probably not whiten your teeth as much as a dentist could. For teeth that may be sensitive or especially stained, or when whiter teeth are desired quickly (for a wedding, perhaps), an in-office whitening procedure would probably be a better choice. And when you’re a Jefferson Dental patient, the choice is easy because we offer…
We want you to love your smile! Our offer is good for as long as you keep up with your recommended dental visits every six months.
Come in for your initial exam, cleaning and x-rays and receive FREE custom take-home whitening trays and gel ($325 value). Keep up with your recommended clinic visits and get 2 free tubes of whitening gel, twice a year, for life. Whitening is subject to exam results and doctor’s approval.
*At select locations only
We provide high-quality dental care in state-of-the-art facilities, which feature a modern look, coffee bar, and special play and treatment rooms for kids.
Our doctors and dental team provide a thorough professional exam, every time, taking special care to:
- Deliver a comfortable, hassle-free dental visit
- Attend to any immediate issues you may have, including relieving pain from dental emergencies
- Answer your questions so that you can make informed health decisions
- Explain any procedures in your language of preference
- Teach you how to keep your mouth healthy
