Teeth Whitening – Flower Mound, TX
Achieve Your Best Smile Yet!
Over the years, your teeth naturally yellow. Plus, coffee, wine, and other dark-colored beverages can expedite the process, leaving you less than happy with your smile. The good news is that our Flower Mound dental team can effectively and safely remove stubborn surface stains with our in-office and take-home whitening treatments! To schedule your appointment, contact our team.
Why Choose Lauri Barge, DDS for Teeth Whitening?
- Experienced Cosmetic Dentist
- In-Office and Take-Home Whitening Available
- Flexible Financing Available with CareCredit
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Usually, patients schedule a consultation for teeth whitening because their teeth have begun to yellow. Whether it’s from the natural aging process or frequent coffee consumption, this cosmetic dental service may be able to help! Before getting started on your custom treatment plan, however, we need to determine a few important things, like the severity of your discoloration and if tooth decay, gum disease, or any other oral health problems are present. That way, we can give you the beautiful results you desire and a healthy smile.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Dr. Lauri Barge offers both in-office and take-home teeth whitening at our Flower Mound dental office. Here’s a little more information about each:
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
If you’ve tried over-the-counter whitening kits, then you know how disappointing they can be. Our professional take-home teeth whitening treatments offer you the same convenience with noticeable results because we use customized applicators and professional whitening gels. As a result, you can achieve a bright, beautiful smile in just two weeks!
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Our in-office teeth whitening treatments are popular among those who are looking to brighten their smile quickly, like for an upcoming wedding or job interview. That’s because this approach to lifting stubborn stains only takes about an hour to complete, and we can brighten your teeth up to eight shades in just one visit!
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
Sadly, the results of your teeth whitening treatment won’t last forever. The good news is that you can prolong the lifespan of yours significantly with the below best practices in place:
- Brushing your teeth after each meal with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste
- Flossing and rinsing with mouthwash each evening
- Visiting us every six months for a checkup and cleaning
- Avoiding dark-colored foods, like balsamic vinegar
- Using a straw when drinking coffee, soda, and the like
- Quitting unhealthy dental habits, like smoking
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Now that you know more about having your teeth whitened in Flower Mound, you probably have questions about how much it costs. Every person’s situation is different, so the answer can vary based on your unique circumstances. Continue reading below to gain a better understanding of how the final amount is determined so you know what to expect. If you have additional questions or want to make an appointment, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we’ll gladly assist you.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
While teeth whitening does tend to have a standard pricing structure, factors that can influence the total owed include:
- The severity of your condition. If you require additional treatments to achieve the desired results then you’ll accrue additional fees.
- The type of stain. Extrinsic stains on the surface of your teeth can be removed relatively easily, but intrinsic blemishes in the lower layers may require other treatments, like dental bonding, which will increase the amount due.
- Whether other services are required. Applying bleaching agents over a cavity can be painful, so our team will fill any areas of tooth decay first, which will be added to your final invoice.
What Do Different Types of Teeth Whitening Cost?
There are different ways to lighten your smile, and each technique has its own fees. We’ve laid out an idea of what you might anticipate paying for the various methods below:
- In-office whitening procedures. You’ll likely spend anywhere from $400 to $800 for professional services with Dr. Barge, though in extreme cases, you could owe $1,000+.
- Take-home whitening kits. If you prefer to brighten your teeth from home, we provide kits with top-quality gels and customized trays for optimal results. These tend to cost a few hundred dollars.
- Commercially available products. Some stores carry teeth whitening kits for $100 or less.
- Strips and gels. Many pharmacies carry boxes of whitening strips for around $20 to $40.
Over-the-Counter vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
If you’re on a tight budget, it’s natural to wonder why you should invest in whitening services with Dr. Barge rather than stick with more affordable options. When it comes to your teeth, the quality of the product tends to be reflected in its price. You’re less likely to get the results you’re hoping for with over-the-counter products because they use cheaper ingredients and generic trays that don’t fit as well. It could take months to achieve the ideal shade.
Meanwhile, Dr. Barge has access to professional-grade ingredients that can lighten your grin by several shades in a single in-office visit. Not only can she help you get the results you’re hoping for, but she can do so safely without causing tooth sensitivity. Many patients agree that fast results and peace of mind are worth the cost.
How to Make Teeth Whitening More Affordable
Because teeth whitening is a procedure intended to enhance your appearance rather than preserve your dental well-being, most insurance plans won’t cover it. However, we don’t want your wallet to keep you from having the beautiful, bright smile that you deserve. We offer other ways to help you afford elective treatments, such as:
- Flexible financing. We’ve partnered with CareCredit so that, if approved, you can break up your total payment into more manageable installments.
- In-house memberships. Our in-house plans include free cleanings and examinations and 20% discounts on procedures completed onsite. There are several levels at differing price points, so you can find one that works for you.
If you require assistance with applications or paperwork, please let our friendly office staff know. They’re familiar with the programs and are always happy to help!
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
All kinds of patients are reticent to pursue cosmetic care because they’re concerned about the prospect of discomfort. Thankfully, this is nothing to worry about when it comes to teeth whitening. When we provide you with teeth whitening, it’ll be customized specifically to fit you—this minimizes the chances of sensitivity associated with the procedure.
If you’re unusually prone to having sensitive teeth, talk to us so that we can modify your treatment to ensure your comfort.
How Can I Make My Teeth Whitening Results Last?
The results from your whitening treatment can last as long as a few years provided that you take adequate care of your teeth. The most important thing is to adopt a thorough and consistent dental hygiene routine, which entails brushing, flossing, and using mouthwash daily. You should also attend regular dental checkups and cleanings, which will allow us to polish your teeth and eliminate surface stains.
Limiting factors that can stain your teeth, like drinking coffee and smoking, can also go a long way to keeping your smile white.
Am I a Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a low-intensity procedure that’s perfectly fine for most people in decent oral health. If you’re unhappy with the color of your smile, you should be able to make use of it to whiten your teeth.
That said, people who are suffering from tooth decay or gum disease may face additional complications from the treatment. For that reason, we would generally recommend treating these conditions before pursuing cosmetic care. Children and young teens also have enamel too thin for most whitening treatments, which means that they might have to wait until they’re older to pursue it.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Unfortunately, dental crowns cannot be whitened in the same way as your natural teeth. They don’t have pores like enamel, which means that whitening gel won’t be able to penetrate them. Moreover, this solution can potentially weaken the bonding agent that holds your restoration in place. That being the case, you should let us know if you have dental crowns before undertaking professional whitening.
If you want to keep your dental crown shining, you’ll need to be proactive. Avoid things that can discolor your smile like smoking, coffee, red wine, and dark foods.