Teeth Whitening – Metairie, LA
Take Your Smile From Dull to Dazzling
Teeth aren’t naturally the bright white color that you see when a celebrity walks down the red carpet. In fact, the normal color of teeth is off-white or even a tad on the yellow side. Our everyday activities, such as drinking wine and eating berries, can make our smiles even darker . Fortunately, though, modern dentistry has allowed us to change the way our teeth look by blasting away stains for a smile that truly dazzles. In our practice, we offer both take-home and in-office Zoom! and Opalescence teeth whitening so you can choose the option that best fits your needs.
Why Choose Nelson Dental Care for Teeth Whitening?
- Convenient Take-Home & Fast In-Office Teeth Whitening
- We Offer Additional Financing Through CareCredit
- Custom-Tailored Cosmetic Dental Treatments
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Once you learn that professional teeth whitening is an option, you may not want to wait to begin treatment. The first step to achieving a more radiant smile is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Nelson . During this appointment, he will perform a thorough examination of your teeth and gums to make sure you exhibit good oral health. He’ll also likely discuss your current oral hygiene routine as well as your lifestyle habits (i.e., do you smoke, do you tend to bite your fingernails, etc.).
After going over your smile goals and determining which method of treatment is right for you, he will formulate a personalized plan.
You should know that if you have any restorations (i.e., dental fillings, crowns, bridges, veneers, etc.), they will not change in color should you choose to pursue teeth whitening.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Dr. Nelson uses trusted, proven teeth whitening methods, like Zoom!, Opalescence Boost, and Opalescence take-home kits, to offer patients the best possible results.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
You can use our take-home whitening kits as a way to maintain the results of your in-office treatment, but you can also use them as a standalone way to brighten your teeth. We’ll help you put together an Opalescence kit that will have customized whitening trays and a bleaching solution in a concentration that is right for your circumstances. We’ll coach you on how to use your kit to get the dramatic results you want in a way that is safe for your teeth.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
When arriving for your in-office treatment, Dr. Nelson will begin by cleaning your teeth before covering your lips and gums, so they are not exposed to the bleaching agent. Leaving only your teeth exposed, he will apply the whitening gel that consists of hydrogen peroxide. Combined with a specialized light, the two components work together to penetrate the tooth enamel and break up any intrinsic and extrinsic stains.
Applying the gel in 15-minute increments, you will notice a dramatic difference in the shade of your teeth by the end of your appointment. Taking only one full hour to complete, this method of treatment makes it quick and easy for patients to enjoy a brighter smile that can last a long time.
Apart from the in-house treatment provided, Dr. Nelson will also provide a touch-up kit you can use at home, should you need to re-apply the whitening gel to give your smile an added boost.
Tips for Maintaining a Brighter Smile
Being mindful of what foods and beverages you consume following your treatment can help your results last longer. To get the most out of your newly whitened grin, we recommend following these helpful tips:
- Have your teeth professionally cleaned before treatment.
- Maintain good dental hygiene practices at home.
- Be mindful of consuming too many staining foods and beverages.
- Protect your teeth from grinding and clenching.
- See Dr. Nelson for routine touch-ups.
The Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
When it comes to receiving professional teeth whitening treatment, you will discover there are an endless number of benefits that make it a worthwhile investment, including:
- You have more time available because of the quick and easy treatments performed in-house.
- You’re less likely to experience tooth sensitivity following your whitening treatment.
- You can get rid of surface and deep-down stains.
- You are investing in a service that provides proven results instead of an over-the-counter whitening kit found at the drug store which often leads to wasted money and time.
- A skilled and trusted dental professional will administer treatment, ensuring you remain safe and comfortable throughout the process.
- Your results will last much longer than those found with a store-bought kit.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
It is impossible to determine the cost of teeth whitening without undergoing a thorough consultation with a member of our team. There are various factors that we must consider before deciding how to administer treatment and what that will ultimately cost. Although we cannot give a definitive price ahead of time, you can trust that we will go over your available payment options so that you can reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
When meeting with Dr. Nelson, he will thoroughly examine your smile to determine how best to approach your treatment. Using different factors during his evaluation, he will craft a personalized plan as well as a careful estimate regarding the cost:
- Additional Treatment – Once your cosmetic dentist examines your smile, he will note if there are areas of decay or disease that need to be treated first. If so, this will be incorporated into your cost estimate.
- Severity of Stains – Are your stains intrinsic (internal) or extrinsic (external)? This will determine the amount of teeth whitening you will need, which ultimately affects the total cost.
- In-Office or Take-Home – Are you interested in in-office teeth whitening or a take-home kit, as each has a different price?
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
When considering how to whiten your teeth, you may be tempted to check your local drugstore to see if any of the store-bought kits sound like they might deliver “decent” results. With gels and strips, you can expect to spend between $20-$30. If you’re feeling more willing, you can purchase whitening trays for around $100. But if you want to make sure that your investment is worthwhile, skip the products in the aisles and allow trusted professionals to complete the task.
With take-home kits provided by Dr. Nelson, you can expect them to run $200-$300, and in-office whitening will likely fall within the range of $400-$500. Yes, it is an investment in your time and money, but the results you can expect will be well worth it.
Fast Teeth Whitening VS Inexpensive Teeth Whitening
Nowadays, it’s natural to want fast results. The good news is that you can see a brighter smile in minimal time. However, it’s likely to cost more, which requires that you invest. Store-bought products may be less expensive, but there’s a good chance that you’ll end up spending more in the long run because of the displeasing results you’ll be left with each time you finish treatment.
Eventually, you must ask yourself, do you prefer cheaper solutions that produce lackluster results over a longer period of time, or are you willing to invest in professional whitening that can give you faster results?
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Although Dr. Nelson is in-network with many dental insurance plans, it’s unlikely that your insurance company will agree to cover any of your teeth whitening treatment. Since it is a form of cosmetic dentistry, you’ll be required to find an alternative payment solution. To help individuals like yourself, we partner with third-party financiers, CareCredit and Lending Point. By signing up for a low or no-interest plan, you can make manageable monthly payments that help you to stay within your budget.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
Dentist-led teeth whitening is fast compared to other cosmetic dental work. That said, exactly how long it takes will depend on the type you get.
Let’s say you choose an in-office whitening treatment, for instance. Your procedure should only take an hour in that case, as a dental team can wrap things up in one visit. The whitening process would just require applications of bleaching gel in four 15-minute increments.
In contrast, the timeline runs a bit longer for take-home teeth whitening. The latter option takes two weeks, with a patient wearing gel-filled trays for several hours daily during that time. It’s thus better suited for patients who want flexibility and don’t mind a longer wait.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
All too sadly, teeth whitening doesn’t offer permanent results. Its effects only last a few months to a few years (at most), based on how well you maintain your smile.
The bright side is that you can do things to prolong your results. For example, brushing twice daily and flossing once daily will reduce the number of new tooth stains you get. Regular dental checkups also ensure your dentist can remove the discoloring plaque from your smile. When all else fails, you can even get touch-up treatments to keep your teeth pretty and pearly white.
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
So long as your smile is pretty healthy, teeth whitening shouldn’t hurt at all. You can expect your treatment to be smooth, easy, and pain-free.
Don’t forget that “pro” whitening is tailored to your smile. Due to this customization, treatment only applies as much bleaching gel as needed to brighten your grin. It’s thus unlikely to cause any tooth sensitivity; it’ll just remove your enamel stains and do nothing more.
That said, please tell us if your teeth are prone to sensitivity. We can take precautions and offer suggestions to further ensure your treatment doesn’t hurt.
Is Teeth Whitening Safe?
As a matter of fact, yes – teeth whitening is a very safe dental treatment. It won’t (or at least shouldn’t) harm your enamel, gums, or any other part of your mouth.
The main reason is that dentists supervise "pro” whitening. As such, the treatment only uses rigorously tested and FDA-approved products that have been proven harmless. Dental providers wouldn’t provide whitening otherwise, as their main goal is to ensure your smile's health. (Dentists also use custom trays to prevent the spread of bleaching solution to your gums.)