Teeth Whitening – Ann Arbor, MI
Take Your Teeth from Stained to Stunning!
Yellow or dull teeth can happen to anyone. If you’ve tried OTC methods of whitening your smile and have found nothing but disappointment, we encourage you to consider professional bleaching options. These treatments are safe and fast, and they provide remarkable results! Contact us to learn more about how we can take your chompers from stained to stunning.
Why Choose Cocco Smiles for Teeth Whitening?
- Dentist with 30+ Years of Experience
- Multiple Financial Solutions, Including Special Offers
- Friendly, Compassionate Dental Team
Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
The Opalescence whitening system is safe for most patients, but it may not work for everyone. For example, if you have restorations on your front teeth (such as crowns or fillings), the bleaching gel won’t do anything to change their color. Also, if your teeth are prone to sensitivity, you might talk to your dentist about skipping the in-office treatment and using an at-home whitening kit instead. Ultimately, the best way to find out if you’re a candidate is to schedule an appointment with our dedicated cosmetic dentist, Dr. Cocco.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
At our Ann Arbor dental office, we offer both Opalescence Boost and Opalescence GO! To learn more about the teeth whitening process, read on.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Since store-bought kits over-promise and under-deliver, many patients are curious if there actually is a way to effectively remove stubborn stains from the comfort of their own home. The answer is “yes!” We’ll provide you with everything you need to whiten your teeth, including detailed instructions on when and how to use the products we give you. Two weeks later, you’ll have a considerably whiter smile!
In-Office Teeth Whitening
The fastest treatment for teeth whitening in Ann Arbor is Opalescence Boost. This in-office procedure only takes about an hour, and it can whiten teeth by several shades. It uses an extremely strong, chemically activated gel to penetrate teeth and break up even stains that have been there for many years. One of the things we love about the Boost gel is that it contains a compound called PF, which will reduce your sensitivity after the procedure and even strengthen your teeth.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
You’re going to love your new smile, and you’ll want to do everything within your power to make your new glow last as long as possible. Maintaining your look is easy because the fee for your initial treatment (which is only $300) includes an at-home touch-up kit. Using special trays and a strong bleaching gel, you can use the kit to periodically remove new stains that might creep up on your teeth.
It’s important that you follow the instructions with your bleaching kit. Leaving the gel on your teeth for longer than recommended could cause your teeth to become overly sensitive. If your dentist provides you with the stronger bleaching gel (15 percent hydrogen peroxide), you should only leave it on your teeth for 15 – 20 minutes at a time. If you have the milder gel (10 percent hydrogen peroxide), it’s safe to leave it on your teeth for 30 – 60 minutes at a time.
Of course, there are ways beyond touch-up bleaching that can help you keep your smile nice and bright. Try to cut back on foods and drinks that might cause new stains, such as coffee and red wine. Also, use a whitening toothpaste daily to fight surface discoloration.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
In addition to learning about the different types of teeth whitening we offer, you might be interested in one other piece of information at your consultation: the price. Don’t worry – we will provide you with an estimate and review the financial solutions available to you before you leave. If you want to learn more on the topic before your appointment, then keep reading!
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
We’ll cover a lot of ground during your consultation so we can determine if you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. If you are, then we need to consider the following before creating your treatment plan:
- The extent of your discoloration
- If any preliminary treatments are needed, like gum disease therapy
- Your smile goals/aesthetic preferences
- If veneers, crowns, fillings, or any other dental work is present
With all of this information, we can determine what’s needed to whiten your smile and, in turn, how much your smile makeover will cost.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
If you want to brighten your smile, there are four main ways you can do so:
- In-Office Whitening – Although the price varies, you can expect an in-office whitening treatment to cost between $400 and $800.
- Take-Home Whitening – Typically a bit cheaper at a few hundred dollars, take-home whitening treatments include custom trays and professional whitening gel.
- OTC Whitening Trays – Over-the-counter options usually are $100 or less.
- Whitening Toothpastes – These are sold in stores and online, and they usually don’t cost more than $15.
Inexpensive Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
Since whitening toothpastes can cost as little as $7 and in-office teeth whitening treatments can cost upwards of $800, you might be wondering why you should choose the latter. Well, there are a few reasons! To start, your dentist considers both the cause of your discoloration as well as aspects of your smile that are unique, like if you have existing dental work. Furthermore, professional treatments use custom trays and professional brightening gels, which is why they consistently deliver beautiful results.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
If you want a professional whitening treatment at a more affordable price, then don’t hesitate to give our Ann Arbor dental team a call. From there, we can review the financial solutions available to you, including CareCredit. This third-party financier allows you to space out the cost over several months (instead of having to pay for the entire thing at once). We also offer periodic special offers, like $300 in-office bleach treatment (which includes touch-up bleach to take home).
Teeth Whitening FAQs
If you are considering teeth whitening, Dr. Dina Cocco invites you to review the following frequently asked questions. Patients who desire a whiter, brighter smile want results that will last and give them the aesthetics and confidence they deserve. With the help of cosmetic dentistry and teeth whitening solutions, we believe we can help improve your smile and have you looking and feeling your best. But we also want to ensure you have all the information you need to make a well-informed decision, which is why we’ve compiled some teeth whitening FAQs. Should you have additional inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Why are professional teeth whitening treatments best?
When it comes to choosing how you plan to whiten your smile, you may be tempted to purchase an over-the-counter kit that promises quick results, whiter teeth, and a longer-lasting, brighter smile. Unfortunately, these products often make guarantees that fall short when it comes to delivering the kind of results you desire.
By choosing a professional to administer in-office teeth whitening, you can rest easy knowing that your teeth are in safe and capable hands. Professional teeth whitening offers:
- A safer alternative that ensures your oral tissues do not become irritated because of leaking, messy bleaching gel
- Brighter results because of the high-grade whitening gel used
- A more thorough treatment because of the multiple applications to help you reach the desired results
Will dental insurance cover the cost?
Unfortunately, most dental insurance companies do not agree to cover the cost of teeth whitening. Because it is a cosmetic treatment, they do not consider it a “necessity.” However, it is best to review your policy and speak to a representative to make sure there is no possibility of coverage. If you still wish to whiten your smile using professional treatment, Dr. Cocco’s dental team will be happy to accept CareCredit, which is a third-party financier that offers low- and no-interest payment plans to help you get the treatment you need while staying within your budget.
How safe is teeth whitening?
While it is not uncommon to experience some tooth sensitivity after undergoing teeth whitening treatment, research shows that the general practice of whitening your smile is completely safe and effective. When administered by a skilled cosmetic dentist either in-house or using at-home kits, the likelihood for problems to occur significantly lessens; however, you should make sure you are following all the necessary instructions and steps provided to you to ensure you do not overuse, as this can lead to serious problems for your teeth and gums.
Can teeth whitening be combined with other cosmetic treatments?
Yes! If necessary, your dentist may recommend teeth whitening in combination with another form of cosmetic dentistry (i.e. porcelain veneers). Oftentimes, if a patient chooses to receive veneers on certain teeth, a special whitening procedure can help to create a smile that is uniform in color and offers a more even aesthetic.
Although it is typically used as a stand-alone treatment, you can talk to Dr. Cocco about the possibility of combining it with another cosmetic service for greater results.