Teeth Whitening – Portland, OR

Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

By itself, a professional teeth whitening treatment has a preset cost, but there are a number of things that can lead to the overall process of brightening your smile to be more or less expensive, including:

• The degree of discoloration—Severely stained teeth may require multiple treatments for the patient to achieve their desired shade.
• Preparatory treatments—If a patient has cavities or gum disease, these will need to be addressed first. Otherwise, teeth whitening may lead to further problems and may not work as effectively.
• The presence of veneers/restorations: Teeth whitening will not work on veneers or restorations like crowns and fillings. These may need to be replaced to guarantee that the patient receives a uniformly white smile where both their natural enamel and restorations match.

Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?  

• Professional In-Office Whitening: The average cost of in-office teeth whitening in Portland is between $400-800.
• Professional Take-Home Whitening: For this, the dentist creates a custom-fitted set of trays and provides professional-strength whitening gel for the patient to use at home. Altogether, it tends to cost a few hundred dollars.
• Store-Bought Whitening Trays: You’ll find these kits in most grocery stores and pharmacies, and they cost about $100 or less.
• Strips, Gels, & Whitening Toothpastes: These various low-cost methods can range from about $7 to $40 depending on where you shop.

Store-Bought Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening

When it comes to your wallet, getting your teeth whitening from the store seems like the smartest move, right? While the numbers might make this seem like an easy decision, there is more to consider.

Firstly, the products used by your dentist are several times stronger compared to anything you can get on store shelves. This means your dentist can help you get much better, more noticeable results.

Plus, the exam your dentist performs before applying whitening may be crucial, as it can save you from accidentally irritating your mouth due to a cavity or infection you aren’t aware of.

And, since your dentist is professionally applying the whitening gel, the result will be more even versus doing it yourself. While a professional treatment might be more expensive upfront, you’ll likely end up enjoying your smile more and spending much less in the long term because you won’t have to do frequent (as in every few weeks) touch-ups.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

Because teeth whitening is considered to be an elective procedure, it is almost never covered by dental insurance. Thankfully, at ADANW, this doesn’t mean you’ll necessarily have to pay for it all upfront. If you need help, you can break up the cost using CareCredit, which is low-to-no interest financing. When you contact our office, be sure to let us know if you would be interested in using CareCredit, and we’ll help you find a plan so that your new smile fits comfortably into your budget.

Can Anyone Get Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is one of our most popular cosmetic services because almost anyone can be a good candidate for it. Younger patients will need to have all their permanent teeth, and any patient interested in teeth whitening will need to be free of oral health issues like cavities and gum disease. From there, practically anyone can get teeth whitening!

However, there are particular situations where teeth whitening may not be the best option for you. If your tooth discoloration stems from damage to the inside of the tooth, overexposure to fluoride in childhood, genetics, or certain antibiotics, teeth whitening may not be a very effective option. These types of tooth discoloration are intrinsic, or deep within the tooth, and don’t typically respond to whitening treatments. Fortunately, our other cosmetic services such as cosmetic bonding and veneers can help you get the sparkling smile you deserve.

Can I Whiten My Dental Crown, Fillings, or Veneers?

Restorations like crowns, fillings, and veneers aren’t as porous as natural tooth enamel. While this helps to make them resistant to discoloration, it also keeps them from being influenced by whitening treatments. If you have one or more of these restorations in your mouth and are interested in teeth whitening, we’ll need to take their current color into consideration. If you want to whiten your teeth in order to match your restorations, we will likely be able to do so. However, if you want to whiten the restorations themselves, you’ll likely need to have them replaced.

Does Teeth Whitening Damage Enamel?

No, our safe and effective teeth whitening products do not harm healthy enamel. However, if your teeth are compromised by decay, cavities, gum disease, or gum recession, whitening can feel quite uncomfortable and can cause problems. This is why we always perform a thorough exam to detect these potential issues before recommending teeth whitening.

Additionally, it’s important to keep in mind that overusing teeth whitening products can weaken your enamel. When you visit us for teeth whitening, we can monitor the frequency of your treatments to ensure your enamel stays strong and healthy. However, if you choose to use over-the-counter whiteners instead, make sure to use them judiciously so you don’t damage your enamel.

Is Teeth Whitening Expensive?

Most cosmetic dental treatments are not covered by dental insurance, which causes many patients to worry about how much the smile of their dreams will cost. Fortunately, not only is teeth whitening quick and easy, but it’s quite cost-effective as well! Teeth whitening is the least expensive way to dramatically improve the color of your teeth. However, if you’re still concerned about the cost of teeth whitening, a low- to no-interest payment plan from CareCredit may be able to break up the cost of your treatment.