Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment that lightens the natural color of your teeth with a peroxide-based gel. At Redondo Beach Dental Group in Redondo Beach, we supervise whitening with NiteWhite and DayWhite. Our office on Artesia Boulevard is a short drive from Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Torrance.
Whitening works best on healthy teeth with stains from food, drink, tobacco or age, and it is worth knowing before you start what it cannot change. Call (310) 542-6988 to ask whether your teeth are a good fit.
How Professional Whitening Works
Whitening gels use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which releases hydrogen peroxide as it breaks down. The peroxide passes into the enamel and breaks pigmented stain molecules into smaller, lighter ones. Nothing is scraped or drilled, and the shape of the tooth does not change. Whitening toothpastes mostly polish away surface stain. A peroxide gel reaches stain inside the tooth, which is why a dentist-supervised system can lighten teeth further than toothpaste can.
NiteWhite and DayWhite: Two Ways to Whiten at Home
We offer two whitening systems, and the choice mostly comes down to your schedule. NiteWhite is worn overnight while you sleep. DayWhite is worn during the day, which suits people who would rather not sleep with a tray in or who want to fit whitening around work.
Take-home systems like these are typically used with trays that keep the gel on the teeth and off the gums; ask us how yours are made. Ask us to show you how much gel to use and how long to wear it. The color usually changes gradually over the course of treatment, and you can stop once you reach a shade you like. If you want to brighten again later, ask us about touch-up gel.
What Whitening Can and Cannot Change
Teeth darken for many reasons, and whitening responds better to some than others. Common causes include:
- Coffee, tea, soda and red wine
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Aging, as enamel thins and the darker layer underneath shows through
- Poor brushing and flossing habits
- Fluorosis from too much fluoride while the teeth were forming
- Certain medications and illnesses
Yellow or brown stains from food, drink and tobacco usually respond well. Gray or blue-gray discoloration from some medications taken in childhood, white or brown fluorosis spots, and a single tooth that darkened after an injury or a root canal are harder to predict. They may lighten only partly, or not evenly. For those teeth, tooth-colored bonding or porcelain veneers may give a better result, sometimes after whitening the teeth around them.
Crowns, Veneers and Fillings Do Not Whiten
Whitening gel only lightens natural tooth structure. Porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, bonding and tooth-colored fillings keep the color they were made in. If you have one of these on a front tooth, whitening the teeth around it can leave it looking darker than its neighbors.
The order matters if you are planning both. Whiten first, give the shade a couple of weeks to settle, and then have any new crown, veneer or bonding matched to the brighter color. If you are about to get a same-day crown on a visible tooth, tell us you are thinking about whitening so we can plan the sequence. When whitening is one step among several, a smile makeover plan puts the steps in the right order.
Why an Exam Comes First
The ADA recommends a dental exam before whitening; ask us to check your teeth and gums first. Gel that reaches an untreated cavity, a leaking filling or exposed root surface can cause real discomfort, and gum recession makes sensitivity more likely. Some of what looks like staining is tartar or surface stain that a professional cleaning removes on its own, so whitening after a cleaning gives a truer starting shade and an even result. Tell us if you have had sensitive teeth before.
Sensitivity and Other Side Effects
Tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect of whitening, and it is usually temporary. In a 2002 JADA trial of a 15 percent carbamide peroxide home gel, about 10 percent of users reported moderate and 4 percent severe sensitivity, which eased within one to two weeks. Mild sensitivity was just as common in the placebo group, and gum recession raised the odds.
If your teeth become sensitive, these steps usually help:
- Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth, starting a week or two before whitening
- Wear the trays for less time, or skip a day or two
- Use less gel, so it does not spill onto the gums and irritate them
- Call us if sensitivity is severe or does not ease after you stop
Keeping Your Results
Whitening does not last forever. The color fades gradually, faster for people who drink a lot of coffee, tea or red wine or who smoke. Brushing twice a day, rinsing with water after dark drinks and keeping up regular cleanings slow the fade. Many people use their trays for a short touch-up from time to time. Ask us how often makes sense for you, because overusing whitening gel can increase sensitivity.
Who Will Supervise Your Whitening
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations.
What Teeth Whitening Costs
The cost of whitening depends on which system you choose, whether you need a cleaning or other treatment first, and whether you are whitening once or planning touch-ups. Ask for an estimate at your exam so you know the full number before you begin.
Most dental insurance plans treat whitening as cosmetic and do not cover it, though the exam and cleaning beforehand are often covered. We accept PPO plans, so ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, plus an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should I expect to pay for teeth whitening?
The price of professional teeth whitening depends on the system used, how many touch-ups you want and whether you need a cleaning first. Dental insurance rarely covers whitening because it is cosmetic. Redondo Beach Dental Group can give you an estimate at your exam.
Do teeth turn yellow again after whitening?
Teeth slowly pick up stain again after whitening, especially with regular coffee, tea, red wine or tobacco. The change is gradual. Good brushing, regular cleanings and an occasional touch-up keep the color brighter for longer.
Is there a downside to teeth whitening?
The main downside of teeth whitening is temporary tooth sensitivity, and some people also get mild gum irritation where the gel touches the gums. Whitening also does not change crowns, veneers or fillings, so they can look darker than whitened teeth next to them.
Can yellow teeth be white again?
Yellow teeth usually respond well to whitening, because yellow and brown stains from food, drink, tobacco and age are the type peroxide gel lightens most reliably. How light they get varies from person to person. Gray stains from some medications are harder to change.
Does teeth whitening work on crowns or veneers?
Teeth whitening does not change the color of crowns, veneers, bonding or tooth-colored fillings. Only natural tooth structure lightens. If you plan new restorations on front teeth, whiten first and have them matched to the new shade.
What is the difference between NiteWhite and DayWhite?
NiteWhite and DayWhite are both take-home whitening systems worn in trays, and the main difference is when you wear them. NiteWhite is worn overnight while you sleep, and DayWhite is worn during the day. Your dentist can help you choose based on your schedule and how sensitive your teeth are.
Is professional teeth whitening safe?
Professional teeth whitening is considered safe for most adults with healthy teeth and gums when a dentist checks the teeth first and supervises the treatment. Sensitivity is a common side effect, and in a 2002 JADA trial moderate or severe sensitivity eased within one to two weeks. Cavities or gum disease should be treated before whitening.
Start Teeth Whitening in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online, and mention that you are interested in whitening. Whitening is one part of the cosmetic dentistry we provide in Redondo Beach.