Teeth Whitening – Burien, WA
Remove Stubborn Stains to Reveal a Stunning Smile
Teeth are exposed to a lot over the years, and a few decades of use can leave them with unsightly stains and discoloration. Luckily, our team in Burien can provide you with treatments that can eliminate stubborn stains and take a few years off your smile. We offer teeth whitening in the form of a take-home kit or an in-office procedure, both of which can leave your smile up to ten shades whiter. Contact us online to schedule a consultation or to learn more about teeth whitening treatments!
Why Choose Seahurst Smiles of Burien for Teeth Whitening?
- Trusted GLO Brand In-Office Procedures
- Effective Opalescence At-Home Kits
- Skilled and Experienced Cosmetic Dentist
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
If you're worried about a few minor marks or troubled by widespread discoloration, teeth whitening treatments may be able to eliminate stains and leave you with a whiter and brighter smile. Before we can recommend one of these treatments, we’ll examine your mouth to determine the source of the stains and check for any infections. Any tooth decay or gum disease will have to be resolved before we can perform any teeth whitening treatments. Once your smile is in shape, your teeth will be ready for our high-quality teeth whitening treatments.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Dr. Vincent Lam is a skilled cosmetic dentist who has helped countless patients achieve brighter smiles through teeth whitening. Our office offers two superb options:
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Our team offers Opalescence take-home whitening kits to deliver superior results to our patients. These kits include dental trays customized to fit the patient’s teeth as well as a tube of professional-grade whitening gel. All the patient must do is apply the gel to the trays and wear them over their teeth for an hour every day for two weeks. This offers many people a convenient, flexible option that produces results far superior to those of store-bought products.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Using GLO in-office teeth whitening procedures, Dr. Lam can easily brighten your smile in an hour-long appointment. After placing barriers in your mouth to protect your soft tissues, he will apply several coats of whitening gel to your teeth before treating them with a special light. Since this option can produce incredible results so quickly, it’s great for those who have special events or ceremonies on the horizon!
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
While you’ll certainly want to show off your newly whitened smile after treatment, you’ll need to take certain precautions to preserve the results. A few ways to ensure your smile stays shiny and bright for as long as possible include:
- Steer clear of foods and drinks that are high in acids and pigments like wine, coffee, and pasta sauce.
- Brush at least twice and floss at least once every day at home.
- Eat calcium-rich dairy products like yogurt to keep your teeth healthy and strong.
- See us at our Burien office for biannual dental exams and cleanings.
Have your teeth touched up as needed.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is an excellent way to enhance the natural beauty of your smile and give you a boost of confidence. However, you may be wondering just how much you can expect teeth whitening to cost. During your appointment with us, we will go over the financial aspects of your treatment in detail. Until then, here are some things to take into consideration.
Factors that Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
In most cases, teeth whitening is one set price. However, multiple different factors can affect the number of treatments that you will need to achieve your desired results. Here are the most prominent ones:
- Severity of Discoloration: If you have a lot of dark staining on your teeth, you may need multiple whitening treatments to lift the discoloration.
- Type of Discoloration: It is much easier to lift extrinsic stains than intrinsic stains.
- Additional Treatments: If you need to have an oral health issue treated before you can whiten your smile, you should consider the cost of this treatment as well.
Types of Teeth Whitening – What Do They Cost?
There are multiple different types of teeth whitening available. They are all at different price points. Here is what you can expect from each one:
- In-Office Teeth Whitening: In-office teeth whitening can whiten your teeth multiple shades in just one appointment. It usually costs somewhere between $400 and $800, but it can be over $1000 in some cases.
- Take-Home Teeth Whitening: Professional take-home whitening kits can transform your smile in just a couple of weeks. They usually cost a few hundred dollars.
- Over-the-Counter Trays: Teeth whitening trays that you find at your local drug store generally cost $100 or less.
- Over-the-Counter Strips/Gels: This is the most affordable option out there. These boxes usually cost between $20 and $40 and contain enough product to last about a month.
Inexpensive Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
When you are only looking at the cost of whitening treatment, you may be wondering why anyone would splurge on professional teeth whitening when the over-the-counter options are more affordable. This is because the quality of the results that you see is clearly reflected in the amount you pay. When you pick up cheaper strips and gels, you will see little to no results, or it will take several months before you notice any changes. By opting for professional teeth whitening, you can show off beautifully whiter teeth in a fraction of the time. In addition to that, we will examine your smile ahead of time to make sure there aren’t any issues that could be aggravated by the whitening products. Ultimately, with professional teeth whitening, you can expect a faster, safer, and more effective treatment.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Teeth whitening is not covered by dental insurance because it is an elective cosmetic procedure. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left completely on your own. We are happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. To learn more about your financial options, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly team members.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Teeth whitening is generally a comfortable experience at Seahurst Smiles of Burien. Some patients may notice temporary sensitivity during or after treatment, but it usually fades within a day or two.
Our whitening systems, GLO and Opalescence, are designed to minimize irritation by providing whitening agents in concentrations that you won’t find in over-the-counter products. Using professional-grade chemicals gives you better, brighter results with fewer sessions, avoiding the risk of overuse.
At our Burien dental office, your comfort is our top priority, and we’re happy to guide you to a whiter, more confident smile.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
Store-bought whitening kits can brighten your teeth slightly, but they’re limited in strength and safety. We use GLO for our professional in-office whitening—a system that combines powerful hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide chemicals with a special UV light for faster, more even results.
For convenient at-home whitening, our Opalescence kits use the same grade of professional chemicals, but in a form you can use yourself.
Products you buy at the store may use the right chemicals, but they’re weaker, meaning you’ll potentially have to keep using them to see results. Over time, this can lead to overuse, causing your enamel to thin and your teeth to become sensitive.
How Can I Make My Teeth Whitening Results Last?
To maintain your newly brightened smile, good habits are essential. After your whitening treatment at Seahurst Smiles of Burien, follow these tips to preserve your results:
- Limit or avoid staining food and drinks like coffee, red wine, and berries in the first 48 hours after treatment
- When drinking dark beverages, use a straw to limit contact with your teeth
- Brush and floss daily to remove surface stains and plaque buildup
- Use an ADA-approved whitening toothpaste once or twice a week
- Avoid smoking, vaping, or tobacco products
We also recommend periodic touch-ups at our office to keep your grin glowing year-round. Ask our team about a maintenance plan that works for you!
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Teeth whitening treatments are designed to brighten natural tooth enamel, so they won’t change the shade of dental crowns, veneers, or fillings. If you have visible crowns and want a whiter smile, we recommend whitening your natural teeth first.
Then, we can evaluate whether your restorations need to be replaced or adjusted to match your new tooth color. At our Burien dental practice, we’ll work with you to create a personalized whitening plan that enhances your smile while keeping it balanced and natural-looking.