New Year, New You: How to Finance Teeth Whitening Today

The saying new year, new you isn’t just a cliche. At the end of each year we’re given time to reflect on what we hope to put forth for ourselves in the year to come. For many, this involves something as small as whitening our teeth. Teeth whitening has many benefits, aside from enhancing the appearance of our smiles. With payment plans and dental financing, teeth whitening has never been easier to afford than it is today. Try our local dentist search tool and you’ll find several Bright Now! Dental locations in your area with several teeth whitening options to choose from. Get ready to say hello to your new smile this year!

Teeth whitening has become much more affordable. As advancements in teeth whitening technology have been made, patients now more than ever have easy access to affordable treatment options. Whether you prefer to whiten your teeth at your dentist’s office or in the comfort of your own home, there are all sorts of ways teeth whitening treatments can be designed for your needs. With dental financing and payment plans, there’s nothing to hold you back from getting the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Professional treatment by a qualified dentist will give you beautiful results, without damaging the structure of your teeth.

Why Whiten Your Teeth?

There are all types of reasons why we find ourselves wanting to whiten our teeth. Enhancing the color of our teeth leads to a brighter, whiter smile that is cosmetically appealing. The sense of self confidence that can be gained from such a small dental act can have profound, positive implications. It’s important to understand what causes our teeth to become discolored in the first place, as this will help you and your dentist determine the right treatment option for you. Depending on the type of staining that has occurred, some teeth whitening treatments may not be suited for your smile. And moving even further, in some cases teeth whitening may not be recommended at all. Instead, patients in these circumstances should look to dental bonds or veneers to change the appearance of their smile.

Intrinsic stains are one type of stain that patients may look to teeth whitening to resolve. However, these types of stains reside from within the structure of the tooth. If you have intrinsic stains on your teeth, teeth whitening may not be the best option as it will be difficult to change the color of your tooth internally. So what causes intrinsic stains? Often times, medication can cause intrinsic staining of the teeth. Not all medication will have this effect, but some might. It’s important to discuss all possible side effects with your dentist before consuming a new medication. This is particularly important when children are involved, as their teeth will be developing and forming and can be greatly impacted by medication.

Another source of intrinsic staining can be caused from ingesting too much supplemental fluoride. This process is known as fluorosis and can leave behind white marks on the enamel of your teeth. Fluorosis can happen from intake of too much fluoride, often happening in combination of drinking well water that has high amounts of fluoride or supplemental fluoride taken without the discretion of a professional dentist. For teeth suffering from intrinsic staining, dental veneers may be a better suited treatment option over teeth whitening. Discuss your concerns with a dentist during a consultation to determine what method is right for you.

Extrinsic stains on the other hand are the more common stains people think of when whitening their teeth. These stains leave behind a yellow color or discolored teeth. The most common ways of having extrinsic stains is from diet – like consuming staining substances such as tobacco, coffee, tea, or wine. Other foods that can stain teeth easily include some foods high in pigmented foods like pomegranates, or soda that is dark in color. Many of these foods are acidic as well, which can wear away enamel making it easier to stain in the first place.

In other circumstances, patients may be suffering from discolored teeth simply due to their genetics or age. The color of your teeth is often determined by your genes, making you predispositioned to have a more yellow smile than others. Age also plays a large role as the enamel on our teeth naturally wear away over time. The enamel not only serves as the main protectant on the outermost layer of our teeth, but when it wears away, it also exposes the underlying color of the dentin on our teeth. This is often more yellow in color, and can become more exposed as we age.

Why does teeth whitening work?

Teeth whitening works by changing the color of the enamel on your teeth through an immediate or gradual process. A solution or bleaching agent is applied to the enamel of your teeth that works at changing the color by removing stains or discoloration. As far as dental cosmetic procedures, it’s one of the quickest and most affordable ways you can transform the appearance of your smile. It’s important to undergo teeth whitening from a professional dentist, as they’ll know the safest form of teeth whitening solution to use and how to apply it evenly for uniform results. Your dentist will also determine the type of color to attain based on your preferences and strength and smoothness of your enamel. Teeth whitening is a process that will need to take place numerous times to maintain the results you receive as they will naturally return to their previous color over time. Patients can decrease this time frame by refraining from highly staining foods.

Teeth Whitening Process

1. Consultation

First, you’ll need to determine whether or not your teeth are suited for teeth whitening. As mentioned before, several factors can play a role into the ability of your teeth to be whitened by teeth whitening agents. For example, if the enamel on your teeth is uneven or rough in some spots, teeth whitening may not be good as it will appear uneven, lightening some areas while others remain dark. Your dentist will be able to assess the health of your teeth and determine whether or not teeth whitening is good for your smile. If it is, they can work with your preferences to determine which teeth whitening method is right for you.

2. In-Office Teeth Whitening

An option that will involve your preference is to use an in-office teeth whitening treatment. Typically the process involves just one appointment to transform the appearance of your smile. This process involves:

• Your dentist will apply a shield that covers your lips and gums, protecting it from the teeth whitening solution.
• Then your dentist will apply a professional-grade bleaching agent onto the enamel of your teeth.
• The solution will be left on your teeth for about 15 minutes. During this time, your dentist will use a UV light to speed up the teeth whitening process.
• The solution is then rinsed off and then applied several times during the same appointment.
• Once the dentist reaches the color you’re both looking for, the solution will be rinsed off completely, leaving your mouth entirely whitened in just one appointment.

Time spent in your dentist’s chair will vary, but it may generally take about two hours. You should never feel any pain when whitening your teeth, except for a small amount of discomfort from the shield that protects your lips and gums.

3. At-Home Teeth Whitening

The other option patients will find at their Bright Now! Dental office is an at-home teeth whitening treatment. For this type of treatment, there is more responsibility placed on the patient to whiten their teeth as they will do so from the comfort of their own homes. This process will take longer to attain the same results as an in-office teeth whitening treatment.

• A custom-made tray is made to fit your teeth. During your first appointment, your dentist will take a mold of your teeth to create a new tray that specifically fits your teeth. This is important and crucial to safely and effectively whitening your teeth at home, as this isolates each tooth from your gums and lips.
• After your trays are made, your dentist will provide you with a professional-grade bleaching agent that is safe to use at home. Your dentist will advise you on how often to apply, but generally you’ll apply the solution every day for about two weeks.
• After brushing your teeth at home, you’ll fill the trays with the bleaching solution and place the tray on your teeth. You will keep the tray in place for about 30 minutes, or as advised by your dentist
• For the next two weeks, you’ll repeat this process creating a gradually whiter and brighter smile.

If you suffer from extreme teeth sensitivity, have thin enamel, or don’t have the time to schedule an in-office teeth whitening treatment, an at-home treatment may be more suited to your needs and preferences. As always, it’s best to talk to your dentist about your options as they can vary depending on the health and habits of your oral health. Use a dentist near me search for your closest Bright Now! Dental location to determine the best and most affordable teeth whitening solution for you.

Why Going to the Dentist for Teeth Whitening Matters

Many patients have tried over-the-counter teeth whitening methods, but they pose some issues to your teeth. Using over-the-counter methods, you run the risk of using a treatment that could end up doing more harm than good. With other treatment options, you don’t have a professional dentist guiding what is safe for the enamel of your teeth. There are also factors that could impact the effectiveness of teeth whitening, which won’t do any good if teeth whitening solutions won’t work on the type of stains you have in general.

There are also many benefits in choosing to have your teeth professionally whitened, including end results that are more efficient and effective, customized to your liking, and quicker than over-the-counter solutions. When you choose to go to a professional dentist for either in-office or at-home teeth whitening treatments, you’ll get even, uniform results. An uneven application can be even more unsightly than yellow or discolored teeth, so it’s important to do it right the first time.

Another benefit is that the results you’ll see from a professional can be almost instantaneous, especially if you choose to do an in-office treatment. Even at-home treatments will yield results in about two weeks. The benefit in knowing your professional results will work, rather than a trial and error process is not only easier on your self-confidence, but easier on your budget as well. With a professional teeth whitening treatment, the results are customized to you. This provides you with real results, really quickly, at an affordable rate. Results from a professional dentist will last much longer than anything you’ll find over-the-counter, meaning more money in your pocket over the long run.

Teeth Whitening Payment Plans

Paying for a new, white smile has never been easier. Bright Now! Dental is a top dental provider, always searching for new ways to make once expensive treatments more affordable and accessible for patients of all financial backgrounds. Teeth whitening can be affordable, especially when coupled with an amazing payment plan or dental financing. These are our top five ways you can help finance your smile goals with Bright Now! Dental today:

1. Look to Your Dental Insurance

This may seem like an obvious financial solution, but it can often get overlooked. While teeth whitening is mostly considered a cosmetic dental procedure, it’s always best to double check what’s being covered by your dental insurance provider. In some instances, you may find that your dental insurance will cover all or at least a partial amount of your treatment. Bright Now! Dental accepts most dental insurance plans and will take most of the hassle out of insurance by filing claims on your behalf. Before scheduling a teeth whitening consultation, check with your insurance provider to see what they’ll cover. From there you can determine which financial option is best suited to your situation.

2. Consider Investing in a Dental Plan

Have you ever considered using a dental plan to help budget your dental procedures? This option can be one of the easiest ways to save on dental procedures you’d normally be paying full price for. The beauty of using a dental plan is that it’s not the same as insurance, allowing access to all patients regardless of their income or medical background. Consider using the OneSmile Dental plan. With a low annual fee, patients gain access to services at a discounted rate from participating Bright Now! Dental locations. This helps both individuals and families take advantage of reduced pricing. That means paying a reduced rate on teeth whitening, capitalizing on the savings you’ll find.

3. Take Advantage of Coupons or Promotions

A quick and easy way to save on teeth whitening is through coupons or promotions running at your nearest Bright Now! Dental office. With the new year, you may be surprised to find coupons discounting services such as teeth whitening, which will help save you money. You can use our coupon locator tool to find running offers near you. Just select the coupon and bring it in during your scheduled appointment.

4. Sign up for a Payment Plan or Dental Financing

If scheduling a teeth whitening treatment seems financially daunting, we can help you manage that stress through affordable payment plans or dental financing options. This option allows patients to pay out of pocket, while still paying in smaller or reduced amounts. At Bright Now! Dental, patients can choose between a plan involving low money down payment and no interest, no money down payment and no interest, or extended terms up to 48 months at 14.9% promotional interest rates. Applying for a payment plan is quick and easy. You can either do so online or at your appointment.

5. Put it on a Credit Card

Last, but not least, patients can always use a credit card to help finance the cost of their teeth whitening treatment. Bright Now! Dental accepts most major credit cards as forms of payment. This can be a useful option for patients who prefer the terms of their credit card over other payment plan solutions.

Cost of Teeth Whitening

Pinpointing just how much your teeth whitening treatment will cost can vary greatly from patient to patient. Factors including the state of your teeth, your preferences in treatment, and your geographic location can all play a role in determining just how much you’ll pay. The best way to find out is to schedule a consultation with a dentist near you. From there, you can determine what type of treatment will be best to whiten your smile, especially if you face particular staining issues that are more difficult to treat. Whether it’s an at-home professional treatment or an in-office treatment, there’s room to decide what will be in your budget, and how you’d like to finance it.

Teeth Whitening at a Dentist Near Me

Finding a Bright Now! Dental office near you is as easy as typing in “dentist near me” into you maps. From there, you’ll be able to pull up a location that has a qualified dentist ready to provide you with the most affordable teeth whitening solutions. Our dentists care about you and your preferences, making both the logistics and financing behind teeth whitening one less thing to worry about this year. To schedule your consultation you can do so online, or by calling us at 1-844-400-7645. We’re ready to help you finance your teeth whitening goals today.