Teeth Whitening in Missoula, MT

Often patients will ask me if there is a way to get whiter teeth. In most cases, bleaching, or teeth whitening, can be safely used to accomplish this goal. There are three main ways to get bright, white teeth. The first is over the counter products that you can get at the drug or grocery store (we have Crest Whitestrips available at the office for your convenience), the second is custom made bleaching trays (see the video below), and the third is in-office bleaching. All will whiten your teeth and lift stains from a variety of sources, like drinking red wine or smoking, but have a different approach to do it.

There are many factors that can attribute to having stained or yellow teeth, such as smoking or drinking dark beverages like red wine or coffee. Teeth whitening can be an affordable and effective solution for lifting stains from teeth and getting a whiter brighter smile. At Nelson Dentistry in Missoula, MT, we offer a variety of methods for patients to get white teeth on their budget and schedule. Whether you're looking to whiten your teeth for a special event, like a wedding, or just want to get the bright smile you've always desired, we've got options that will work for you. 

Affordable At Home Teeth Whitening Solutions

The benefit of Whitestrips is that they are the most affordable option. I have even used them before myself! They typically are the lowest concentration, which means if you have sensitive teeth, these will be the least likely to induce your sensitivity. The downside is that they are a "one size fits most" and are not as comfortable as a custom made tray. Also with the lower concentration, they don't whiten as quickly.

Here are the Whitestrips we have available at the office:

Custom-Made Teeth Whitening Trays vs. Over-the-Counter

The benefit of the custom-made bleach trays is that they are...well, custom! That means they're comfortable and fit snugly. You can even wear them to work and often people won't notice. You can also use a higher concentration so that it works faster. These trays will last a long time if you take good care of them, so in the future, you can simply request more bleaching gel for any touch-ups.

In-Office Teeth Whitening Gets the Fastest Results

In-office bleaching is the fastest way to get from "point A" to "point white." Since this is the high concentration stuff, I have to place a special gum protectant screen, then let the bleaching gel sit on the teeth for about 20 minutes. We can do two doses back to back if you'd like to go whiter. The downside is that any future touch ups will need a repeat procedure (as opposed to using your existing trays and getting a gel refill). Patients looking to whiten their teeth for special events like weddings, often find that in-office teeth whitening is the most effective method for their goals. 

Do You Have Questions About the Option That's Right for You?

If you're unsure which teeth whitening option might work best for you, let's sit down together and talk about it. I'll ask you questions about your lifestyle, what goals you'd like to achieve for your smile, and we can discuss how each option might fit into your budget. Together we'll determine the best whitening approach for you at the time, and the good news is, you can always upgrade or change to a different system if your needs change in the future.

Contact my office today, and let's schedule a time to talk about teeth whitening.

Here's a video showing how the custom trays work to whiten teeth: