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A bright, white smile makes a powerful first impression. Whether you’re preparing for a special event, enhancing your appearance for professional reasons, or simply want to feel more confident, professional teeth whitening can transform your smile in as little as one visit.
At South Holston Dental Designs, we offer both in-office and take-home whitening options to fit your schedule, budget, and goals. Our professional-strength treatments deliver results that over-the-counter products simply can’t match.
Dramatically Better Results
Professional whitening systems contain much higher concentrations of whitening agents than store-bought products. This means you get significantly better results—often whitening teeth 6-10 shades rather than the 1-2 shades you might see with drugstore strips.
Safe and Controlled
Under professional supervision, whitening is safe and predictable. We evaluate your teeth and gums first to ensure you’re a good candidate. We also control the whitening process to minimize sensitivity and protect your gums.
Customized for You
We tailor treatment to your specific needs and goals. Want dramatic results fast? In-office whitening delivers. Prefer gradual whitening at home? Custom trays provide that option.
Addresses Stubborn Stains
Professional whitening can tackle tough stains that over-the-counter products can’t touch. We also offer specialized treatments for particularly stubborn discoloration.
Long-Lasting Results
With proper care and occasional touch-ups, professional whitening results last much longer than drugstore options—typically 1-3 years compared to a few months.
In-Office Whitening
Get a dramatically whiter smile in just one visit. In-office whitening is perfect when you need fast results—for a wedding, job interview, reunion, or any special occasion.
How it works:
We apply a professional-strength whitening gel to your teeth and activate it with a special light. The gel breaks down stains on and within your tooth enamel. We typically do 3-4 applications during your visit, each lasting about 15-20 minutes.
What to expect:
Ideal for:
Our take-home whitening system provides professional results on your schedule. We create custom trays that fit your teeth precisely and provide professional-strength whitening gel for use at home.
How it works:
We take detailed impressions of your teeth and create custom trays that fit perfectly. You’ll receive professional whitening gel and instructions for use. Most patients wear trays for 30-60 minutes daily (or overnight, depending on the system) for 10-14 days.
What to expect:
Ideal for:
For maximum results, we can combine in-office and take-home whitening. Start with in-office treatment for dramatic immediate results, then maintain and enhance your smile with take-home trays.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Understanding why teeth stain helps you prevent future discoloration and maintain your whitening results.
Extrinsic Stains (Surface Stains)
These stains affect the outer layer of tooth enamel and are caused by:
Good news: Extrinsic stains respond very well to professional whitening.
Intrinsic Stains (Internal Discoloration)
These stains occur within the tooth structure and may be caused by:
Professional whitening can help intrinsic stains, though results may be more gradual and require stronger treatment.
Most people with healthy teeth and gums are good candidates for whitening. However, some situations require special consideration:
Ideal Candidates
Existing dental work – Whitening doesn’t affect crowns, veneers, or fillings. These will stay their current color. If you have front crowns or veneers, we need to discuss whether whitening your natural teeth will create color mismatches.
Tooth sensitivity – If you have sensitive teeth, we can adjust treatment to minimize discomfort. Take-home whitening allows more control over timing.
Gum disease – We need to treat gum disease before whitening to prevent irritation.
Pregnancy or nursing – We recommend waiting until after pregnancy and nursing to whiten teeth.
Very dark stains – Severe tetracycline staining or other intrinsic discoloration may require veneers for best results.
Young patients – We typically recommend waiting until all permanent teeth have erupted and matured (usually late teens).
The Whitening Process
Initial Consultation
We start by evaluating your teeth and discussing your whitening goals. We’ll:
Professional cleaning recommended – Whitening works best on clean teeth. We often recommend a cleaning shortly before whitening.
Treating dental issues – Any cavities should be filled before whitening, and gum disease should be treated.
Managing sensitivity – If you have sensitive teeth, we may recommend using desensitizing toothpaste for two weeks before treatment.
In-Office: We protect your gums with a barrier, apply whitening gel, activate it with light, and repeat the process several times. You relax in the chair while we handle everything.
Take-Home: We show you how to load your custom trays with gel and how long to wear them. Most patients find the process simple and convenient.
Immediate care – Avoid staining foods and drinks for 24-48 hours after treatment (the “white diet” period when teeth are most susceptible to staining).
Managing sensitivity – Any sensitivity usually resolves within a day or two. We can recommend desensitizing products if needed.
Maintaining results – Good oral hygiene, limiting staining foods/drinks, and occasional touch-ups keep your smile bright.
Maintaining Your Results
Professional whitening provides dramatic results, but your teeth will gradually darken again over time as you’re exposed to staining foods and drinks. Here’s how to make results last:
Brush twice daily – Removes surface stains before they set in
Floss daily – Keeps teeth and gums healthy
Rinse after staining foods – A quick water rinse helps prevent staining
Use a straw – For coffee, tea, and dark drinks to minimize contact with teeth
Don’t smoke – Tobacco causes severe staining
Limit staining foods and drinks:
You don’t have to eliminate these entirely—just consume them in moderation and rinse afterward.
Most patients benefit from occasional touch-ups:
After in-office whitening: Touch up every 12-24 months with a few days of take-home whitening
After take-home whitening: Touch up every 6-12 months with 2-3 nights of tray use
We can provide additional whitening gel for touch-ups without needing new trays.
Regular Dental Cleanings
Professional cleanings every six months remove surface stains and keep your smile bright.
Managing Tooth Sensitivity
Some people experience temporary sensitivity during or after whitening. This is normal and usually resolves quickly.
Minimizing sensitivity:
If you experience significant discomfort, contact us. We can adjust your treatment plan.
Whitening vs. Veneers
For some types of discoloration, veneers may provide better results than whitening.
Consider veneers if:
We’ll discuss whether whitening or veneers (or a combination) is best for your goals.
In-Office Whitening: [Price range]
Take-Home Whitening: [Price range]
Replacement Gel: [Price] (for touch-ups)
While professional whitening costs more than drugstore products, the results are dramatically better and longer-lasting. When you calculate cost per year of whitening results, professional treatment is actually more cost-effective.
Most dental insurance plans don’t cover whitening since it’s considered cosmetic. However, we offer affordable payment options and periodic promotions.
Professional-Strength Results
Our whitening systems are significantly more effective than anything you can buy at the store. We deliver results that make a real difference.
Custom Treatment Plans
We tailor whitening to your specific needs, goals, and sensitivity level. No one-size-fits-all approach.
Safe and Supervised
Whitening under professional supervision ensures safe, effective treatment with minimal sensitivity.
Custom-Fitted Trays
Our take-home trays fit your teeth precisely, ensuring even whitening and preventing gel from irritating gums.
Combination Options
Want the best of both worlds? We can combine in-office and take-home whitening for optimal results.
Long-Term Support
We provide touch-up gel and ongoing guidance to help you maintain your bright smile for years.
Special Occasion Whitening
Have a wedding, reunion, job interview, or other important event coming up? In-office whitening provides dramatic results in time for your big day.
We recommend:
Whether it’s a routine cleaning, a dental implant, or a complete smile transformation
– our team is ready to help. Accepting new patients. Same-day emergency