Teeth Whitening in Shrewsbury

What professional whitening actually does

Whitening gel contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which breaks down into oxygen molecules that pass through enamel and split apart the pigment compounds, called chromogens, sitting in the tooth. Smaller pigment molecules reflect less color, so the tooth reads lighter. The enamel itself is not sanded or coated.

How well it works depends on where the stain lives. Extrinsic stains from coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco sit in the outer enamel and usually lift well. Intrinsic stains, such as gray banding from tetracycline taken in childhood, white spots from fluorosis, or a single tooth darkened after an injury, respond more slowly and sometimes need a different approach.

That is why we start with an exam instead of handing you a kit. A small team means the person who looks at your teeth on day one is the same person who reviews the shade at the end, and who answers your questions in between.

What comes with your whitening

Exam and stain review

We check enamel thickness, the health of your gums and what kind of discoloration you have. When the stain is intrinsic, we tell you at the start how much lightening to expect.

Your starting shade on record

We match your current color to a shade guide and photograph your teeth in the same lighting each time, so you have a real before and after to compare.

Review of crowns and fillings

Bleaching does not change crowns, bridges, veneers or tooth-colored fillings. We note where each one is, so you know which teeth will lighten and which will keep their shade.

Protecting your gums

Peroxide gel can irritate the gums. We shield them before the gel goes on and fit any trays so the gel stays on your teeth.

Handling sensitivity

Peroxide briefly opens the small tubules in dentin, which can make teeth feel zingy for a day or two. If you tend toward sensitivity, we can use a desensitizer such as potassium nitrate and shorten wear time.

Final shade check

We hold your new shade up against the starting record and go over touch-ups, so you know how to keep your color.

Signs whitening may be right for you

• Yellowing from daily coffee or tea

  Tannins in coffee and tea build up in the enamel over years. This kind of surface staining is the type that usually responds best.

• Store-bought strips stopped working

  Over-the-counter strips use lower peroxide levels and flat strips that miss the curves between teeth. A professional gel and fitted trays reach more of the surface.

• Teeth look darker as you age

  Enamel thins with time and the yellower dentin underneath shows through. Whitening can lighten the dentin layer too, though results vary.

• A single tooth has turned gray

  One dark tooth often points to a past injury or a nerve problem. We check that tooth first, because whitening will not fix what is going on inside it.

• You are planning a crown or bridge

  New crowns are made to match your current shade. Whitening first lets us match the crown to the lighter color you want to keep.

How a whitening appointment works

1. 1

   Exam and cleaning first

   Whitening works on clean enamel, so plaque and tartar come off first. If we find a cavity or exposed root, we treat it before whitening, since peroxide on an open cavity or bare root can be painful.

2. 2

   Shade record and gum isolation

   We note your starting shade, take photos and protect your gums and lips. The same team member stays with you through this step and the next.

3. 3

   Gel application

   Professional-strength gel goes on in timed rounds, or into custom trays made from impressions of your teeth that you wear on a set schedule. We explain which route fits your stains and your sensitivity.

4. 4

   Review and touch-up plan

   We compare the result to your starting shade and go over what to avoid for the first 48 hours, when enamel picks up stains most easily. You leave knowing how to touch up later.

What sets the price of whitening

Because insurers generally treat whitening as cosmetic, most dental insurance plans do not cover the gel or trays, though the exam and cleaning beforehand often are covered. You hear the full price before we apply any gel. Without coverage, you can use the Office Dental Plan for patients without insurance, or finance treatment over time with the CareCredit Patient Payment Plan.

In-office or take-home trays

An in-office session takes more clinical time in one appointment. Take-home whitening involves impressions and custom trays from a lab, and you keep those trays for future touch-ups.

Type of staining

Food and drink stains on the surface often fade in a single course. Discoloration inside the tooth may take a longer course or additional rounds before you see a difference.

Work to do beforehand

A cavity, a worn filling or inflamed gums needs care before whitening starts. That treatment is billed on its own and may be covered by your insurance.

Dental work that no longer matches

After your natural teeth get lighter, older front crowns or fillings may look darker beside them, and you might choose to replace them. We mention this at the exam so you know ahead of time.