Teeth Whitening in La Jolla & San Diego, CA
If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your teeth due to stains or discoloration, you’re not alone.
Regardless of the cause, less than pearly whites can negatively influence peoples’ perception of you and impact your self-esteem.
If you’re seeking dazzling and long-lasting pearly whites, your best option is to get professional teeth whitening from a highly qualified cosmetic dentist like Dr. Sabourin.
Dr. Sabourin offers teeth whitening in La Jolla from leading companies that eliminate even the deepest stains and restore teeth to their radiant best. He has over 35 years of experience practicing cosmetic dentistry in San Diego delivering teeth whitening treatments that restore smiles safely and effectively!
For the best teeth whitening in San Diego, you won’t find a better choice than our elegant La Jolla practice to brighten your teeth and boost your smile confidence.
What are the Benefits of Teeth Whitening?
If you’re dissatisfied with the color of your teeth, you’ve likely tried over-the-counter (OTC) whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, or OTC whitening trays.
Although some of these products are generally safe when used as directed, multiple applications can cause gum sensitivity, tooth enamel wear, and other issues.
Even the best OTC whitening treatment systems lack the strength to remove anything but surface stains.
Professional tooth whitening systems offer consistent, predictable, and excellent results that exceed most patients’ expectations!
The benefits of professional tooth bleaching in San Diego include:
- Quick in-office or at-home treatment
- Dramatic removal of surface and deep stains
- Little-to-no tooth or gum sensitivity
- Customized trays that perfectly fit your mouth
- Natural-looking white shade customized to you
Our Different Teeth Whitening Options
The first step on your journey to whiter teeth involves a complimentary cosmetic dentistry consultation during which Dr. Sabourin discusses your smile goals and performs an oral exam. Before proceeding with teeth whitening, dental conditions (e.g., decay or a root infection) that can cause tooth discoloration need to be ruled out.
Dr. Sabourin offers in-office and at-home whitening treatments from leading companies including Zoom!® Teeth Whitening and KöR® Whitening.
Although in-office treatments typically work faster than at-home options, some patients prefer whitening in the comfort of their own homes.
Dr. Sabourin will discuss the costs and pros and cons of each option to help you make an informed decision about the best one to meet your unique needs and budget.
In-Office Whitening Process
Prior to starting chairside treatment, your teeth are cleaned. A protective gel or shield is placed over your gums and then the bleaching gel is applied directly to your teeth.
The professional-grade gel penetrates into your tooth enamel to remove surface-level and deep stains.
Zoom and KöR offer several different products, patented ingredients, and unique methodologies to achieve optimal whitening.
At-Home Whitening Process
Dr. Sabourin takes impressions of your upper and lower teeth to create whitening trays that fit snugly over your teeth.
Unlike OTC trays, custom-made trays present no risk of shifting or gel leaking out. One of the biggest benefits is that they’re completely portable, so you can whiten your teeth at home or on the go.
The trays are worn up to several hours every day until the desired shade of white is achieved.
At-home whitening generally takes several weeks to produce desired results.
Zoom! Teeth Whitening
When you get Zoom! Teeth Whitening in San Diego, the whitening gel is applied to your teeth three to four times, 15 minutes per application.
The Zoom Advanced Power Chairside Lamp is used to activate and break down hydrogen peroxide in the whitening compound. A thin layer of hydrogen peroxide is dissolved over the top of your tooth enamel, thereby releasing oxygen that flushes out tooth discoloration.
Zoom proprietary ingredients help protect tooth enamel, improve luster, and reduce sensitivity.
Although actual results vary, the company says that Zoom WhiteSpeed can lighten teeth by eight shades in just 45 minutes, excluding prep time.
Zoom works well for many people, but it isn’t the best option if you have deep-seated stains or tooth sensitivity.
KöR Whitening
KöR whitening products feature a dual-activated, patented formulation and delivery system to produce amazing whitening results—without chemical stabilizers, lights, or lasers. Because there are no potentially irritating stabilizers, KöR products are a great option if you have tooth sensitivity.
From the moment they’re manufactured until Dr. Sabourin places them on your teeth, KöR whitening gels are refrigerated to prevent unstable chemicals from degenerating and losing potency.
Unlike other whitening methods, KöR works by restoring your teeth’s ability to absorb oxygen in the whitening gel, so it effectively dissolves and removes stain molecules. Although results vary, KöR can whiten teeth by up to 16 shades.
The KöR Maintenance program is designed to enable patients to enjoy all their favorite staining foods and beverages, while maintaining a white smile.
The KöR Long-Term Maintenance program involves simple, periodic whitening at home to remove staining debris that have accumulated since your last professional whitening treatment.
While most patients can maintain their white smile by whitening once a month at home, stubborn conditions such as tetracycline staining may require a more rigorous customized maintenance program.
What Can I Expect From a Professional Teeth Whitening Procedure?
How Long Does the In-Office Procedure Take?
Zoom typically takes as little as one hour in the office, while KöR requires a 1-2 hour in-office session.
How Many Visits Does In-Office Whitening Require?
Zoom typically only requires one office visit, whereas KöR requires multiple visits because at-home whitening is a part of the treatment protocol. The latter involves being fitted for custom trays, a follow-up visit, and one or two in-office whitening sessions after completing the initial at-home process.
Is Tooth Whitening Painful?
The process itself doesn’t cause any discomfort, although some patients experience tooth sensitivity from the bleaching agents in Zoom. With Zoom, Dr. Sabourin can apply a special product to your teeth after treatment to reduce the risk of sensitivity. KöR claims their products produce no tooth sensitivity because they don’t have chemical stabilizers.
What is the Cost of Teeth Whitening in San Diego?
Although prices can vary considerably, professional teeth whitening from an experienced dentist is a cost-effective cosmetic dentistry procedure to restore radiance and whiteness to your teeth.
While more expensive and labor-intensive, KöR is a better whitening option for deeper, stubborn stains and for anyone with tooth sensitivity.
How Long Do Whitening Results Last?
Whitening effects last anywhere from six months to several years before starting to fade. The length of time depends on the type of whitening system used, optional maintenance treatments, and your lifestyle habits.
What Steps Can Protect Your White Smile?
Maintaining proper oral hygiene and scheduling routine dental visits every six months is essential. In addition, refraining from tobacco use and drinking dark-colored beverages will help you maintain whiteness longer. If you do drink coffee or red wine, rinse your mouth out afterward or consider drinking through a straw to prevent or minimize tooth enamel staining.
Why Choose Dr. Sabourin for Teeth Whitening?
If you’re seeking the best cosmetic dentist to achieve whiter teeth in San Diego, look no further than Dr. Sabourin. From the moment you walk into his La Jolla practice, you’ll experience a warm and welcoming experience in a beautiful, soothing setting.
Dr. Sabourin combines many decades of cosmetic dentistry expertise with the latest technologies and a compassionate touch to restore the beauty of his patients’ smiles.
How Do You Know if Teeth Whitening is Right For You?
If you’re self-conscious about stained or discolored teeth and have tried using OTC solutions with little to no success, professional tooth whitening is a great option to boost your smile brightness and self-confidence!
Schedule Your Teeth Whitening Consultation Today
The best way to find out if tooth whitening is right for you is to schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Sabourin.