Teeth Whitening in Downtown Seattle
Opalescence whitening, in the office or at home
Is whitening right for you?
Professional whitening can lighten natural teeth and reduce surface stains from food, coffee, or wine. At Summit Dental Care, we use Opalescence for both in-office and at-home whitening.
Before recommending whitening, we evaluate your oral health, including oral hygiene, gum recession, existing sensitivity, tooth decay, and active periodontal (gum) disease.
Request an appointment to talk through your goals and what whitening may realistically change for your teeth.
Two ways to whiten
The main differences are product strength and how quickly you may see results.
In-office whitening
We use a higher-concentration product that generally produces results more quickly.
At-home whitening
A milder product may require multiple uses. Results vary with either option.
When results may be limited or uneven
Tooth-colored fillings and crowns don’t whiten like natural teeth, so colors may differ after treatment, especially on front teeth.
White-spot lesions (areas that look whiter than the surrounding tooth), staining from the antibiotic tetracycline, and discoloration inside a tooth can also limit results.
Questions About Teeth Whitening
We’ll discuss both in-office and at-home options with you before treatment. The choice depends on:
- Your oral health.
- Any existing sensitivity.
- Your whitening goals.
Teeth respond differently to whitening.
- The natural color of dentin, the layer beneath enamel, influences your result.
- We can’t guarantee a final shade, a specific shade change, or how long results will last.
Temporary tooth sensitivity and gum tenderness can occur.
- Tell us about any existing sensitivity before treatment.
- Read what to expect during and after whitening.
Crowns and tooth-colored fillings don’t whiten like natural teeth.
- We’ll assess your teeth and restorations together.
- We’ll discuss possible color differences before treatment.
Your whitening plan depends on your oral health and goals.
- Call (206) 292-9980 to ask for an estimate.
- Whitening is usually considered cosmetic, so dental insurance generally doesn’t cover it.
- If you have coverage questions, verify your benefits with your insurer.
- Insurance, payment, and estimates