Coffee, wine, and time all take a toll on enamel shade — an in-office treatment resets it in about an hour. Smile Center Dentistry checks your enamel and gums before recommending a strength.
Not every patient should use the same concentration of whitening gel, so we don't treat every case the same way. A quick pre-treatment exam takes minutes and prevents a much worse outcome later.
Sensitive teeth get a gentler protocol; we don't push maximum strength on every patient by default. We adjust based on what your specific exam shows, not a default setting.
A quick exam catches issues that whitening over them would only make worse. We'd rather catch a problem now than have you call back in discomfort later.
Both options use professional-grade gel, just at different concentrations and timelines. Some patients even combine both — an in-office boost followed by take-home maintenance.
We proactively manage sensitivity instead of waiting for you to call back in pain. We check in after your session if sensitivity was a concern going in.
Results and timelines vary by starting shade and enamel condition, and we're upfront about that.
One appointment, professional-grade gel, and a shade guide comparison before and after. We monitor sensitivity throughout the session rather than applying gel and walking away.
Trays molded to your exact bite let you whiten gradually at home with a lower-concentration gel. We check your progress at a follow-up to confirm even results.
We compare your current shade against a guide before treatment so you have a real baseline, not a guess. This appointment also flags any restorations that won't whiten along with natural teeth.
Desensitizing gel is applied before and after treatment for patients prone to sensitive teeth. Post-visit care instructions are given verbally and in writing.
Take-home touch-up trays let you maintain your shade without a full in-office visit each time. We recommend a schedule based on your diet and habits, not a generic interval.
Deeper staining from certain medications or fluorosis responds differently than surface staining and may need a longer protocol. Realistic expectations are set at your shade consult, not after treatment disappoints you.
We ask about sensitivity history when you book, so we're prepared for your specific case.
This quick exam determines whether in-office or take-home whitening fits you better.
Sensitivity is monitored throughout, with gel timing adjusted if needed.
We schedule touch-ups based on your habits, not a generic calendar reminder.
"They checked my teeth for cavities first, which I didn't expect but appreciated — no surprises during treatment."
"Sensitive teeth usually make whitening miserable for me, but they adjusted the gel strength and it was totally manageable."
"Six months later, a quick touch-up tray kept my results from fading. Way cheaper than starting over."
"They told me my old crown wouldn't whiten with the rest of my teeth, which saved me from an uneven result."
"Had some intrinsic staining from an old medication and they explained upfront it would take longer to lighten. Appreciated not being oversold on a quick fix."
We compare your before-and-after against a shade guide so the improvement isn't just a guess. Take-home trays typically show gradual improvement over one to two weeks.
Overuse of drugstore products without supervision is more likely to cause sensitivity than a professionally managed treatment. Supervised whitening is safer precisely because someone is watching for problems.
Coffee, wine, and tobacco fade results faster — we discuss realistic maintenance based on your habits. A touch-up schedule tailored to your habits helps extend results significantly.
We flag any crowns or veneers upfront so you're not surprised by an uneven result later. If a mismatch would result, we discuss options honestly before you commit to treatment.
Sensitivity is common and manageable — we tailor the approach rather than skipping whitening altogether. We check in during treatment and adjust if sensitivity becomes uncomfortable.
In-office gives faster results in one visit; take-home is gradual and lets you control the pace — we'll recommend based on your goals. Some patients do both — an initial boost followed by trays for upkeep.
Smile Center Dentistry provides Teeth Whitening to patients throughout New Carrollton and neighboring New Carrollton, MD communities. New and existing patients throughout New Carrollton are welcome to book a shade consult first.
We'll check your teeth first and recommend what actually fits your case.
Call +1-866-227-2801