Why do teeth lose their radiance?
Teeth darken for different reasons. Coffee and red wine sit on the surface. Age thins the enamel, so more of the yellower dentin shows through. Some staining was built into the tooth before it ever came in. Each of those responds differently to whitening.
As your Louisville teeth whitening dentist, Dr. German Bazan checks the shade, the enamel, and any existing crowns or veneers before we choose a system.
The whitening systems we offer
KöR® Whitening
KöR is a combined in-office and at-home system built around two things the manufacturer designs for specifically: gel that is kept refrigerated from production until it reaches you, and KöR-Seal trays shaped to keep saliva out of the tray while you wear it.
A tray that leaks dilutes the gel within half an hour, and KöR’s protocol depends on the gel staying active overnight instead. It’s the system we reach for when staining is deep or has not moved with anything else.
Opalescence
Opalescence is our take-home option for surface and age-related staining, worn in custom trays made from a digital scan rather than impression putty. It suits patients who want to whiten gradually at home, keep a lower gel strength for sensitivity, or top up a result they already have.
What professional teeth whitening involves here
A shade and enamel check
We record your starting shade, look at how much of the color is surface versus internal, and note any fillings, crowns, or veneers in your smile line. Whitening gel does not change those.
A cleaning first, where it helps
Whitening works on clean enamel. If you are due for a cleaning, we usually do that first so the gel reaches the tooth rather than the film on it.
Digitally scanned trays
We scan your teeth with our intra-oral scanner instead of using impression material. The trays come back fitted closely enough to hold the gel where it belongs.
In-office and at-home steps
Depending on the system, treatment runs as at-home wear, one or more in-office visits, or the two in sequence. We give you the schedule before you start, along with how long each stage takes.
A shade check at the end
We compare against the shade we recorded on day one, so the result is measured rather than remembered.
Why patients choose a Louisville teeth whitening dentist
- Strength you cannot buy over the counter, used under supervision
- Trays made to your teeth rather than a one-size strip that misses the edges
- Gum and soft-tissue protection during in-office treatment
- A plan matched to the kind of staining you actually have
- Someone to call when a tooth gets sensitive mid-treatment
- An honest answer about what whitening will not fix
Smiles shine brighter at Solstice Dental & Aesthetics
We're raising the bar for Louisville dentists everywhere by putting your comfort at the center of our general and cosmetic dental care.
Your questions about teeth whitening, answered
How long does professional teeth whitening last?
Usually one to three years, though it depends heavily on what you eat and drink and whether you smoke. Coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sauces will pull the shade back down over time. Most patients keep the result going with occasional at-home top-up wear in the trays they already own, which is far cheaper than starting again.
Does whitening work on tetracycline staining?
Sometimes, and it takes longer. Tetracycline staining sits inside the tooth rather than on it, often as grey or banded discoloration, and it is the hardest kind to shift. KöR publishes case work on tetracycline patients, and it’s the system we’d use, with a longer protocol and a realistic conversation first. If whitening alone will not get you where you want to be, veneers may be the better route.
Does teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
It can. Peroxide temporarily opens the pathways through enamel and dentin, and some patients feel short, sharp twinges for a day or two. It settles once treatment ends and it does not damage the tooth. We can lower the gel strength, shorten the wear time, space out the sessions, or add a desensitizing product. Tell us early rather than pushing through.
How is this different from whitening strips or an in-office lamp?
Strips are weaker; they don’t sit flush against curved or crowded teeth, and they wash out with saliva quickly. Lamp-based in-office systems work on a single long appointment and rely on heat and light alongside the gel. A tray system like KöR runs on longer contact time with a sealed, high-potency gel, which is what deeper staining tends to need. The right choice is the one matched to your staining, and that is the part a Louisville teeth whitening dentist adds.
How many visits does teeth whitening take?
A straightforward take-home case is usually one visit to scan and fit trays, then wear at home, then a short check. A KöR case adds in-office treatment sessions on top of the at-home wear. We give you the exact number at the consultation once we have seen your teeth, because it varies with the type and depth of the staining.
Will whitening work on crowns, veneers, and fillings?
No. Porcelain and composite do not lighten. If you have a crown or a filling in your smile line, whitening the natural teeth around it will make the restoration look darker by comparison. That is worth planning for. When restorations are on the horizon anyway, we whiten first and then match the new work to the lighter shade.
Is professional teeth whitening safe?
Peroxide whitening has a long record of safe use under dental supervision. The care is in keeping the gel on enamel and off gums, checking for untreated decay or cracks before starting, and adjusting when sensitivity shows up. Whitening on top of an undiagnosed problem is the risk, not the whitening itself, which is why we examine before we treat.
Does insurance cover teeth whitening?
Whitening is cosmetic, so dental plans almost never cover it. We give you the cost before you commit, and Cherry financing is available if you would rather split it into monthly payments.
Ready to see what your teeth can do?
Book a whitening consultation, and we’ll tell you what kind of staining you have and which system fits it so you can have your radiant smile back.
