Teeth Whitening and Bleaching in Glen Ellyn, IL

woman picking out veneers

Professional Teeth Whitening and Bleaching from Our Glen Ellyn Dentist

Are you looking to brighten your smile with professional teeth whitening services in Glen Ellyn, IL? Dr. Thomas Gibbs offers cutting-edge whitening solutions tailored to your unique dental needs. Whether you prefer in-office treatments for immediate results or convenient at-home options, our experienced dental team will help you achieve the dazzling smile you deserve.

Do you have any questions about professional teeth whitening and bleaching? Call our Glen Ellyn dental practice at (630) 326-5453 to schedule your consultation!

What is Professional Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)?

Professional teeth whitening has evolved significantly over the years, with modern techniques offering safer and more effective results than ever before. Dr. Gibbs combines extensive clinical experience with continuous education in the latest whitening advancements to provide exceptional care. Whether you’re addressing yellowing from coffee consumption or age-related discoloration, our whitening treatments can help restore your smile’s natural brilliance.

The Science of Whitening

Teeth whitening works by breaking down complex stain molecules using either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These active ingredients penetrate tooth enamel to target discoloration at its source. The oxidation process transforms stain molecules into smaller, less visible compounds, resulting in significantly whiter teeth without damaging the tooth structure.

teeth whitening levels

In-Office Whitening–Alternative #1

Our in-office professional teeth whitening treatment uses highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide formulas to remove years of staining in just one visit. This dentist-supervised procedure ensures maximum effectiveness while protecting your gums and oral tissues from irritation. Most patients see dramatic improvements in tooth color after just one professional whitening session.

The Power Whitening Process

We proudly offer both Opalescence and Zoom professional whitening systems, providing powerful solutions for patients seeking immediate results. Perfect for special occasions like weddings or important business presentations, these treatments can brighten your smile by several shades in a single appointment.

Advanced Treatment Technology

Our whitening process protocol involves three 15-minute applications of professional-grade whitening gel. Dr. Gibbs begins by applying protective barriers to your gums before precisely placing the whitening gel on your teeth. A specialized light activates the gel, accelerating the whitening process and enhancing results. Between applications, we rinse your teeth and apply fresh gel for maximum effectiveness.

before and after treatment at Smile Glen Ellyn

At-Home Whitening–Alternative #2

For patients who prefer the convenience of whitening at home, our professional take-home whitening kits offer exceptional results. This popular option is perfect for those with sensitive teeth or those who prefer a more gradual whitening process. Our at-home whitening solution combines professional-strength whitening gel with custom-fitted trays created specifically for your teeth.

Custom-Fit Whitening Trays

Unlike generic store-bought whitening options, our custom trays are precisely crafted using impressions of your teeth. This ensures the whitening gel makes consistent contact with all tooth surfaces while minimizing exposure to sensitive gum tissue. These trays comfortably fit your unique dental anatomy, allowing for even whitening of both front teeth and side teeth.

Flexible Treatment Schedule

Our at-home whitening system offers flexibility in treatment intensity and duration. Depending on your sensitivity level and whitening goals, you’ll wear the trays filled with professional whitening gel for one to five hours daily over approximately two weeks. Dr. Gibbs will provide specific instructions tailored to your needs.

before and after treatment at Smile Glen Ellyn

Professional Teeth Whitening​

Comprehensive Dentist Serving Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Lombard, Glendale Heights, and Carol Stream, IL

Basic Considerations of Tooth Whitening

Before starting any whitening treatment, it’s essential to address key oral health issues. Dr. Gibbs ensures both the safety and effectiveness of your whitening procedure through a thorough examination. Here are the primary considerations:

  • Essential Dental Health: Whitening teeth without addressing existing dental issues can lead to complications and reduced effectiveness. Conditions like cavities, gum disease, or exposed roots need treatment before whitening. Dental restorations will be assessed, as they don’t respond to whitening agents and may need replacement to match your new tooth color.
  • Individual Considerations: Whitening results depend on factors like tooth discoloration type, enamel thickness, and sensitivity. Some stains, especially those from medications or developmental issues, may not respond well to whitening. Dr. Gibbs will set realistic expectations tailored to your situation.

Tooth Whitening Safety

Professional teeth whitening is as safe as most cosmetic dental procedures when supervised by a qualified dentist, whether at home or in the office. Modern bleaching practices don’t alter the micro-hardness of teeth or increase decay risk.

Professional teeth whitening has been extensively studied, proving safe and effective with quality products. Over-the-counter and online products pose more risks due to unmonitored chemical compositions.

High-quality tooth whitening products may cause temporary sensitivity or gum irritation. These side effects are manageable and usually short-lived. Dr. Gibbs offers desensitizing agents like potassium nitrate or amorphous calcium phosphate to minimize discomfort.

Tooth Whitening Products for Whiter Teeth

There are various teeth whitening products used to whiten and bleach the teeth. Most contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. The faster bleaching products generally use hydrogen peroxide, and carbamide peroxide actually “breaks down” into hydrogen peroxide. Both are effective, but how they are prepared and mixed into the delivery solution can make a difference.

Here’s our professional recommendations:

  1. Avoid internet products that don’t come from established manufacturers. They are laden with a long list of (often fabricated) testimonials and claims. Your smile is simply too important for the cost of this simple procedure.
  2. Be cautious with store products and strips. Many patients have tried these, and some even with good results. Some, however, find them hard to keep in place, and they usually just bleach the front teeth, leaving darker side teeth that may show when smiling.
  3. Use custom trays: These have to be custom-made by the dentist and bleach the side teeth also. The dentist also has the opportunity to determine the safety of the bleaching procedure and the fit/of the trays.
  4. Consider in-office bleaching: The faster way to lighten the teeth. See our section on this “power treatment!”
clear aligners

Whitening Your Teeth at Home with a Tray

If you prefer to get your professional teeth whitening in the comfort of your own home, we offer home bleaching via the use of trays. A “tray” is a custom-fitted mouthpiece, created in our office, specifically to match your teeth. The tray fits snugly over the teeth, holding the whitening gel in place on the teeth for a specific amount of time.

Customized Treatment Plans

Choose from different gel concentrations based on your tooth condition and sensitivity. Stronger gels require shorter wear times, while milder solutions may need up to five hours daily. Treatment typically lasts 10 to 14 days.

Personalized Care

Each treatment is tailored to your needs, considering factors like discoloration, oral health, and sensitivity. If sensitivity occurs, a desensitizing compound can be used every other day. This method effectively addresses extrinsic stains, ensuring safe and satisfying results

In Office One Visit Professional Teeth Whitening

For many patients, choosing teeth whitening or bleaching in a single visit is an attractive option. This method involves applying a specific tooth bleaching material for rapid results. Over the past 25 years, we’ve used advanced whitening solutions like Zoom, UltraBrite, and Opalescence. Our personalized care ensures we select the best material for each patient, such as power bleaching or laser bleaching, to achieve results tailored to your needs.

Advantages of in-office professional teeth whitening

  • Done quickly with a total chair time of about two hours
  • Is well suited for people impatient with the daily use of trays
  • Suitable for people who are prone to gagging or intolerant to tray use
  • Suitable for people who experienced sensitivity to previous use of home trays
  • Can make teeth up to eight shades brighter in a single session

At the end of the visit, we’ll provide you with home trays so that you can do at-home periodic “touch-ups.” The teeth need to be cleaned prior to the procedure, and a dental examination is required to rule out problems that may not be evident that could affect the whitening process or cause increased tooth sensitivity.

Over-the-Counter Tooth Whitening Kits

Often endorsed by celebrities past their prime or featured in dramatic television ads, over-the-counter teeth whitening kits come with extravagant promises and enthusiastic testimonials from elusive users like “Jake M.” and “Sara B.” These testimonials are typically unverifiable, and the experiences of a few random users don’t compare to the extensive research and data supporting dental office whitening methods.

While over-the-counter options offer convenience, they come with significant limitations:

  • Limited Coverage: Products like strips typically only whiten front teeth, leaving side teeth noticeably darker
  • Inconsistent Results: Non-custom application leads to uneven whitening
  • Safety Concerns: Ill-fitting trays may cause gum irritation or chemical burns
  • Weaker Formulations: Lower concentrations of active ingredients deliver less impressive results

For safe, effective, and comprehensive whitening, professional treatment remains the gold standard.

Managing Tooth Sensitivity During Whitening

Tooth sensitivity is a common concern for those considering teeth whitening or bleaching. While sensitivity can occur during whitening, effective strategies exist to manage it. Whitening solutions may penetrate teeth, especially those with exposed dentin from gum recession, and release gases that can also cause sensitivity.

Risk factors for sensitivity:

  • Cavities and decay expose dentin, increasing sensitivity risk during whitening.
  • Over-the-counter treatments without professional guidance heighten sensitivity risks.
  • Poorly fitting trays can allow excess whitening gel to contact gums, possibly causing chemical burns.
  • Always check for tooth decay before whitening.

For highly sensitive individuals, shorter whitening sessions every few days can be effective, though it may extend treatment time. Desensitizing agents like potassium nitrate, amorphous calcium phosphate, or neutral fluoride may be used, ideally under a dentist’s guidance. These agents can be mixed with or alternated with whitening compounds to reduce discomfort while achieving desired results.

Call (630) 326-5453 now or make an appointment online. We look forward to meeting you!

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do professional teeth whitening results last?

Professional teeth whitening results can last between six months and two years with proper care. Factors like diet (consuming staining foods and drinks such as coffee, tea, and red wine), tobacco use, oral hygiene, and aging impact longevity. We offer touch-up kits to maintain your whitening results, and regular dental cleanings every six months help preserve your bright smile.

Professional teeth whitening is most effective on extrinsic stains caused by food, drink, and tobacco. It’s excellent for age-related yellowing and most food-based discoloration. However, intrinsic stains, such as those from certain medications, fluoride exposure during tooth development, or dental trauma, may resist whitening. Teeth with grayish tones often respond less effectively than those with yellowish discoloration. During your consultation, your cosmetic dentist will evaluate your discoloration type and set realistic expectations for your results.

Most dental insurance plans consider teeth whitening a cosmetic procedure and typically do not cover it. However, we offer flexible payment options to make professional whitening treatments accessible. Some dental discount plans might offer reduced rates for cosmetic procedures. 

We’ll verify your specific insurance benefits and discuss payment alternatives during your consultation. Many patients find the investment in dentist-supervised whitening worthwhile for the professional results and enhanced confidence it brings.

Schedule Your Teeth Whitening Consultation Today

Ready to transform your smile with professional teeth whitening in Glen Ellyn? Call (630) 326-5453 now or book your appointment online. Dr. Gibbs will evaluate your specific needs and recommend the perfect whitening solution for your unique smile!

Our convenient Glen Ellyn location serves patients from throughout DuPage County, including, Wheaton, Lombard, Glendale Heights, Carol Stream, and Winfield. We look forward to helping you achieve the brilliant, confident smile you deserve with our state-of-the-art professional teeth whitening services!

Get in Touch

We’ve filled our website with information about our doctors, our team, and our services including family dentistry we offer, location, maps and business hours. Please feel free to take a look around to learn more about what we do and how we can help keep your smile healthy and stunning for a lifetime. We want you to feel confident that when you choose us, you’re choosing to receive the best dental care available.