Teeth Whitening – Katy, TX
Brighter, More Confident Smiles for Kids and Teens
Stains from soda, sports drinks, genetic factors, or medications can make kids hide their smiles away, limiting how they express their joy. At Wellspring Pediatric Dentistry, we believe every child should be able to live out loud. That’s why Dr. Mehta offers safe, gentle teeth whitening in Katy designed specifically with growing smiles in mind. As a cosmetic dentist for children and teens, she will carefully consider your child’s needs and customize a treatment plan that’s both effective and age-appropriate. We're confident we can help your child feel proud to show off their gorgeous grin.
Why Choose Wellspring Pediatric Dentistry For Teeth Whitening?
- Board-Certified Pediatric Dentist
- In-Office and Take-Home Teeth Whitening Options
- Friendly, Caring Dental Team
Who Is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?
Not every child is ready for teeth whitening, which is why a consultation is so important. In general, the best candidates are older children and teens who have most or all of their permanent teeth, good oral health, and stains that don’t disappear with regular brushing.
These discolorations may come from foods, drinks, medications they’re taking, or even genetic factors they can’t control. Dr. Mehta will check for cavities, sensitivity, and gum issues first. If whitening is a safe and appropriate step, she’ll discuss options with you to find the best way to enhance your child’s smile.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening uses a special gel that breaks apart stain molecules on the surface and just beneath the enamel. At our Katy office, we carefully adjust the strength of our products to be kid-friendly, protecting their gums and enamel from overuse or sensitivity.
Your child simply wears the whitening gel for a short, controlled time, either in our office or at home with custom trays. This supervised approach gives the best of all worlds, delivering natural-looking results without the risks of store-bought treatments.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
For responsible older kids and teens, take-home whitening can be a fantastic option. For this treatment, Dr. Mehta creates custom trays that fit comfortably over your child’s teeth. These trays are then used alongside a professional-strength gel at home.
Your child will wear the trays for a set amount of time each day, gradually lifting stains over one to two weeks. Clear instructions and follow-up visits ensure their treatment stays safe and on track.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
If your child wants faster results because picture day, a dance, or some other special event is coming up, in-office whitening might be ideal. During a single appointment, we apply a concentrated whitening gel that’s activated with a special UV light.
This visit typically lasts about an hour, and afterward, your child will leave with noticeably brighter teeth—often by several shades! Our pediatric team keeps the experience relaxed and positive, so your child will feel comfortable from start to finish.
Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile
After whitening, your child’s habits will play the biggest role in keeping their smile bright. Once their goals are met, here’s how to keep their results sparkling:
- Taking Good Care of Their Teeth: Encourage your child to brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and floss before bed.
- Limiting Pigmented Drinks: If your child loves soda, sports drinks, and sweet tea, encourage them to cut back, and offer a straw when they do indulge. This can help prevent new stains.
- Stopping by to See Us Regularly: Checkups and cleanings allow our team to gently polish away surface discoloration or provide touch-ups for your child if needed.
Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a great way to enhance the natural beauty of your teen’s smile without invasive treatment. However, many people put off treatment like this because they are worried about the cost. Since everyone’s treatment is a little bit different, so the cost can vary. During your child’s consultation, we will go over the exact cost of their treatment so that you don’t run into any surprises. Until then, here are some things to take into consideration.
Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening
The cost of professional teeth whitening varies on several factors. Here are some of the most prominent ones.
- Types of Discoloration: Intrinsic stains are more difficult to list than extrinsic ones, so they might require an alternative treatment.
- Severity of Damage: If your teen’s teeth have dark stains, they may need additional whitening sessions to achieve their goals.
- Other Services: If your child has any existing dental issues, like gum disease or tooth decay, they need to be treated and eliminated ahead of time.
Types of Teeth Whitening: What Do They Cost?
There are various teeth whitening options out there. Here’s what you can usually expect in terms of cost.
- In-Office Teeth Whitening: In-office teeth whitening ranges from $400 to $800. In some areas, it can be over $1000.
- Take-Home Teeth Whitening: Professional take-home teeth whitening treatments usually cost a few hundred dollars.
- Over-the-Counter Trays: Teeth whitening trays that you find over-the-counter are usually $100 or less.
- Over-the-Counter Strips/Gels: This is the cheapest teeth whitening option available. These boxes cost between $20 and $40 and contain enough product to last a couple of weeks.
Inexpensive Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening
When you consider the numbers listed above, you may be wondering why someone would choose professional teeth whitening when over-the-counter options are so much more affordable. With cosmetic dentistry, the results that you see are clearly reflected in the cost of the treatment that your teen gets. Cheaper strips and gels won’t show significant results. This is especially the case with darker discoloration. Professional teeth whitening treatment gives you noticeable results in a fraction of the time.
Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable
Teeth whitening is not covered by dental insurance because it is a cosmetic treatment. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be left completely on your own. We are happy to accept payments through CareCredit – a third-party financing company that can split the cost of your treatment into manageable monthly installments with little to no interest. For more information, give us a call!