Drugstore strips fade fast and can leave uneven results — professional Teeth Whitening is calibrated to your enamel, not a generic formula. 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. We'd rather delay a whitening session than treat over a cavity we haven't addressed.
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. This exam is included in your visit, not billed as a separate add-on.
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. Most sensitivity fades within a day or two when managed properly.
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.
A slower approach for patients who prefer control over the pace and prefer less chair time. We check your progress at a follow-up to confirm even results.
Realistic outcome expectations are set at this visit — whitening lightens natural enamel, not crowns or veneers. This appointment also flags any restorations that won't whiten along with natural teeth.
We adjust gel exposure time for sensitive patients rather than pushing through discomfort. Post-visit care instructions are given verbally and in writing.
A quick touch-up session every several months keeps results from fading back to baseline. 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.
In-office sessions take about an hour; take-home trays are fitted and explained the same visit.
You'll see your new shade compared to your starting point, plus a plan to maintain it.
"Did the in-office session before my wedding. Noticeably brighter after one hour and no sensitivity afterward."
"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. We monitor your enamel condition throughout treatment, not just at the start.
Typically six months to two years depending on diet, smoking, and oral hygiene habits. We'll recommend a realistic maintenance plan rather than a generic one-size interval.
No — restorations don't whiten the same way natural enamel does, which we check for during your consult. Some patients choose to replace an older restoration afterward to match their new shade.
Yes, with an adjusted gel concentration and desensitizing treatment built into your visit. 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. We'll walk through the trade-offs honestly at your shade consult.
Smile Center Dentistry provides Teeth Whitening to patients throughout Lamar and neighboring Lamar, SC communities. New and existing patients throughout Lamar are welcome to book a shade consult first.
Licensed, gentle, and local to Lamar — call and ask about your options.
Call +1-866-227-2801