Tooth whitening in San Francisco is as simple as a phone call away.   Here, at San Francisco Cosmetic Dental Group, a whiter, brighter smile can be yours in as little as one office visit.  Our offices are conveniently located in North Beach right off the Embarcadero ( 7 Lombard St, San Francisco, CA 94111). 

There are many questions surrounding tooth whitening.  At the end of the day, many of us simply want beautiful white teeth. Let's walk through some of the most common questions surrounding tooth whitening in San Francisco.

“I have to give a presentation tomorrow.  Is there any way I can get my teeth whiter by then?”

For people that want immediate results, we have an in-office whitening procedure.  First, we thoroughly polish the teeth we are going to be whitening.  Then we cover the gums using a protective gel.  We use a high-concentration hydrogen peroxide solution which is further enhanced by an ultra-violet light.  We repeat this procedure several times.  Finally, we remove the gum protective barrier and do a final polish to reveal beautiful, gleaming, shining whiter teeth.

"I’m getting married in a couple of weeks.  Which whitening technique is for me?"

If you have a couple of weeks to spare, the take-home whitening version may be for you.  After taking some impressions, here in the office, we will fabricate custom made whitening trays.  We will give you tubes of the whitening gel.  The gel is a high-concentration carbamide peroxide or a high-concentration hydrogen peroxide.  Simply enough, you place the gel into the tray and place the tray on your teeth before going to bed.  The next morning, after you brush your teeth, they’ll be whiter and brighter.  It’s as simple as that.

"I hate having anything in my mouth when I sleep.  Do I have to do it at night?"

The whitening gel is most effective over the first couple of hours.  It continues to work over the course of about four hours.  If you have several hours during the day, maybe at work, perhaps doing chores around the house, or even watching a movie, you can certainly accomplish the same bright, white results during the day.

"Are there any side effects?"

For some people, their teeth become sensitive to cold.  For these patients we recommend a toothpaste for sensitive teeth.  On occasion, if necessary, we can also give the patient a desensitizing gel, too.  The sensitivity, if present at all, is often mild and usually goes away after a couple of weeks.

"How much whiter will my teeth get?"

Some patients only have to give their teeth a little boost to get them a whiter.  Other people simply have naturally darker teeth.  We have seen results where people were able to get their teeth 10+ shades whiter.  Brilliant!!!

"I have crowns / veneers/ bonding.  Will they whiten, too?

Generally, crowns, veneers or bonding will not whiten.  We usually recommend that you have your whitening done BEFORE you proceed with any cosmetic work on your front teeth.

"How long will it last?"

Generally, the tooth whitening effects last a long time.  In some patients, it is several years before they require a "touch-up".  Some foods stain teeth, such as blueberries.  Tea and coffee also stain teeth.  So does chlorine, if you’re a swimmer, as well as smoking, if you smoke.  These will all diminish the whitening effects sooner.

"What do I do if I have to do a touch-up?"

If you did the in-office whitening, we will also give you "touch-up" kits.  Generally, only one or two applications are necessary.  If you did the take-home whitening, simply do a night or two of whitening with your custom-made trays.

"I was hoping for something more permanent.  What are my options?"

We can also whiten your teeth with porcelain veneers.  The San Francisco Cosmetic Dental Group specializes in porcelain veneers which are a very thin shell that gets bonded to the front part of the tooth.  Porcelain veneers can help change the shape of the teeth, the alignment of the teeth, as well as making them whiter.  Because they are porcelain, the shade will not fade over time.  Often, we can do veneers these days without any drilling.  Be happy with your smile!

If you are looking for San Francisco tooth whitening, you have found the right place.  Your smile says a lot about you.  Tooth whitening is one of the easiest and most conservative ways to brighten your smile and boost your confidence.  There is no reason you can’t have the beautiful smile you’ve always dreamed about.  We, here at San Francisco Cosmetic Dental Group, are here to help you look good and feel great.  Get a whiter, brighter smile today!