A man I knew way back in high school is flying into town for a business meeting and wants to have dinner and catch up. This is going to sound a bit childish, but I used to have a crush on him and want to make a good impression. Sort of show him I’ve “aged well”.  I’d like to improve my smile but he gets here in a month. I looked at porcelain veneers but they are way out of my budget. Is there another way to improve my smile that quickly without spending a small fortune?

Emily

Hi Emily,

One of the least expensive ways to make a dramatic improvement on your smile is to have professional teeth whitening done. That simple procedure alone will take years off your smile’s appearance. You have two options to get this done.

Teeth Whitening Option One:  Take Home

The least expensive option is to use take-home trays. Your dentist will custom fit them to your smile so the whitening gel stays in place while still reaching the whole tooth for even whitening. You’d want to wear them for a minimum of 30 minutes a day at your convenience. Obviously, the longer you wear them, the whiter they will get.  Depending on how much staining your teeth have and how white you want to get them, this can take around six weeks. Of course, the length of time you wear them each day will be a factor as well.

 

Teeth Whitening Option Two:  Zoom Whitening

You can also have your teeth whitened in just one appointment using Zoom Whitening.  This is an in-office procedure and not all dentists have the equipment, so you may have to call around to see who in your area does.  This uses a special light that activates the whitening gel.  Your teeth will be their whitest in just three 20-minute sessions all done in one appointment.

I hope this helps.  Best of luck with your reunion!

This blog is brought to you by New Orleans Dentist Dr. Duane Delaune.