Teeth darken over time. Coffee, tea, red wine, age, and the accumulated stains of a normal life all contribute. Store-bought strips work on surface staining to a limited degree. Professional whitening uses a higher-concentration gel applied evenly across every surface of the tooth, including the contours that strips cannot consistently reach. The difference in outcome is measurable.
Dr. Le offers two options: in-office treatment for the fastest results, and custom take-home trays for patients who prefer to whiten on their own schedule. The trays are made from impressions of your teeth, so the fit is precise and the gel distributes evenly — unlike one-size-fits-all strip products that bunch and shift. Both options use professional-grade formulas not available over the counter.
Whitening works on natural enamel only, not on crowns, veneers, or composite bonding. If you have existing restorations in visible areas of your smile, Dr. Le will discuss this with you before treatment so your results look consistent. She'll also advise you on how to maintain your results. Whitening isn't permanent, but with good habits and periodic touch-ups, the results hold well.
