Teeth Whitening in Beverly Hills
Medically reviewed by Dr. Kayla Lebeau, DDS
Whitening that does not wreck your teeth
Professional whitening uses a stronger gel than anything sold over the counter, applied with your gums protected and the concentration matched to how sensitive your teeth are.
That last part is the whole difference. Strip whitening is one strength for everyone. Here we start by working out why your teeth have darkened, because the answer changes what will actually work, and occasionally means whitening is not the right treatment at all.
- In-officeAbout 90 minutes
- Take-home10 to 14 nights
- NumbingNone needed
- Lasts1 to 3 years with upkeep
Whitening is usually worth trying first if
- Your teeth have yellowed gradually with age, coffee, tea or red wine
- You have an event coming up and want a visible change quickly
- You are considering veneers but have not tried whitening yet
- Over-the-counter strips have plateaued
- Your teeth and gums are healthy. Whitening is not a treatment for decay
Why teeth darken, and what that means for you
Two different problems get called the same thing, and they respond very differently.
Surface staining sits on the enamel. Coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, some mouthwashes. This responds well to whitening, often dramatically.
Deeper discoloration comes from inside the tooth: aging, a knock years ago, root canal treatment, or antibiotics taken in childhood. Whitening helps less here, and a single dark tooth among lighter ones usually needs a different answer. Internal whitening, or a veneer.
We tell you which one you have before you spend anything.
Professional whitening gel, and the light-cured barrier used to protect your gums during treatment.
Your two options
- In-office whiteningAbout 90 minutes in the chair. Your gums are sealed with a protective barrier, then a professional-strength gel is applied in cycles. You leave with the result the same day.
- Custom take-home traysWe scan your teeth and make trays that fit only you, so the gel stays on the teeth and off the gums. You wear them 10 to 14 nights. Slower, gentler, and easier on sensitive teeth.
- Both togetherIn-office to make the jump, trays to hold and top up. This is what most people end up doing, and it is the most economical over time.
About sensitivity
Sensitivity during whitening is common, temporary, and largely manageable. If your teeth already react to cold, say so at the consultation. We lower the concentration, extend the schedule and can pre-treat with a desensitizing gel. Sensitivity is a reason to change the approach, not a reason to avoid whitening.
What it will not do
- It will not lighten crowns, veneers, bridges or white fillings. They stay the shade they were made, which is why we whiten before matching any new restoration.
- It will not fix shape, chips or alignment. That is veneers or Invisalign.
- It will not last forever. Coffee and red wine go back to work the day you finish.
Does whitening damage enamel?
Professionally supervised whitening at the right concentration does not. The risks come from unsupervised high-strength gel and from trays that do not fit, which let gel sit on the gums.
How white will my teeth go?
Most people move several shades. Your starting shade and the cause of the darkening set the ceiling, and we will give you a realistic expectation before you start rather than after.
How long does it last?
Typically one to three years, depending on what you drink and whether you smoke. A few nights with your trays brings it back rather than starting over.
Is it safe while pregnant or breastfeeding?
We defer elective whitening until afterwards. There is no evidence of harm, but there is no good reason to take an unnecessary risk either.
Can I whiten with braces or aligners?
Not with fixed braces on. With Invisalign, whitening usually comes at the end, once the teeth are in their final positions.
Find out what your teeth will actually do
- (310) 860-6969Someone here answers.
- Request a visitWe will call to confirm.
- Pick a time onlineChoose your own slot.
Sensitivity, and how to avoid most of it
Short, sharp zinging sensations during or after whitening are the most common side effect, and they are temporary. The gel opens microscopic channels in the enamel, which briefly makes the nerve more reachable. It settles within a day or two and causes no lasting harm.
What reduces it a great deal:
- Using a desensitizing toothpaste for two weeks before starting, not after
- Shorter sessions over more days rather than long ones
- Taking a day off between applications if it builds up
- Avoiding very hot and very cold drinks during the course
Tell us if you already have sensitive teeth or exposed roots. Recession matters here. Exposed root surface is not enamel, it does not whiten, and it is considerably more sensitive. We check before you start rather than discovering it halfway through.
The two ways we whiten
Both use the same active ingredient. The difference is concentration and how long it sits on the tooth, which is really a choice between speed and sensitivity.
In-office whitening
A stronger gel applied under supervision, with your gums isolated first, in about an hour. You leave several shades lighter the same day. The shade rebounds slightly over the first week as the teeth rehydrate, which is normal and why we do not judge the result on the day.
Custom take-home trays
Trays made from a scan of your own teeth, with a gentler gel worn around twenty minutes a day for two to four weeks. Slower, but it usually causes less sensitivity, and you keep the trays to top up in future for the cost of a syringe of gel.
Which one, and why not both
Often it is both: an in-office session to do the heavy lifting, then trays to hold and fine-tune it. If you are sensitive, we start with trays alone. If you have an event in a fortnight, we start in the chair.
Where whitening will not help
Crowns, veneers and white fillings do not lighten. They stay the shade they were made in, so whitening around old front fillings can leave them looking darker. Gray staining from tetracycline or a dead nerve responds poorly. We check for this before you spend anything.
Keeping the result, and what will not whiten
Whitening is not permanent. Expect gradual relapse over one to three years depending on diet and habits, which is exactly why we prefer take-home trays as part of the plan. You keep them and top up occasionally for the cost of a syringe of gel.
The 48 hours after treatment matter most, because enamel is more porous. Avoid coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curry, tomato sauce and berries. A useful rule: if it would stain a white shirt, it will stain your teeth. Using a straw for cold drinks helps at any time.
What will not whiten, at all: crowns, veneers, bridges and white fillings. They keep the shade they were made in permanently. This matters if you have old fillings in your front teeth. Whitening around them can leave them looking darker by contrast, and they may need replacing to match.
Gray staining from tetracycline responds poorly and slowly. A single dark tooth after old trauma usually needs internal whitening or a veneer instead.
A whitening case from the practice
A patient came in for a routine checkup and cleaning and added in-office whitening in the same appointment. The shade change is a single visit, not a course of treatment.