Coffee, wine, and time all take a toll on enamel shade — an in-office treatment resets it in about an hour. 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.
We calibrate gel concentration to your enamel condition, not a one-strength-fits-all approach. 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. We'd rather catch a problem now than have you call back in discomfort later.
Choose a single in-office session for fast results or custom take-home trays for a gradual approach — we explain the trade-offs. Some patients even combine both — an in-office boost followed by take-home maintenance.
Desensitizing gel and post-treatment guidance are part of every whitening visit, not an upsell. We check in after your session if sensitivity was a concern going in.
Results and timelines vary by starting shade and enamel condition, and we're upfront about that.
A higher-concentration gel activated in the chair delivers visible results in about an hour. We monitor sensitivity throughout the session rather than applying gel and walking away.
Trays molded to your exact bite let you whiten gradually at home with a lower-concentration gel. We check your progress at a follow-up to confirm even results.
We compare your current shade against a guide before treatment so you have a real baseline, not a guess. 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.
We check for cavities and gum health, then compare your current shade against a guide.
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.
"They checked my teeth for cavities first, which I didn't expect but appreciated — no surprises during treatment."
"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."
"Honest about what whitening could and couldn't fix on my teeth — no overselling."
"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.
Professional whitening, properly calibrated, doesn't damage healthy enamel — that's why we check your teeth first. Supervised whitening is safer precisely because someone is watching for problems.
Coffee, wine, and tobacco fade results faster — we discuss realistic maintenance based on your 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. If a mismatch would result, we discuss options honestly before you commit to treatment.
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 Pacifica and neighboring Pacifica, CA communities. New and existing patients throughout Pacifica are welcome to book a shade consult first.
Licensed, gentle, and local to Pacifica — call and ask about your options.
Call +1-866-227-2801