Teeth Whitening

Why aren't my teeth white?

As we age, tooth surfaces can become stained and discolored from normal eating and drinking. Teeth staining from drinking dark beverages like coffee, tea, colas and wine is common, and, smoking is not only bad for your health, it can leave heavy, dark stains on teeth. Some medications, such as certain antibiotics or excessive fluoride use, can also cause teeth to discolor.

Our dental hygienists can remove many surface stains from the teeth; however, this does not change the shade of the teeth. Professional teeth whitening can be used to make your teeth several shades lighter.

The Teeth Whitening Process

Athens dentist Dr. Lane Barker will conduct a thorough dental examination before whitening your teeth to make sure the teeth and gums are healthy with no signs of decay or gum infection. Teeth whitening should be postponed if any dental problems are present. Dr. Barker can also point out any areas that will not whiten, such as porcelain crowns or bridges, so you know what to expect.

Magnolia Dental Spa provides Opalescence™ BOOST™ professional teeth whitening at our Athens dental office. We offer both chairside and home teeth whitening for your convenience. Opalescence™ BOOST™ professional teeth whitening contains ingredients that are safe, highly effective and known for great results with low sensitivity.

Opalescence™ BOOST™ In-Office Whitening

If you are planning a big event, such as a wedding or graduation, or if you just want a whiter smile now, we can help you get your smile picture-perfect in one appointment with BOOST™ In-Office Whitening.

The process is easy:

• A clinical team member will seat you comfortably in the dental chair with music headphones and our classic Magnolia Dental Spa comforts, such as a soothing warm neck wrap and aromatherapy.
• We check your starting teeth shade with our shade guide and take a ‘before’ photo of your smile.
• The teeth are isolated using a comfortable paint-on material to protect the gums.
• The Opalescence™ In-Office Whitening gel is applied and left on the tooth surfaces for about 20 minutes.
• The whitening gel is removed and your whitening results are compared to your starting teeth shade. We may repeat the gel application 2-3 times based on the results.
• After your whitening treatment is complete, the teeth are rinsed and the isolation materials are removed.
• Time for the great reveal: We compare your before/after photo results!
• Your teeth will be shades lighter and we send you home with a whitening touch-up kit to use in a few months.

At-home Teeth Whitening

If you prefer to whiten at home, Opalescence™ BOOST™ Home Whitening kits are a great choice. After your exam, Dr. Barker and our dental assistant team will take impressions to create your custom teeth whitening trays.

Your whiter smile is just a few applications away:

• Wearing your trays with a small amount of Opalescence™ teeth whitening gel for 30 minutes a day, your teeth will be noticeably whiter in about 2 weeks.
• You can purchase whitening gel refills at your regular hygiene visits to keep your smile feeling fresh and looking its best.

Teeth Whitening Products

We agree that teeth whitening is a great way to improve the appearance of a smile. Dr. Barker and Team recommend that you only use professional teeth whitening products available from your dentist. At Magnolia Dental Spa, we recommend Opalescence™ professional teeth whitening because of our confidence that these products have been tested to be both effective and safe for our patients. Over-the-counter products contain a wide variety of ingredients and are not the same strength as those available from a licensed dentist office.