Brighten Your Smile With Custom At-Home Teeth Whitening
Stains and discoloration can make your smile look dull even when your teeth are healthy. Professional at-home whitening can gradually brighten your teeth using custom trays designed specifically for your smile.
At Engelhardt & Nelson Family Dentistry, Dr. Geoff Engelhardt and Dr. Raechel Nelson provide at-home teeth whitening in Fort Collins, Colorado for patients who want a brighter, more confident smile with treatment they can complete on their own schedule.
Ready for a brighter smile? Call 970-484-4890 today to schedule a teeth whitening consultation.
How At-Home Teeth Whitening Works
Your whitening treatment begins with an evaluation of your teeth and gums to make sure whitening is appropriate for your smile. Our team will then take impressions or digital records of your upper and lower teeth to create custom whitening trays.
You will place a small amount of professional whitening solution into the trays and wear them according to the instructions provided by our team. Treatment time can vary based on the whitening material, the amount of discoloration and your individual sensitivity.
Many patients complete their initial whitening treatment over several weeks. Once you reach your desired shade, the same custom trays can often be used for occasional touch-ups as directed.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Teeth can become stained or discolored for many reasons. Some changes develop gradually with age, while others are related to foods, beverages, tobacco use, medications or other factors.
Common causes of tooth discoloration include:
- Coffee, tea, red wine and other dark-colored beverages
- Foods that stain tooth enamel
- Smoking or other tobacco use
- Natural changes in tooth color with age
- Certain medications
- Changes within the tooth itself
- Surface buildup or staining
Not every type of discoloration responds the same way to whitening. Dr. Geoff Engelhardt or Dr. Raechel Nelson can evaluate your teeth and explain whether professional whitening is likely to provide the improvement you want.
Why Choose Custom Whitening Trays?
Custom trays are designed to fit your teeth closely, helping distribute the whitening material more evenly than a one-size-fits-all product.
Professional at-home whitening also allows our team to guide your treatment based on your teeth, existing dental work and sensitivity.
Benefits may include:
- Custom trays made specifically for your smile
- Professional guidance throughout treatment
- The ability to whiten gradually at home
- Control over the final shade
- Reusable trays for future touch-ups when appropriate
- A natural-looking improvement rather than an overly bright result
Teeth Whitening With a Natural-Looking Approach
Our goal is to brighten your smile while keeping the result natural and appropriate for your overall appearance. Whitening should enhance your smile rather than make your teeth look artificial.
Dr. Geoff Engelhardt and Dr. Raechel Nelson consider your current tooth color, existing restorations and cosmetic goals before recommending treatment. If whitening alone will not address the concern, we can also discuss other cosmetic dentistry options.
Will Teeth Whitening Work on Crowns, Fillings or Veneers?
Whitening treatment changes the color of natural tooth structure, but it does not whiten existing crowns, fillings, bridges or veneers in the same way.
If you have visible dental restorations, our doctors will consider their color when planning treatment. In some cases, whitening may be completed first so any future cosmetic or restorative work can be matched to the brighter shade.
Managing Tooth Sensitivity During Whitening
Some patients experience temporary tooth sensitivity while whitening. The amount of sensitivity varies from person to person and may depend on how often the trays are worn and how the teeth respond to the whitening material.
If sensitivity develops, our team may recommend adjusting how frequently or how long you wear the trays. We will provide instructions based on your individual treatment plan rather than using the same schedule for every patient.
Experienced Cosmetic Dentists
Professional whitening may be a relatively simple cosmetic treatment, but it should still be planned around the health and appearance of your entire smile.
Dr. Geoff Engelhardt has practiced dentistry since 1997 and has completed approximately 50 professional teeth whitening cases along with extensive cosmetic and restorative treatment. He has completed approximately 1,500 hours of continuing education, including about 1,000 hours related to cosmetic dentistry.
Dr. Raechel Nelson has practiced dentistry since 2009 and has completed approximately 100 professional teeth whitening cases. She has completed approximately 1,000 hours of continuing education, including about 500 hours related to cosmetic dentistry, as well as additional cosmetic dentistry training through Ultradent.
Their broader cosmetic and restorative experience helps our team determine when whitening is appropriate and when another treatment may better address a patient’s concerns.
A Conservative Approach to Cosmetic Dentistry
At Engelhardt & Nelson Family Dentistry, cosmetic treatment begins with understanding what you actually want to change. We do not believe every smile needs extensive dental work.
If professional whitening can provide the improvement you are looking for, we will explain how treatment works and what results are realistic. If stains or discoloration are unlikely to respond well to whitening, we will discuss other options without pressuring you into treatment.
How to Keep Your Smile Brighter
Once you achieve the shade you want, good daily habits can help maintain your results.
Our team may recommend:
- Brushing and flossing consistently
- Keeping regular preventive dental appointments
- Limiting foods and beverages that commonly stain teeth
- Rinsing with water after consuming dark-colored beverages
- Avoiding tobacco products
- Using your custom trays for occasional touch-ups as directed
Whitening results naturally change over time, but periodic touch-ups can help maintain a brighter smile.
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening
How does at-home professional teeth whitening work?
Custom trays are made to fit your teeth, and a professional whitening solution is placed inside the trays. You wear them according to instructions provided by our team until you reach the desired shade.
How long does at-home teeth whitening take?
The treatment period varies depending on the type and severity of staining, your desired shade and tooth sensitivity. Many patients whiten gradually over several weeks.
Can teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
Some patients experience temporary sensitivity while whitening. If this occurs, our team can recommend adjustments to your treatment schedule to help improve comfort.
Will teeth whitening work on crowns or fillings?
Whitening treatments primarily affect natural tooth structure. Crowns, fillings, veneers and other restorations generally do not change color in the same way, so existing dental work should be considered when planning treatment.
How long do teeth whitening results last?
Results vary depending on diet, oral hygiene, tobacco use and other habits. Custom trays can often be reused for occasional touch-ups when recommended by our team.
Can all tooth stains be whitened?
No. Some stains respond better to whitening than others. Discoloration that comes from inside the tooth or certain existing dental conditions may require another cosmetic approach.
Is professional whitening different from store-bought whitening products?
Professional at-home whitening uses custom trays made for your teeth and includes guidance from our dental team. This allows treatment to be planned around your oral health, cosmetic goals and sensitivity.
Schedule At-Home Teeth Whitening in Fort Collins, Colorado
If stains or discoloration are keeping you from feeling confident in your smile, professional at-home whitening may be a simple way to brighten your teeth. Dr. Geoff Engelhardt and Dr. Raechel Nelson can evaluate your smile and help you determine whether whitening is right for you.
Call 970-484-4890 today to schedule your teeth whitening consultation in Fort Collins, Colorado.