Professional Teeth Whitening in Atlanta, GA
In-office and custom take-home whitening, supervised by our cosmetic dentistry team rather than left to a shelf strip.
What is professional teeth whitening, and how does it work?
Professional teeth whitening uses a gel at a higher concentration than store-bought kits, applied with your gums protected so the shade lifts evenly. ANEWU offers it two ways: an in-office visit that changes the shade the same day, or custom take-home trays worn over one to two weeks.
Why have my teeth turned yellow?
Teeth darken in two ways. Surface stain builds up from coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco and sits on the outside of the enamel. Deeper discoloration comes with age, as enamel thins and the darker layer underneath shows through. Whitening gel lifts both, though surface stain responds faster.
If you have ever wondered why your teeth look darker in photographs than in the mirror, that is the second kind showing itself. A flash reads the color underneath the polish.
In-office whitening and custom take-home trays, side by side.
Same whitening agent, two different paces.
| Compare | In-office | Take-home trays |
|---|---|---|
| Time to results | One visit, about an hour | Gradual, over 1 to 2 weeks |
| Suited to | A change before a set date | A pace you control, with top-ups |
| Sensitivity | More noticeable at first | Milder, since it builds slowly |
| You leave with | A finished result that day | Trays made for your teeth |
Am I a candidate for teeth whitening?
You are likely a candidate for teeth whitening if your teeth have yellowed from food, drink or age and your enamel and gums are healthy. Strips that faded fast or came out patchy are a common reason people ask. ANEWU confirms the fit at a free consultation.
- Your teeth have yellowed from food, drink or age
- Your enamel and gums are healthy
- You have a date in mind
- You would rather measure the shade than guess
- You want an even result, not a patchy one
If shape matters as much as color, whitening is the first step inside a coordinated smile makeover.
What happens during a whitening appointment, step by step?
A whitening visit runs in four stages: a shade check, gum protection, the gel application, and aftercare instructions. In-office whitening is finished in a single appointment of about an hour. Take-home trays make the visit shorter, and you leave with custom trays and gel.
- 1
Shade check
Your shade is recorded against sample tabs and your gums checked.
- 2
Choosing your path
One sitting in the chair, or trays to build it up at home.
- 3
Protected application
Your gums are isolated before the gel goes on, and the color watched.
- 4
Aftercare
You leave knowing what to avoid, and what to expect at your first visit covers the rest.
The goal is a shade that still looks like yours.
A shade that reads as natural matters more than the last tab on the guide. Teeth pushed past what suits a face stop looking like teeth. Patients describe their own results in our patient stories.
Whitening lifts natural enamel, and nothing else.
The honest edge of what a whitening gel can do.
That sequence is the part people get backwards. Brighten the teeth around an existing crown and it can read darker than everything beside it.
Deeper discoloration also has a floor. When one tooth stays darker than the rest, covering it is the next conversation.
How much does teeth whitening cost in Atlanta?
Teeth whitening cost at ANEWU depends on whether you choose the in-office visit or custom take-home trays, and on how much lifting your starting shade needs. Whitening is elective, so dental insurance usually does not cover it. ANEWU accepts CareCredit and Proceed Finance.
It costs more than a shelf strip because the concentration is stronger and your gums stay protected. Your payment and financing options are laid out ahead of time.
Making a brighter shade last longer.
Freshly whitened enamel takes on color more readily for a short window.
- Keep coffee, tea, red wine and dark sauces off for 48 hours
- Tobacco undoes a whitening result faster than anything else
- Rinse with water after anything darkly colored
- Surface stain builds back first, and it lifts most easily
- Whiten before any new crown, veneer or bonding is made
If you have ever wondered whether the shade slides all the way back, it does not. What returns is surface stain, and a tray top-up handles it.
Whitening is planned and monitored by our cosmetic dentistry team.
Cosmetic dentistry, oral surgery and facial aesthetics sit under one roof.
The shade check, the concentration and the timing are set by the team who will see the result. You can meet the ANEWU team first.
Dr. Abtin Shahriari, DMD, MPH
Oral surgeon specializing in implant dentistry
Eight years of specialty training at the University of Pennsylvania and Emory University. Founder of Project Global Smile.
Last updated September 2026 Read the full bio
How long the shade holds depends on your diet and habits. Dark drinks and tobacco pull it back sooner, and an occasional tray top-up holds it longer.
Neither is universally better. In-office whitening gives a visible result in one visit, which helps before a set date. Take-home trays reach a similar shade more gradually.
Some temporary sensitivity to hot or cold is common, especially in-office, and it typically fades within a day or two. Take-home trays tend to be milder.
No. Whitening only changes the color of natural enamel, so any crowns, veneers or bonded teeth stay the shade they were made in. Tell our team about existing restorations first.
A brighter shade starts with one visit.
Tell us your timeline and we will tell you which path fits it.
Reviewed by Dr. Abtin Shahriari, oral surgeon specializing in implant dentistry. Last updated September 2026.