Professional teeth whitening in North Andover, MA is one of the fastest ways to change how your smile looks without altering the teeth themselves. At First Street Smiles, Dr. Andrew Beshay, DMD and our team offer both in-office and take-home whitening, and we will help you decide which is the better fit rather than selling you the more expensive option by default.
How Teeth Whitening Works
Whitening improves the shade of your teeth by removing extrinsic surface stains — the discolouration that builds up on the outside of the enamel from coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco and simply years of use. It is a cosmetic procedure, not a restorative one: nothing is drilled, removed or permanently changed. That is precisely why it is usually the first thing we suggest for patients who are unhappy with the colour of their teeth but otherwise have healthy, well-shaped ones.
If you want to understand what is actually staining your teeth in the first place, we have written about why teeth get stained and what you can do about it day to day.
In-Office vs Take-Home Whitening
We offer both, and they suit different people.
- In-office whitening is done here, under supervision, in a single appointment. It is the right choice when you have a deadline — a wedding, a reunion, a job interview — or when you would simply rather have it handled in one visit.
- Take-home whitening uses custom trays and professional-strength gel that you use on your own schedule over a period of days. It takes longer, but many patients prefer the control, and the trays can be reused later for occasional top-ups.
Our team will work with you to determine the best and safest option for your needs. That conversation matters more than the marketing: the wrong choice for your teeth is not just less effective, it can also mean unnecessary sensitivity.
Why We Do Not Recommend Over-the-Counter Whitening
Over-the-counter bleaching products are not recommended. They are not sufficiently tested, and more often than not they contain aggressive chemicals that can hurt more than they help. The strips and gels on a pharmacy shelf are made to be safe enough for anyone to use unsupervised, which in practice means they are either too weak to do much or strong enough to irritate gums and soft tissue when they are applied without custom trays.
The other problem is that a shop cannot tell you why your teeth look the way they do. Staining from coffee responds well to whitening. Discolouration from a damaged or previously treated tooth does not, and no amount of gel will change that. A short exam tells you which situation you are in before you spend anything.
What Whitening Can and Cannot Fix
Whitening changes colour. It does not change shape, position, or size, and it does not lighten existing dental work — crowns, veneers and fillings keep the shade they were made in. If your concerns go beyond colour, there are better tools:
- Dental veneers are thin, custom-made shells placed over the teeth. They are a strong option for deeply stained teeth caused by surface defects, where whitening alone will not deliver.
- Dental bonding applies a tooth-coloured material directly to the tooth and is typically used for limited, small defects covering less than one surface.
- Where a tooth needs mechanical protection rather than cosmetic improvement, a dental crown covers nearly all of the visible tooth surface.
You can see how the full range fits together on our cosmetic dentistry page.
Making Your Results Last
Whitening is not permanent, and anyone who tells you otherwise is overselling. How long results hold depends mostly on what you eat and drink and how consistently you look after your teeth. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco will pull the shade back down over time.
The single most effective thing you can do is keep up with regular cleanings and periodic care. Removing built-up surface deposits keeps the colour you paid for visible for longer, and it means we catch anything else early. Patients who whiten and then never return for a cleaning are usually the ones disappointed a year later.
Cost, Insurance and Discounts
Most cosmetic treatment is elective, which means dental insurance often contributes little or nothing toward it. We would rather tell you that up front than surprise you afterwards. Our coordinators check your plan before treatment starts and give you a written figure, so you know what you are committing to.
For patients without insurance, we offer in-office discounts: 10% off for seniors aged 65 and over, and 10% off for cash payment. These cannot be combined with each other, and our patient coordinators can confirm what you qualify for.
Is Whitening Right for You?
Whitening suits patients with healthy teeth and gums whose main concern is colour. If you have untreated decay, gum disease, or a cracked tooth, those come first — whitening an unhealthy mouth is treating the symptom and ignoring the cause. Sensitivity is worth raising too, since it changes which method we would suggest.
We see patients across the Merrimack Valley, including many who travel in from Lawrence and the surrounding towns, and the first appointment is a conversation rather than a commitment.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does teeth whitening take?
In-office whitening is completed in a single appointment. Take-home whitening with custom trays runs over a period of days, on your own schedule — slower, but with more control over the pace.
Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?
Some patients experience temporary sensitivity. Because we supervise the process and use custom-fitted trays for take-home treatment, we can adjust strength and timing rather than leaving you to guess. Tell us if you already have sensitive teeth — it changes what we recommend.
Does whitening work on crowns, veneers or fillings?
No. Existing dental work keeps the shade it was made in. If you have visible restorations, we will talk through how to get an even result before you start, not after.
How white will my teeth actually get?
That depends on your starting shade and what is causing the discolouration. Extrinsic surface staining responds well. Discolouration coming from inside the tooth responds differently, and we will tell you that at the exam rather than after you have paid.
Book Your Teeth Whitening Consultation
The quickest way to find out which option suits you is a short consultation. We will look at your teeth, talk through what you want to change, and give you honest options and pricing before you commit to anything.
Call (978) 685-5804 or request an appointment online. We are at 7 1st St, North Andover, MA 01845, open Monday to Thursday 8:00am–5:00pm and Saturday 8:00am–2:00pm. New patients are welcome.