4 best dental care options for adults seeking a brighter smile

The best dental care options for adults seeking a brighter smile are Aspen Dental, Parkview Dentistry of Scottsdale, Dentistry of Old Town Scottsdale, and Scottsdale Family Dental. This list was built based on how fast you'll see results, how clear the pricing is, and how easy it is to book.

If you've got a wedding, a job interview, or a reunion coming up, speed matters a lot. Clear pricing matters too, since whitening can run from $25 to well over $1,000, and an easy booking process is pretty much what gets you in the chair.

Why Whitening Is the Easiest Dental Care Upgrade

Whitening is usually the quickest way into cosmetic dentistry, since you won't need months of appointments or any recovery time.

In a YouGov survey of 1,000 U.S. adults, 19% said they've had professional teeth whitening, still the most common cosmetic dental procedure the poll asked about. Adults under 45 were nearly twice as likely to have done it as older adults, at 26% versus 14%.

For speed, professional teeth whitening still wins. During an office session, the dentist shields your gums and applies a gel with 25 to 40% hydrogen peroxide in two to four rounds of 15 to 20 minutes. In one study the American Dental Association cited, a dentist-prescribed home plan took seven days to match one office session, and a store-bought product took 16 days.

If you've got a wedding in two weeks, that nine-day gap could decide which option you pick.

Drugstore products can still help with light stains. Whitening toothpaste typically lifts only one or two shades of surface stain, and charcoal scrubs can thin your enamel and make teeth look yellower over time.

Clear aligners often take a year or more, and one local practice lists 12 to 18 months for most adults. Whitening usually wraps up in one visit or a few weeks, an easy first project if you want a change right now. 

Check these things with your dentist before you book:

• Crowns, fillings, and porcelain veneers keep their original color after treatment
• Tooth sensitivity to cold drinks, which can flare up during treatment
• Gum problems or cavities that need attention before any whitening starts

Best National Option: Aspen Dental

Aspen Dental is the best national option for adults who want a familiar name with an office nearby, since its Scottsdale location on East Talking Stick Way lists teeth whitening among its cosmetic services.

The company says its in-office treatment uses a special light and can lighten teeth up to eight shades in a single 90-minute visit. Its take-home kit comes with trays you wear for several hours a day, and the company says you can gain five to seven shades in as little as two weeks. Aspen says a touch-up kit can extend your results, which suits anyone who drinks coffee every day.

The company notes that whitening isn't always recommended, so ask the dentist whether it fits your teeth. You can book online or just walk into the Scottsdale office, and you'll want to ask the staff for current whitening prices.

If you like the idea of a nationally known provider with both options, Aspen Dental is an easy place to start.

Best for Upfront Pricing and a Combined Plan: Parkview Dentistry of Scottsdale

Parkview Dentistry of Scottsdale is the best choice for adults who want clear pricing and a combined in-office and take-home plan, since the practice posts a price for every whitening step.

The office uses Philips Zoom for in-office treatment, and its website says a visit runs 60 to 90 minutes and typically lightens teeth by four to eight shade steps. The site adds that custom trays at home usually reach almost the same final shade, just more slowly.

Dr. Linda Perkins and her team build smile makeovers from veneers, bonding, Invisalign clear aligners, and whitening, so you can start with one step and add the rest later. The office opens Saturday mornings from 6 a.m. to noon, and that suits a full work week.

Best for At-Home Trays: Dentistry of Old Town Scottsdale

Dentistry of Old Town Scottsdale is the best choice for adults who want to whiten gradually at home, since the practice lists whitening trays among its services. A dentist makes custom trays from molds of your teeth. That snug fit keeps gel from leaking onto your gums and irritating them.

Nearly any evening works for trays, and you can skip a night when your teeth feel sore. With custom trays and stronger gel, you might see noticeable results within a week or two. Ask the office how long to wear the trays each day and how many days to keep going, since wear times vary by gel.

The practice lists smile makeovers and veneers too, so you have room to grow if you want more than whitening later. If a slow, low-pressure routine sounds good to you, Dentistry of Old Town Scottsdale fits.

Best for a Simple Local Visit: Scottsdale Family Dental

Scottsdale Family Dental is the best choice for adults who want a simple whitening visit with a local family dentist, since its profile lists whitening alongside crowns, veneers, and dental implants. Dr. Christopher Yoon leads the practice and describes his style as gentle and conservative.

The office treats patients of all ages, so you can book your own visit and a family member can follow with theirs. If you've got stains from coffee, tea, or red wine, ask how many visits your teeth might need before you commit.

Its online profile lists Cigna Dental and Delta Dental. Ask the staff whether your plan covers any part of your visit. If you want a straightforward answer from a nearby office, Scottsdale Family Dental is worth a phone call.

Picking Your Path to Whiter Teeth

You've got a handful of good routes to a brighter smile, from quick single visits to slower at-home plans, and each one fits a different schedule and budget. Match the option to your timeline, ask about pricing before you book, and you'll probably feel great about your dental care choice.

Want more practical guides like this one? Explore the other articles on our website.

This article was prepared by an independent contributor which helps us continue delivering quality content to our audiences.