Reviewed by Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS — South Florida Smile Spa, Pompano Beach, FL
Opalescence whitening in Pompano Beach is the take-home option at South Florida Smile Spa: custom trays made from a scan of your teeth, filled each day with a dentist-strength carbamide peroxide gel, and worn at home for one to two weeks. It is the whitening Dr. Nicole M. Berger recommends most often, because it gives a result close to an in-office session at a lower cost, lets you control how far you go, and leaves you with trays you can use for touch-ups for years. This page explains how Opalescence works, which strength suits which patient, what the results and the sensitivity are really like, and how it compares with the in-office KöR and Zoom treatments we also offer.
Quick answer
Opalescence is a professional take-home whitening system: Dr. Berger scans your teeth, the lab makes thin custom trays, and you wear the trays with Opalescence PF gel (10, 15, 20 or 35 percent carbamide peroxide) for 30 minutes to a few hours a day, or overnight with the lower strengths, for one to two weeks. Most patients lighten two to eight shades, with results visible within three or four days and complete by the end of the kit. The gel contains potassium nitrate and fluoride to reduce sensitivity, and the strength and wear time are set for your teeth. Opalescence does not whiten crowns, veneers or fillings, so any front-tooth dental work is planned around it. The trays last for years, and a refill syringe every six to twelve months keeps the result.
Why Take-Home
Opalescence whitening in Pompano Beach: why Dr. Berger recommends it
Whitening works by letting peroxide soak into enamel and break up the stain molecules inside it. A custom tray holds a measured amount of gel against every tooth and away from the gums for exactly as long as it should be there, which is what drugstore strips and one-size trays cannot do.
- Results close to in-office. Two weeks of Opalescence in custom trays reaches a result most patients cannot tell apart from a single in-office session, because the enamel gets a longer, gentler exposure.
- You set the finish line. Wear the trays until the shade is where you want it, then stop. Patients who want a natural result rather than a bright white can land exactly there.
- Less sensitivity than in-office. Lower concentrations over more days are easier on the nerve than one high-strength session, and the gel includes potassium nitrate and fluoride.
- Trays for life. Keep the trays and a refill syringe handles a touch-up after coffee season or before an event, for years.
- Lower cost. A take-home kit is the most affordable professional whitening we offer, and the refills are inexpensive.
- Safe for enamel. Dentist-dispensed carbamide peroxide at these strengths has decades of research behind it and does not soften or damage enamel when used as directed.
The American Dental Association’s page on teeth whitening explains why dentist-supervised whitening is both stronger and safer than over-the-counter products.
Opalescence strengths, and how they compare with KöR and Zoom
| Option | How it is used | Typical result | Sensitivity | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Opalescence PF 10% | Custom trays overnight, or several hours a day, 2 weeks | 4 to 8 shades, gradual | Lowest | Sensitive teeth, first-time whitening, patients who want to go slowly |
| Opalescence PF 15% or 20% | Custom trays 1 to 2 hours a day, 1 to 2 weeks | 4 to 8 shades | Low | Most patients; the usual recommendation |
| Opalescence PF 35% | Custom trays 30 minutes a day, about 1 week | Fast lift, 4 to 8 shades | Moderate | Patients in a hurry with no sensitivity history |
| Opalescence Go | Pre-filled disposable trays, 15 to 60 minutes a day, 5 to 10 days | 2 to 4 shades | Low | A quick, no-impression option or a travel touch-up |
| KöR whitening | In-office session plus 2 weeks of refrigerated take-home gel | 6 to 10+ shades, including tetracycline stain | Low, by design | Stubborn or deep stain; patients with past sensitivity |
| Zoom whitening | Single in-office light-activated session | 4 to 8 shades in about 90 minutes | Moderate, short-lived | A visible change before a specific date |
| Drugstore strips | Adhesive strips, 30 minutes a day | 1 to 3 shades, uneven | Moderate | Minor surface stain; not a substitute for professional whitening |
The Process
How Opalescence take-home whitening works
- Exam and shade. Dr. Berger checks for cavities, gum recession, cracks and exposed roots that would need attention before whitening, records your starting shade, and notes any crowns or fillings on front teeth that will not change color.
- Cleaning. Whitening gel cannot reach enamel through plaque and tartar, so a professional cleaning first, if you are due one, improves the result.
- Scan and trays. A digital scan of your teeth is sent to the lab, and thin custom trays with small reservoirs over each tooth are ready in about a week.
- Fitting and instructions. The trays are checked for fit, the gel strength and daily wear time are chosen for your teeth, and you leave with the kit, a shade guide and a sensitivity plan.
- Whitening at home. A small dot of gel in each tooth space, trays in for the set time, wipe away excess gel, and avoid staining food and drink for the hour after. Most patients see a change by day three or four.
- Review and maintenance. At two weeks the result is checked against the starting shade. The trays are kept; a refill syringe every six to twelve months, or a few nights before an event, keeps the shade.
Sensitivity, and how it is managed
Some tooth sensitivity to cold during whitening is common and temporary; it comes from peroxide reaching the nerve through the enamel and stops within a day or two of finishing. Opalescence PF gel already contains potassium nitrate, which calms the nerve, and fluoride, which strengthens enamel. If you have had sensitivity before, Dr. Berger starts you on a lower strength, suggests alternating nights, and may give you a desensitizing gel to wear in the same trays before and after. Gum irritation means too much gel is being used or the tray edge needs trimming, both easy to fix. Patients whose sensitivity has stopped them whitening in the past are often better suited to KöR, which is designed around that problem.
What whitening will and will not change
Peroxide lightens natural enamel and dentin. It does not change the color of crowns, veneers, bonding or tooth-colored fillings, so a front tooth with old dental work can end up darker than its neighbors after whitening; the usual plan is to whiten first, wait two weeks for the shade to settle, and then replace the visible restoration to match. Grey, banded tetracycline stain and teeth darkened by a dead nerve respond slowly or not at all to tray whitening and are discussed separately, since a single dark tooth may need internal bleaching or a veneer. White spots on enamel can look more obvious for a few days during whitening before the surrounding tooth catches up. Our teeth whitening page compares every option we offer.
Opalescence or an in-office session?
Take-home Opalescence suits most patients: it is gentler, cheaper, and the result lasts as long because the trays are yours. In-office Zoom is the answer when there is a date on the calendar and the change has to be visible in a week. KöR combines both and is reserved for the stains that trays alone will not shift. Many patients do an in-office session and then keep Opalescence trays for maintenance, which is often the best value over several years. Dr. Berger recommends one at the consultation based on your stain, your sensitivity history and your timeline.
Keeping the result
Whitening typically lasts one to three years before stain creeps back, faster for coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco. Rinsing with water after staining drinks, using a straw for iced coffee, brushing with a non-abrasive whitening toothpaste and keeping up six-month cleanings all slow it down. When the shade drifts, a refill syringe and two or three nights in your trays bring it back; a new scan is only needed if the trays no longer fit after dental work or orthodontics.
Cost and insurance
Opalescence take-home whitening is priced as a kit, including the scan, the custom trays, the gel and the follow-up visit, and refill syringes are sold individually. Whitening is cosmetic and is not covered by dental insurance. Whitening is often included when it is part of a cosmetic plan with veneers or bonding, and our team gives you a written fee at the consultation before anything is ordered.
Care in Pompano Beach
Why patients choose South Florida Smile Spa for whitening
- A dentist chooses the strength. Gel concentration and wear time are matched to your enamel and sensitivity history, not sold off a shelf.
- Custom trays from a digital scan. No impression putty, a precise fit, and trays that keep the gel on the teeth and off the gums.
- Three systems, one honest recommendation. Opalescence, KöR and Zoom are all here, so the advice is which suits you, not which we happen to have.
- Planned with your other dental work. Whitening is sequenced before crowns, veneers or bonding on front teeth so everything matches.
- Sensitivity taken seriously. Lower strengths, alternating nights and desensitizing gel are part of the plan, not an afterthought.
Patients come for Opalescence whitening from Pompano Beach, Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Coconut Creek, often after disappointing results from strips or a mall kiosk.
A whiter smile on your own schedule
Book a whitening consultation with Dr. Berger. You will see a realistic target shade, learn which system suits your teeth, and leave with custom trays within about a week.
South Florida Smile Spa · Dr. Nicole M. Berger, DDS · 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach, FL 33060 · (954) 785-1100
Frequently Asked Questions
How much whiter will Opalescence make my teeth?
Most patients lighten two to eight shades over one to two weeks, with yellow stain responding best. Dr. Berger shows you a realistic target shade at the consultation; grey or tetracycline stain and dark single teeth respond less and may need KöR or a veneer.
How long do I wear the trays?
It depends on the strength: 10 percent gel can be worn overnight, 15 to 20 percent for one to two hours a day, and 35 percent for about 30 minutes. Most kits are used daily for one to two weeks, and you can stop when the shade is where you want it.
Will Opalescence make my teeth sensitive?
Some temporary cold sensitivity is common and stops within a day or two of finishing. Opalescence PF includes potassium nitrate and fluoride to reduce it, and lower strengths, alternating nights and a desensitizing gel are used for patients who have had sensitivity before.
Does Opalescence whiten crowns, veneers or fillings?
No. Whitening only lightens natural tooth structure. Visible dental work on front teeth is usually replaced after whitening so it matches the new shade, which Dr. Berger plans with you in advance.
Is take-home whitening as good as in-office?
For most patients, yes. Two weeks in custom trays reaches a result close to a single in-office session, with less sensitivity and at lower cost, and you keep the trays for touch-ups. In-office Zoom is faster when there is a deadline, and KöR is stronger for stubborn stain.
How long do the results last?
Typically one to three years, depending on coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco. A refill syringe and a few nights in your existing trays bring the shade back whenever it drifts.
Is whitening safe for my enamel?
Yes, when it is dentist-supervised and used as directed. Carbamide peroxide at these strengths has decades of research behind it and does not damage enamel. Dr. Berger checks for cavities, cracks and exposed roots first, since those are what cause problems.
Can I whiten if I am pregnant, or if I have braces?
Whitening is postponed during pregnancy and breastfeeding as a precaution. With fixed braces it waits until they come off; with Invisalign, the aligners themselves can often be used as whitening trays, which we can plan for you.
Do you see patients from outside Pompano Beach?
Yes. Patients come for Opalescence, KöR and Zoom whitening from Lighthouse Point, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Coconut Creek and across Broward County. The office is at 572 E McNab Rd, Suite 102, Pompano Beach. Call (954) 785-1100 or request an appointment.