Teeth Whitening in Fort Collins, CO
Stained, discolored, or yellow teeth can have a huge impact on your smile’s appearance and your feelings of confidence. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening is a fast and affordable cosmetic dental procedure that can dramatically brighten your teeth in as little as one hour at our Fort Collins dental office.
Who Should Whiten Their Teeth?
Teeth whitening is a great choice if you want to:
- Enjoy the confidence boost that comes from a great-looking smile.
- Present a brighter, fresher, or more youthful appearance.
- Look your best for a wedding, reunion, or job interview.
- Create a positive first impression with everyone you meet.
- You’re tired of seeing your stained or yellow teeth in the mirror.
- Stand out in group photos with a radiant, eye-catching smile.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening
Bright, beautiful smiles attract the best kind of attention and boost your self-confidence. At Ryan Rush DDS, we provide professional teeth whitening services in Fort Collins that are safe, effective, and tailored to your needs. Here are three key benefits of choosing professional teeth whitening with us.
Fast, Dramatic Results
Unlike over-the-counter products that can take weeks and produce disappointing results, whitening with a dentist ensures you get the brightest, most dramatic results safely and effectively, regardless of which treatment option you choose.
Customized Treatment
We tailor our teeth whitening services to your needs to ensure the best results with minimal sensitivity. Your whitening plan is based on the condition of your teeth and the level of brightness you desire for a safe, comfortable experience.
Three Ways to Whiten
We offer three ways to whiten at Ryan Rush DDS: Opalescence Boost in-office whitening, Opalescence Go pre-filled whitening trays, and custom take-home trays. With so many options, we’ll help you find the ideal solution to fit your needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you are someone who likes options when it comes to teeth whitening, you’ve come to the right place. We offer three ways for busy patients in Fort Collins to get the bright, white smile they want in the most convenient way for them.
Opalescence™ Boost In-Office Whitening
Since our dentist oversees in-office teeth whitening, we can use a higher concentration of whiteners to comfortably and safely brighten your smile. We start by placing a protective gel on your lips gums to prevent irritation, then apply the Boost gel directly to your tooth surfaces.
The product is applied for 20-minute intervals, then removed and reapplied. We typically repeat this process three times until the desired level of whiteness has been reached.
Custom Take-Home Whitening Trays
We create custom take-home teeth whitening trays by taking comfortable digital impressions of your teeth and using them to fabricate trays that cover your teeth perfectly. You select the whitening intensity you are comfortable with and use the gel and trays daily for 2-3 weeks for about 20 minutes a day until you see the desired results. You can also hold onto your trays and continue to use them and any leftover gel for monthly touchups.
Opalescence Go™ Pre-Filled Whitening Trays
If you want convenient teeth whitening that delivers stunning results, we offer Opalescence Go prefilled whitening trays that are ready to use right out of the box! You’ll receive 10 trays that conform perfectly to any smile and come in two strengths, and we’ll help you choose the right one for your needs.
Schedule a Teeth Cleaning to Get Started
All teeth whitening treatments start with a cleaning with our dental hygienist at our Fort Collins dental office. Please call us to schedule an appointment to see your brightest smile!
Yes! Whitening your teeth under the supervision of your dentist is ideal because they can address any concerns that arise, such as tooth sensitivity.
Store-bought teeth whitening products are generally safe because the bleaching gel they use is not as strong as what your dentist provides. However, this might mean you don't achieve your desired results as quickly as you'd like, or at all.
Professional Teeth Whitening in Fort Collins
At Ryan Rush, DDS, we offer several teeth whitening options for your convenience.
In-Office Teeth Bleaching
This procedure takes approximately 90 minutes and delivers immediate results. Patients who require quick results for a wedding, vacation, or other significant event appreciate in-office whitening for its fast and effective results.
Custom Take-Home Teeth Whitening Trays
Custom bleaching trays offer excellent results that you can achieve at home based on your own schedule. We'll take impressions of your teeth and use them to create custom plastic bleaching trays made to fit your teeth.
Dr. Rush will determine the right strength of bleaching gel for your needs and show you how to apply it to your trays so you can safely brighten your smile at home. Most patients achieve their smile goals by bleaching 30 minutes a day for 10 to 14 days.
We also offer Opalescence Go™ prefilled whitening trays as an affordable, easy option for patients who want a brighter smile. Call us at (970) 223-5393 for more information about professional teeth whitening.
Professional teeth whitening works well on some surface stains; however, there are some tooth stains that don't respond to teeth bleaching products, such as:
- Internal discoloration due to trauma
- Stains from medications like tetracycline
- Deep discoloration from tobacco products
If you're not achieving your desired results with professional teeth whitening, Dr. Rush may suggest treatment, such as a dental veneers, crowns, or bonding to change the shade of your smile. Sometimes we use professional teeth whitening in tandem with other treatments for a full cosmetic smile makeover.
Professional Teeth Whitening at Ryan Rush, DDS
We offer several options for professional teeth whitening at our Fort Collins dental office, including:
- In-Office Treatment — A quick option that leaves you with immediate results after 60 to 90 minutes of treatment.
- Custom Take-Home Trays — Plastic whitening trays made with impressions of your teeth that you can use at your convenience at home.
- Pre-Filled Whitening Trays — One-size-fits-all trays filled with high-strength bleaching gel that conform to your smile and brighten your teeth.
Ready to Learn More?
If you'd like to learn more about professional teeth whitening in Fort Collins, we invite you to contact our team at (970) 223-5393 for more information about how we can brighten your smile!
Most charcoal toothpastes rely on abrasive particles to remove surface stains from coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco. This can make teeth look temporarily brighter. However, this same abrasiveness can also wear down tooth enamel, which is the protective outer layer of your teeth. Once enamel is lost, it does not grow back, and teeth may become more sensitive, more yellow-looking (as the underlying dentin shows through), and more prone to cavities.
Another concern is that many charcoal toothpastes do not contain fluoride. Fluoride is a key ingredient that strengthens enamel and helps prevent tooth decay. Without it, your teeth may be at a higher risk for cavities over time, even if they appear cleaner or whiter on the surface.
For most patients, charcoal toothpaste is considered safe for occasional use, such as once or twice a week, but it is not recommended as an everyday toothpaste. People with sensitive teeth, gum recession, or existing enamel wear should be especially cautious.
The safest choice for daily brushing is a fluoride toothpaste that has been approved by dental associations. If whitening is your goal, Dr. Rush can recommend enamel-safe whitening products or in-office treatments that are both effective and protective of your oral health.
Call Our Dentist in Fort Collins, CO
If you’re unsure whether charcoal toothpaste is right for you, talk with your dentist or hygienist. Our team can help you choose the best option for your smile!
Types of Teeth Whitening in Fort Collins
We offer three ways to whiten your teeth so that you can choose the one that best meets your needs.
Opalescence™ Boost™ In-Office Whitening
For in-office whitening, we use chemically activated Opalescence Boost teeth whitening gel. After carefully protecting your lips and gums, we apply the gel directly to your tooth surfaces.
We then let the product sit on your teeth for 20 minutes, then remove it so we can evaluate the whitening results and repeat the process if necessary. Everyone is unique, but most patients see the brilliant results they want with three 20-minute sessions for a total of one hour.
The benefits of using Boost are that we don’t use hot LED lights, and the gel contains potassium nitrate and fluoride for patient comfort. Best of all, you’ll walk out of our dental office the same day with a noticeably brighter, whiter smile!
Opalescence Go™ Pre-Filled Whitening Trays
If you want convenient teeth whitening that delivers stunning results, we offer Opalescence Go prefilled whitening trays ready to use right out of the box! The trays conform perfectly to any smile and come in two strengths: the 10% hydrogen peroxide solution is worn for 5–10 days for 30–60 minutes daily, and the 15% concentration is worn for 5-10 days for 15-20 minutes daily.
Custom Take-Home Whitening Trays
We create your custom take-home whitening trays by taking comfortable, no-mess digital impressions of your teeth. We’ll provide the gel you need and recommend how long and often to whiten. Wearing the trays for 20-30 minutes a day for 2-3 weeks works well for most patients and delivers bright, beautiful results.
The benefit of our custom whitening trays is that you can continue to use them to whiten at home whenever you want.
Schedule a Dental Cleaning to Get Started!
Before any type of whitening treatment, your teeth must be free of plaque and tartar. Both can affect the outcome of whitening and deliver uneven or inconsistent results. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment or if you have any questions. We are excited to hear from you!
Meet Our Doctor:
Dr. Ryan Rush DDS
Dr. Rush knows that receiving dental work is rarely anyone’s favorite activity. But because he knows it is necessary, he does all he can to make the experience as comfortable as possible. By seeking first to understand each patient’s concerns and desires, Dr. Rush can cater each treatment plan to help patients achieve their optimal oral health and appearance goals.
After being raised in the midwest, Dr. Rush graduated from Brigham Young University and continued on to receive his Doctorate in Dental Surgery from the University of Maryland School of ...
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Updated in August 2025
Patients often ask us, "How long does professional teeth whitening last?" After all, when investing in your smile, you want to know what to expect and how to maintain your results.
Understanding the longevity of professional teeth whitening is not straightforward. It can range from a few months to several years, influenced by factors such as treatment type, dietary habits, and lifestyle choices. Here's a breakdown of what you should consider.
Making Your Smile Investment
Opting for professional teeth whitening in Fort Collins is a significant step towards your ideal smile. Our ...