TL;DR
KöR Whitening is the professional deep bleaching system Stone Falls Dental Care offers in O’Fallon for the most noticeable change. You wear thin, custom KöR-Seal trays at home while you sleep, usually for about two weeks, and come in for one or two in-office sessions depending on the level you choose. It can lighten tetracycline-stained teeth, which ordinary whitening struggles with, and most patients feel little to no sensitivity. Periodic home maintenance keeps the color. The practice has offered $400 off in-office KöR Premium whitening; ask which offers are current.
What is KöR Whitening?
KöR is a professional whitening system developed by Dr. Rod Kurthy, built around the idea that deep, lasting whitening takes more than a single appointment or a box of strips. It combines two parts: whitening at home while you sleep, and one or two sessions in the dental chair.
At our office, the in-office level is known as KöR Premium, a professional deep bleaching treatment. It’s the option Dr. Prane reaches for when stains are dark, old or set deep in the tooth, or when a patient wants the most change whitening can deliver before deciding on anything more involved.
How does KöR differ from regular take-home whitening?
The biggest difference is how long and how closely the gel stays on the teeth. KöR-Seal trays are thin and fitted precisely to your teeth, so the gel stays in contact with the enamel through the night and is less likely to seep onto the gums. Wearing them while you sleep means whitening doesn’t eat into your day.
The in-office sessions add a concentrated treatment on top of the home phase. Together they reach stains that standard tray whitening only partly lifts. For most patients, the system also produces little to no sensitivity, which matters for people who gave up on whitening before because of it. If your stains are mild, ordinary take-home whitening may be all you need, and Dr. Prane will say so.
What does the KöR process involve?
KöR starts with a healthy mouth. You’ll have an exam, X-rays and a cleaning first, and any decay is treated before bleaching begins.
If you have crowns, veneers or tooth-colored fillings on your front teeth, plan for them now. They won’t lighten along with your natural teeth, and some patients choose to replace them once the new shade has settled, so everything matches in the end.
- Records of your teeth are taken so your KöR-Seal trays can be made
- You and Dr. Prane choose the KöR level that fits your stains and goals
- You wear the trays at home while you sleep, most patients for about two weeks
- You come in for one or two in-office whitening visits, depending on the level
- You keep your trays for periodic touch-ups at home
Can KöR lighten tetracycline stains?
Yes, KöR can lighten teeth stained by tetracycline, which is one of the main reasons people choose it. Those gray or brown bands form inside the tooth when certain antibiotics are taken while teeth are developing, and they resist the shorter treatments most whitening relies on.
Medication stains still take longer than ordinary yellowing, and how far they lighten varies from person to person. Dr. Prane will look at the depth and pattern of the staining and give you a realistic picture before you start. If whitening alone can’t reach the shade you want, porcelain veneers are the next step to discuss.
How long do KöR results last, and which offers has the practice run?
KöR results last with periodic maintenance at home: wearing your trays now and then keeps the color from drifting as coffee, tea and red wine do their slow work. Regular cleanings help too, by removing the surface stain that builds up between visits.
Stone Falls Dental Care has offered $400 off in-office KöR Premium whitening to new and existing patients who have completed an exam, X-rays and cleaning and have no decay. The practice has also run Free Whitening for Life with regular checkups, and free whitening for veterans and military families. Which are running changes through the year, so check our specials page or ask the front desk.