By the team at Mark Bilello, DDS
Dr. Bilello offers take-home teeth whitening with Opalescence gel and trays. You choose Opalescence Go, which uses disposable pre-filled trays, or Opalescence PF, which uses trays fitted to your bite. You wear the trays for a few hours or overnight, as Dr. Bilello directs, for up to about two weeks. You stop when you like the shade.
Dr. Bilello is a general dentist. He chose Opalescence after trying several whitening systems, and he offers take-home trays so you can whiten on your own schedule.
Is teeth whitening right for you?
Whitening may suit you if your natural teeth have darkened or picked up stains and you would like a lighter shade. The ADA advises talking to your dentist before you start (ADA MouthHealthy). An exam helps find what is causing the color change (ADA).
Whitening may not give you the result you want if:
- You have crowns, veneers, bonding or tooth-colored fillings that show when you smile. These do not change color with whitening (ADA MouthHealthy), so your natural teeth may end up a different shade from them.
- Your teeth have gray or brown tones. Brown teeth may not respond as well, and gray teeth may not lighten at all (ADA MouthHealthy).
- You have stains from the antibiotic tetracycline. These can take three to four months of nightly treatment on average (ADA).
You can ask about whitening at your regular checkup. Dr. Bilello will look at your teeth and any dental work before recommending a kit.
How does take-home whitening work here?
Take-home whitening starts with a visit to the office, then you whiten on your own schedule.
- Exam and shade talk. Dr. Bilello checks your teeth and any existing crowns, veneers or bonding. You talk about the shade you want and which option fits your routine.
- Your trays and gel. With Opalescence Go, you get disposable trays that come pre-filled with gel. With Opalescence PF, you get trays custom-fitted to your bite, plus syringes of whitening gel.
- Whitening at home. With PF, you put gel in the tray; Go trays are ready to wear. You wear the trays as Dr. Bilello directs, usually a few hours or overnight. Some people whiten in the morning or on their commute, and others wear the trays while they sleep. Whitening is done over up to about two weeks, and you can stop once you like the shade.
- Follow-up and touch-ups. You keep your custom PF trays. When your teeth start to darken again, you can buy extra gel syringes from the office and whiten again.
Which Opalescence option should you choose?
Both options give similar results, so choose the one that suits your goals and lifestyle.
| Opalescence Go | Opalescence PF | |
|---|---|---|
| Trays | Disposable, pre-filled | Custom-fitted to your bite; you keep them |
| Gel | Already in the tray | Syringes you apply to the tray; contains potassium nitrate and fluoride |
| Wear time | As Dr. Bilello directs, usually a few hours or overnight | As Dr. Bilello directs, usually a few hours or overnight |
| Later touch-ups | Ask at your visit | Buy extra gel syringes from the office |
If you are weighing take-home kits against whitening in a dental chair, read in-office vs at-home teeth whitening.
Does teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
It can. Short-term tooth sensitivity and gum irritation are the most common side effects of whitening (ADA). Mild to moderate sensitivity can happen in up to two-thirds of people early in treatment. With trays or strips, it usually settles by about the fourth day after treatment (ADA).
Gum irritation is usually short-term too. It most often comes from trays that fit poorly or from gel getting onto the gums (ADA).
The PF gel contains potassium nitrate, an ingredient the manufacturer adds to help with sensitivity, and fluoride. If your teeth are already sensitive, tell Dr. Bilello before you start so he can help you choose. For more on why teeth feel sensitive, see tooth sensitivity causes and treatment.
What is normal after whitening, and when should you call?
In the first few days, some sensitivity to cold or a little gum tenderness is common. If your teeth feel sensitive, the ADA says you can pause whitening and try again later (ADA MouthHealthy).
Follow Dr. Bilello’s directions on how long to wear the trays. Overusing whiteners can damage tooth enamel or gums (ADA MouthHealthy). Call the office if sensitivity or gum soreness does not settle, or if a tray rubs your gums.
Whitening does not last forever. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco can stain teeth again over time (ADA MouthHealthy), so many people plan touch-ups.
What are the alternatives to teeth whitening?
If whitening is not a good fit, or your stains do not respond, there are other options:
- Cosmetic bonding. Tooth-colored resin covers or reshapes a tooth. Bonding is part of cosmetic dentistry here.
- Porcelain veneers. Thin layers of porcelain cover the front of the teeth. They need some enamel removed, so they cannot be undone (ADA MouthHealthy). Read more about porcelain veneers or compare porcelain veneers vs bonding.
- No treatment. If the exam finds no underlying problem, leaving your teeth as they are is a reasonable choice.
If you already have crowns, veneers or bonding, you can whiten your natural teeth to match them. If you plan new dental work, whitening first lets the new work be matched to your whiter shade. Our general and restorative dentistry page covers crowns and fillings.
How much does teeth whitening cost?
Your cost depends on a few things, and Dr. Bilello goes over them before you start:
- Which option you choose: Opalescence Go pre-filled trays or Opalescence PF with custom-fitted trays.
- Touch-ups later: with PF, you keep your trays, so later touch-ups need only extra gel syringes from the office.
- Other work in your plan: for example, whitening before new crowns or veneers.
The office offers financing through CareCredit.
Frequently asked questions
How does whitening work at your office?
Dr. Bilello offers take-home whitening: Opalescence Go, with disposable pre-filled trays, or Opalescence PF, with trays custom-fitted to your bite. You wear them for a few hours or overnight, as he directs, and whiten on your own schedule.
How long does take-home whitening take?
Whitening is done over up to about two weeks. You wear the trays as Dr. Bilello directs, usually a few hours a day or overnight. You can stop sooner once your teeth reach a shade you like, so the time is different for each person.
Will whitening change the color of my crowns, veneers or bonding?
No. Crowns, veneers, bonding and fillings do not change color with whitening. You can whiten your natural teeth to match them. If you are planning new dental work, whitening first lets the new work be matched to your whiter shade.
How long do whitening results last?
Whitening does not last forever. Coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco can stain teeth again over time. If you use Opalescence PF, you keep your custom trays and can buy extra gel syringes from the office for touch-ups when your teeth start to darken.
Can I use whitening toothpaste instead?
You can, but talk to your dentist before you start. If you buy a product, the ADA suggests looking for whitening toothpastes with the ADA Seal of Acceptance. These toothpastes remove surface stains (ADA MouthHealthy).
Which Opalescence option is right for me?
Both options give similar results. Go trays are pre-filled and disposable. PF trays are made to fit your bite, and you keep them for later touch-ups. Dr. Bilello can help you choose based on your goals and daily routine.
Ready to talk about whitening?
Call our office at (985) 872-9470, request an appointment, or ask at your next checkup. We are at 399 Bayou Gardens Blvd, Houma, LA 70364, open Monday to Thursday, 7 AM to 3 PM (closed Friday to Sunday). Patients also come from nearby towns such as Thibodaux, Morgan City, Raceland and Lockport.
Sources
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Teeth Whitening. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/teeth-whitening (read 2026-10-30)
- American Dental Association, Oral Health Topics: Tooth Whitening. https://www.ada.org/resources/ada-library/oral-health-topics/whitening (read 2026-10-30)
- American Dental Association, MouthHealthy: Veneers. https://www.mouthhealthy.org/all-topics-a-z/veneers (read 2026-10-30)
- Mark Bilello, DDS: Teeth Whitening page (live text, read 2026-10-30).
