TEETH WHITENING
KöR Teeth Whitening
Professional KöR Deep Bleaching personally planned and supervised by Dr. Marta Rudat, DDS.
★★★★★
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Serving Patients Since 2012
Restoring Smiles
With Personalized, Thoughtful Care
Credentials
Completing Accreditation
Quick Answer
KöR Whitening is a professional Deep Bleaching system that combines custom take-home trays with an in-office treatment to target stubborn discoloration.
Its whitening gels remain refrigerated from the factory to your appointment, while custom-fitted trays help keep saliva out and the gel in contact with your teeth for hours at a time.
The Difference
What makes KöR different from strips and one-hour whitening?
Freshness
KöR whitening gels are kept refrigerated from manufacture through delivery to help preserve their potency. That controlled handling is one of the details that distinguishes the system from many over-the-counter whitening products.
The Seal
KöR uses custom-fitted whitening trays designed to limit saliva from entering the tray and diluting the gel. This allows the whitening gel to remain in contact with your teeth for extended periods rather than the shorter wear time of whitening strips.
Together, the refrigerated gel and precisely fitted trays allow KöR to address stubborn discoloration, including difficult stains that may respond poorly to conventional whitening.
Results vary. Dr. Marta evaluates the type and depth of your discoloration before recommending treatment.
Candidacy
Is KöR whitening right for you?
A good fit for KöR
- Staining or discoloration from age, coffee, tea, red wine, or tobacco
- Teeth that have not responded well to whitening strips or over-the-counter products
- Stubborn or tetracycline staining that may require a more intensive whitening approach
When something else may serve you better
- Existing crowns, veneers, or bonding → whitening will not change the color of these restorations
- Dental work on the front teeth → Dr. Marta may whiten first, then match restorations to the new shade
- Shape, chips, gaps, or several cosmetic concerns → a smile makeover may be a better starting point
- Planning porcelain veneers → whitening may come first so veneers can be matched to the surrounding teeth
The Process
What happens during
KöR whitening?
KöR is a planned process rather than a single zap, which is why the results last. Here is how a typical teeth-whitening case unfolds here in Tustin with Dr. Marta.
Step
01
The consultation and shade check
You and Dr. Marta talk about how bright you want your smile to be, what you have tried before, and the type of staining or discoloration you have. She examines your teeth and gums, records your starting shade, and makes sure whitening is appropriate for your teeth.
She also sets realistic expectations for how your particular discoloration may respond. Before treatment begins, you will understand what KöR can reasonably accomplish and what your whitening plan will involve.
Step
02
Custom trays made for your teeth
Impressions or a digital scan are used to create trays fitted precisely to your teeth. Unlike generic trays, the fit is customized to follow the shape of your smile and hold the whitening gel where it needs to be.
That close fit also helps limit saliva from entering the trays and diluting the gel. This allows the whitening gel to remain in contact with your teeth for an extended period as part of the KöR treatment.
Step
03
The at-home phase
You use your custom trays at home with professional whitening gel according to the schedule Dr. Marta gives you. This phase gives the gel time to work gradually on deeper staining while you continue treatment at home.
Dr. Marta guides you through the process, including how much gel to use, how long to wear your trays, and what to do if sensitivity occurs. If your teeth respond differently than expected, she can adjust the plan along the way.
Step
04
The in-office visit
When deeper discoloration calls for additional treatment, Dr. Marta may incorporate an in-office whitening session into your plan. This gives her an opportunity to build on the progress made during the at-home phase and further brighten stubborn areas.
Not every patient needs this step. Dr. Marta determines whether an in-office treatment makes sense for your teeth and lets you know from the beginning what your whitening plan is likely to involve.
Step
05
Maintaining your result
Your custom trays can be used for occasional touch-ups as your teeth naturally pick up new stains over time. This makes it easier to maintain your shade without starting the entire whitening process again.
Dr. Marta gives you a simple maintenance plan based on your results and habits, including when to use your trays and how much gel you need. The goal is to keep your smile bright without overdoing it.
Investment
What does KöR whitening cost in Orange County?
Take-Home Tray Phase
$500 – $700
Custom trays with professional-strength gel, worn at home.
Full Deep Bleaching Protocol
$1,000 – $1,500
Combined in-office and at-home treatment.
In the Tustin and Orange County area, KöR whitening generally runs about $500 to $700 for the take-home tray phase on its own, and roughly $1,000 to $1,500 for the full Deep Bleaching protocol that combines in-office and at-home treatment.
Where your case lands depends on how deep your staining runs and whether any existing dental work needs matching afterward.
It helps to weigh that against the alternative many patients are already paying for: a steady stream of drugstore strips and kits that fade within weeks and never reach the deeper stains.
A professionally planned KöR result, kept up with the occasional touch-up, tends to be both brighter and longer-lasting. At your consultation in our Tustin practice, you get a clear estimate for your specific plan before you commit to anything.
Longevity
How long does KöR whitening last,
and how do I maintain it?
Your whitening result is not something you simply finish and forget. Because you keep your custom trays, maintaining your shade can be surprisingly simple.
- An occasional night in your trays with a small amount of gel
- Brushing twice a day and flossing
- Keeping your regular cleanings
- Being mindful of habits that can gradually re-stain teeth
Coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco can gradually affect tooth color, but that does not mean you have to give up the things you enjoy. Periodic touch-ups with your custom trays can help refresh your shade when you begin to notice a change.
Dr. Marta will show you how to use your trays at home so you know when a touch-up makes sense without whitening more often than you need to.
Gallery
What do real KöR results look like?
Whitening results vary with the type of staining and your starting shade, which is why Dr. Marta sets expectations for your case individually.
Recent work also appears on Instagram at @martarudat.
Frequently Asked
KöR whitening
questions answered.
Does KöR whitening work on tetracycline stains?
Tetracycline staining is among the more difficult types of discoloration to whiten, but clinical research shows that extended tray bleaching can produce substantial improvement. Treatment generally takes longer than it does for ordinary food, beverage, or age-related staining, and severe cases may still require restorative treatment.
Does teeth whitening cause sensitivity?
It can. Tooth sensitivity is the most common side effect of peroxide whitening, but it is usually temporary. A 2025 systematic review found that at-home bleaching generally produced mild sensitivity, with higher peroxide concentrations tending to increase the risk and intensity.
Can I whiten my teeth if they are already sensitive?
Often, yes, but the whitening protocol may need to be adjusted. Research indicates that reducing exposure time can decrease sensitivity, although shorter exposure can also reduce whitening effectiveness. Desensitizing toothpaste may also help in some bleaching protocols.
Is professional whitening better than whitening strips?
Both can whiten teeth. A 2024 review found that some over-the-counter products produced measurable short-term whitening, but the evidence was generally low-certainty. Professional treatment adds diagnosis, customized treatment planning, controlled peroxide protocols, and clinical supervision.
Will KöR whiten crowns, veneers, or bonding?
Whitening primarily changes the color of natural tooth structure. Existing porcelain and composite restorations should be evaluated separately because they may no longer match the surrounding teeth after whitening. This is one reason Dr. Marta may recommend whitening before replacing or planning visible restorations.
Should I whiten before getting veneers or crowns?
Often, yes, when whitening is part of the overall cosmetic plan. Whitening the natural teeth first allows the final restorations to be selected or fabricated to coordinate with the lighter shade. Research on tetracycline staining also supports considering bleaching before veneers or crowns when appropriate.
How long do teeth whitening results last?
There is no single expiration date. Diet, tobacco use, oral hygiene, the original discoloration, and occasional touch-ups all influence shade stability. Long-term clinical studies of tray bleaching have documented substantial color retention for several years, including difficult tetracycline cases.
Can yellow, gray, and brown teeth all be whitened?
They can respond differently. Ordinary yellowing often responds readily, while intrinsic gray or tetracycline discoloration can require much longer treatment and may not whiten uniformly. Dr. Marta can evaluate the source and depth of the discoloration before predicting what whitening is likely to accomplish.
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Ready for a brighter smile
that lasts?
A whitening consultation with Dr. Marta is relaxed and unhurried. She evaluates your teeth, listens to what you want to achieve, and recommends the approach that makes sense for your smile, including when something simpler or a different treatment may serve you better.
