Business & Tech

Teeth Whitening Business Opens In Downtown Lafayette

Teresa Ketterman wanted to own her own business and thought teeth whitening might be a popular service in this area

For a midlife crisis, many people will buy a fancy car or move to a new house.

Teresa Ketterman decided to launch her first solo business venture -- a teeth whitening service in downtown Lafayette.

"I thought it'd be fun," she said. "I'm calling it my mid-life crisis."

On Tuesday, Ketterman officially opened Your Perfect Smile in a retail complex at 3483 Golden Gate Way.

She shares space with Evie Halverson's Mist Fine Air Brush Tanning salon.

Ketterman is in her office on Mondays and Tuesdays unless she has appointments on the other weekdays. The rest of the time, she's mobile, bringing her teeth cleaning services to clients.

The technique Ketterman uses is from My Smile Labs. She uses a hydrogen peroxide gel that's activated by an LED light.

Ketterman said the process will make your teeth as bright as they are naturally. It doesn't color them.

Clients are in and out her door in 45 minutes to an hour. Cost is $100.

Ketterman says the whitening lasts from two to four years, depending on how much coffee, red wine and other staining liquids people drink.

Ketterman stresses she is not a dentist. She can't fill cavities or give you any dental advice. She even suggests you go to a dentist before stopping by her place.

Ketterman has been helping her husband for years run their telecommunications business from their Martinez home.

However, she decided she wanted to strike out on her own.

"I don't need to do this. It's a lark," she said.

Ketterman got the idea from her son, who works in the sterile processing end of the dentistry business.

On a vacation to Florida, Ketterman noticed a number of teeth whitening businesses open there.

She thought if they could do it, so could she.


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