Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening made dental whitening more accessible in Austin with the launch of its mobile clinic in 2022.
Established by local dental hygienist Colette Case, the teeth whitening studio on wheels was created to make that service more accessible and convenient in the Austin metropolitan area.
Case has worked as a registered dental hygienist for more than 10 years and spent most of her career at East Austin Dental. She observed that many people wanted to whiten their teeth but often do not get the service due to either the cost or inconvenience of scheduling an appointment. The goal of her program is to make the service more accessible by offering professional-grade teeth whitening as a more affordable on-demand service that is accessible to everyone in a comfortable atmosphere.
Austin Journal interviewed Case for more insight into her business and asked how she came up with the idea of delivering a mobile teeth whitening service. She said that she took time off from dental work and gave birth to a son in October 2020 but had trouble adjusting to a traditional work experience afterward.
"I was feeling burnt out and less motivated to continue in the career I loved so much as a hygienist," Case said. "I think COVID changed how a lot of people felt about their career choices and I was no different. I loved my work family and all my patients that I had such a strong connection with, but after many sleepless nights I made the difficult decision to make a change."
Case came up with the idea of providing a mobile teeth whitening service. After crunching numbers, she discovered that she could offer competitive pricing while creating an on-demand mobile service. She work on her business plan, purchased a van, and launched Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening.
The mobile clinic is unique; Case will travel to meet clients who might be too busy for an appointment with a traditional brick-and-mortar clinic.
"Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening is one of a kind in Austin," Case said. "I am the only one (that I'm aware of) offering an on-demand mobile teeth whitening service in a comfortable atmosphere. While there are other places to get your teeth whitened around town, the convenience of easily scheduling online [and] then popping outside of your home or office for an hour to have your teeth professionally whitened at a great price is truly unique to Pearl. Additionally, my professional experience as a dental hygienist sets me apart from others in the field."
Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening offers service to clients 14 and older, with ages 14-17 needing consent from a parent or guardian. Case said that she initially thought her primary clientele would be mostly women in their 20s and 30s. But, she discovered that everyone wants a brighter smile and her clients are of all ages and come from all walks of life.
The first thing that most clients notice about Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening is the bespoke van that Case had customized to deliver a luxury, mobile on-demand experience. She said the van was finished out in a "boho chic style with neutral interiors, cedar tongue and groove ceiling, and a fun wavy wallpaper." It features white oak floors accented by a marble-top vanity and brushed gold fixtures. Two recliner/lounge chairs with light camel-colored faux leather are accented by green and cream throw pillows. The chairs sit beneath custom-fit LED whitening lights which let her see two clients at once.
"My friend and local muralist Helena Martin hand-painted the Pearl logo on the back wall in a beautiful green," Case said. "My goal was to create a comfortable space that felt peaceful and calm to help my clients that may experience dental anxiety. I provide wireless Beats headphones if people want to listen to music or a podcast from their phone, or give them an option to connect to a Bluetooth speaker to play whatever they would like."
Most of Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening's clientele is in Austin. But, Case said that she has traveled to Round Rock, Dripping Springs, and even as far as San Marcos. She said that she tries to be as accommodating as her schedule allows and will travel further distances for larger group bookings.
Case said that she has received great support from her fellow women entrepreneurs.
"I am always looking for opportunities to host exclusive events with other businesses," she said. "I believe that as a community we can all help one another and work to create positive experiences together."
Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening uses LED whitening technology to brighten smiles. Patients can expect results of four to eight shades lighter than their current tooth color. Pearl Mobile Teeth Whitening offers services for individuals, pairs, and small groups. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit pearlonwheels.com. Questions can be submitted directly to Case by email at colette@pearlonwheels.com.
“I understand the happiness and confidence that comes with a beautiful smile and I want all my customers to be able to shine bright and smile on," Case said.