There are three current teeth whitening options on the market.
1. In-Office Teeth Whitening
2. Professional Whitening Kits One Takes Home
3. Over-the-Counter Teeth Whitening Kits
With an in-office teeth whitening procedure, the benefit is that a substantial color change will be seen quickly. The mouth’s soft tissues are protected with an occlusive device or some type of dental dam. A hydrogen peroxide gel at high concentration is then utilized on the teeth for a brief period. At times a heat lamp is turned on to quicken the process of bleaching.
The average cost for an in-office teeth whitening nationwide is $650. It is best not to have the procedure while nursing or pregnant, or receiving orthodontic treatment. Maintaining the results is not guaranteed afterwards. Avoiding tea, coffee, red wine, and dark colas along with an appropriate oral hygiene program will help maintain the new lustre and whiteness. The in-office procedure main benefit is that it is a one time treatment (or two if severe) with long lasting results that are obtained right away. One does not have to remember to put in a tray every night or take the time to deal with an ongoing process.
Professional kits to take home may provide fantastic long term results. The concentration of hydrogen peroxide is less than what is utilized for the in-office procedures. Due to this, the gel can stay on the teeth longer. The gel goes in bleaching trays that resemble football guards. The cost of these trays is around $100 and helps allow the bleach staying in contact with the teeth better than the one-size-fits all. They also stop bleach from hitting the gums along with the other way around of keeping saliva from mixing and diluting the bleach. The kits overall cost between one to four hundred dollard depending on location and the type of kit.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening is the cheapest and most convenient option. The hydrogen peroxide concentration is lower than either the in-office or custom take home options. Since these are “off the shelf” options, it may be that only a few teeth actually get bleached rather than all of them. One benefit of this type of whitening which is actually shared with the professional kits is that small amounts of bleach may remain in the tooth for up to 36 hours. This may allow for a cumulative effect if performed regularly.
The newest over the counter products are recommending every day use for months, potentially for a year for best results. These may include whitening trays, strips or products to paint on. These range from $20 to $100, which is a lot lower than professional dental kits.
The downside with the counter variety is it may lead to a bluish hue or uneven results if one over bleaches. The package insert instructions should be followed carefully.
