Teeth Whitening -- In-Office Versus At Home - By: Christine OKelly

A bright smile can support a healthy self-esteem while encouraging interaction with other people. Unfortunately, years of chewing can lead to tiny fissures in the enamel of teeth. These cracks accumulate remnants of food particles that eventually give the surface a dull appearance. Making matters worse, smoking and drinking certain types of beverages can stain the surface further.

Teeth whitening procedures have become increasingly popular. As more people seek to remove stains and regain their bright smiles, their options for doing so have expanded. Strips, toothpastes, and other over-the-counter solutions offer a convenient alternative to visiting a dentist to have the work performed. In this article, we'll explore the pros and cons of in-office and at-home teeth whitening.

Strength And Efficacy Of The Solution

A chemical bleaching solution is used to remove stains. As you might expect, over-the-counter products are sold with a lower concentration of the chemical agent than what your dentist will use. Teeth whitening products that are sold at grocery stores will normally contain between a 10% and 22% concentration of carbamide peroxide. By way of comparison, a 10% concentration of carbamide peroxide is equal to a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide. A dental professional will often use a bleaching agent with a hydrogen peroxide concentration that exceeds 40%.

Fit And Customization Of The Tray

If you have the procedure performed in a dentist's office, a tray isn't normally used. Instead, a device is placed in your mouth to pull back your lips in order to expose the surface of the enamel. Then, a resin is applied to your gums to protect them from irritation from the bleaching agent. If you choose to have an in-home kit prepared by your dentist, he'll provide a tray that is specifically designed for your mouth. The customized tray allows the teeth whitening gel to make full contact with the enamel while limiting contact with your gums.

Store-bought kits come with a tray that is not customized. As a result, it may not fit properly, exposing your gums to the bleaching gel and thereby causing irritation. Plus, a tray that doesn't fit properly reduces the contact and effectiveness of the bleaching agent on the enamel.

Speed Of Results

In-office teeth whitening provides faster results than over-the-counter kits. As noted above, the bleaching solution used by your dentist has a much higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than store-bought products. Plus, the effects of the chemical agent can be accelerated in your dentist's office by using heat or ultraviolet light.

If you choose to have the procedure completed in-office, you can expect the entire process to be completed within one visit (typically in under an hour). If you use an over-the-counter kit, it may require four weeks of daily application before you begin to notice results.

Cost Considerations

Any teeth whitening solution that you purchase in a store will cost less than an in-house procedure. Kits that are sold in grocery stores (or online) will normally sell for between $20 and $140. If you have your dentist perform the work, you can expect to pay up to $1,000. As a less-costly alternative, your dentist can prepare a take-home bleaching kit with a customized tray for you. In most cases, you can expect to pay between $200 and $500.

Enjoying A Brighter Smile

It's impossible to place a price tag on the value of an attractive, bright smile. The effect that it has on your self-confidence is matched by the opportunities it affords you, both personally and professionally. Plus, as teeth whitening solutions have grown in popularity, the cost of having the procedure performed in-office continues to decline. If you'd like to remove unattractive stains from your teeth, ask your dentist for his recommendations (he can offer more than dental implants, veneers, and crowns). You might discover that regaining your bright smile is easier than you imagined.

There are many teeth whitening options; some can be used at home and others are performed in a dentist's office. This article explores the main differences between at-home and in-office solutions.

Christine O'Kelly writes professional dentistry articles for the Southfield Family Dental Center, a dental implants Detroit specialist. Invisalign, veneers, and bridges are specialties of this dental group in Detroit. Teeth whitening and other cosmetic procedures can also be performed easily.