Professional Teeth Whitening – Is it Worth the Cost?
If your teeth are looking a little on the yellow side and you have considered teeth whitening, read the rest of this blog to get the ultimate guide on professional teeth whitening.
Quick Guide:
- What causes discoloration on teeth?
- What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
- Why professional teeth whitening is better than over-the-counter
- A dentist you can trust
What causes discoloration on teeth?
Discoloured teeth is completely normal and natural. Certain foods and drinks such as coffee and wine can cause this discolouring. Smoking is also one of the top contributing factors to yellow teeth. With a proper oral hygiene routine and some help with whitening services or products, you can gradually remove these pesky stains. A white smile can dramatically boost your confidence if you feel a bit self-conscious or worried about the discolouration of your teeth.
What is Professional Teeth Whitening?
Professional teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that is considered the safest and most effective. This includes an in-chair treatment or a take-home teeth whitening treatment.
The in-chair treatment is the more costly option ranging from $600 – $800 and sometimes even more, depending on the treatment and dentist. The treatment will be 60 to 90 mins for those who want an instant white smile. A hydrogen peroxide-based whitening gel is applied to the enamel of the teeth, which is then exposed to a UV light to accelerate the whitening process. An in-chair teeth whitening treatment can last from one to five years. Therefore, you can be left reassured that your teeth will stay white for a while and you will not have to worry about constantly returning to the dentist upkeep your bright smile.
The professional take-home teeth whitening kit will set you back $250 to $500. Again, the cost will depend on each individual dentist. The take-home kit allows you to get a professional result at the comfort of your own home. Unlike other over-the-counter whitening kits, this professional take-home kit is guaranteed safe and effective, as it is recommended by dentists. After the first evaluation with your dentist, an impression of your teeth is made for custom bleaching trays. The wait time for these trays is around 5 days. Once you receive the appropriate bleaching kit and custom trays, you will also receive complete, detailed instructions for you to follow for your at-home treatment.
Why professional teeth whitening is better than over-the-counter
There is a plethora of over-the-counter teeth whitening products on the market now that offer claims such as ‘5 Shades Whiter in 10 Minute Sessions’. As enticing as it may sound to the general public, there can be a lot of damaging ingredients and concentrations in these products that will leave your teeth feeling extremely sensitive. Therefore, dentists recommend professional teeth whitening.
Preventing Irreversible Damage
Given that over-the-counter products can be only $5-$20, the potential damage that it could cause may be irreversible. It may also result in a costly bill at the dentist to repair the damage from the over-the-counter whitening products. Studies have shown that “treatment with hydrogen peroxide concentrations similar to those found in whitening strips is enough to make the original collagen protein disappear.” Only a dentist will know the hydrogen peroxide concentration
For a deeper look into the science behind the procedure, check out our blog on Understanding How Teeth Whitening Works.
A dentist you can trust
If you are in need of a dentist to help you achieve a brand new white smile, Blue Tooth Dental have whitening treatments at a very affordable price. If you would like to know more or would like to talk to a team member, please get in touch.
