Having a great smile can do wonders for a person’s physical appeal and overall confidence. That can be achieved with a teeth whitening solution for some. Are you considering getting your teeth whitened? You perhaps know that you have two primary options – at-home teeth whitening products or getting your teeth whitened at your dentist’s office. How do you choose between the two options? Let’s compare in-office and take-home teeth whitening so that you can have a better idea of which is the most appropriate one for your teeth whitening needs.
Active Ingredients in Whitening Products
Whether you are getting your teeth whitened in your dentist’s office or using a take-home product, all whitening products contain a peroxide solution. The difference between whitening agents tends to be the varying strength of each product’s peroxide content. Whitening agents may contain 10% peroxide on the low end or a high of 40% peroxide solution or higher. However, your dentist’s recommended solution could be a whitening that uses take-home whitening trays, like Zoom whitening, which is significantly stronger.
How White Will Teeth Get?
How white your teeth will get has no bearing on whether or not you apply an at-home whitening solution or have an in-office whitening procedure. The whitening agent cannot work miracles and will only help to make your teeth as white as your natural teeth color. Factors that will determine the degree of whiteness include the thickness of your enamel and the yellowness of the dentin underneath the enamel. Yellowed dentin will come through thin enamel even after whiteners have removed food stains from the enamel. Still, store-bought whitening agents will not stand up to dentist-endorsed whitening agents since store-bought whitening solutions contain less peroxide. Store-bought whiteners will take a longer time to show efficacy.
Whole Smile Improvement
Some store-bought whitening products will not whiten your whole smile because by design they provide limited coverage. In general, most store-bought products are small, narrow band-aid-like stirp that you stick to your teeth. It’s meant to whiten only the front teeth, but if you smile wide enough, then you won’t show an event set of whitened teeth. A more cohesive white smile can be had with at-home whitening trays that can reach the side teeth, but the gel must be applied evenly. In comparison, dentist whitening products typically whiten the whole smile in a single application where the gel is placed on the teeth directly.
Cost of Whitening Treatments
When it comes to cost, at-home teeth whitening solutions are much more affordable than in-office options. A month’s supply of at-home whitening strips can cost on average between $20 and $60, with brand and retailer as primary factors. In-office whitening treatments can cost anywhere from $300 to $800, or above. Even if your dentist provides you with at-home whitening trays, it will still be more affordable than the in-office treatment option.
Dr. Emma Wu & Associates: Massachusetts Top Teeth Whitening Expert
Deciding whether to do in-office or at-home teeth whitening treatments may depend on time, convenience, effectiveness, and cost for you. Take-home teeth whitening treatments are usually more affordable, but an in-office solution is generally more effective. Whitening your teeth on your own time at home or scheduling a treatment with your dentist in-office is something to also consider. Both treatment options can transform your smile and it’s up to you to decide which is best for you. Contact Dr. Emma Wu & Associates today to set up your teeth whitening consultation.