If you’re unhappy with the color of your teeth, you’re no doubt curious about teeth whitening options. Specifically, should you visit a dentist for professional whitening, or is an over-the-counter product the right choice for you? Keen Dental Care of Columbia, MO, recommends that patients consider the following when in search of an effective whitening procedure.

Professional Teeth Whitening vs. Over-the-Counter Systems: Which Is Right for Me?

Professional Whitening Can Address Serious Stains

The first thing to consider is just how badly your teeth are discolored or stained. For significant staining or dark discoloration, professional whitening may be the best option. This is because the whitening solutions that are applied through a dentist’s office are much stronger than those available over-the-counter. Additionally, the trays used for professional whitening will be molded exactly to your teeth by your dentist. That means all surfaces are effectively treated, unlike over-the-counter products, which use one-size-fits-all trays.  

Over-the-Counter Systems Are Less Expensive

If you’re concerned about the cost, over-the-counter systems are often much less expensive per treatment. However, it may take several over-the-counter treatments to get the same results as one professional treatment. Therefore, the actual savings are much less than they would first appear to be.  This is something to keep in mind if your staining is substantial and you’re looking for a significant improvement of your teeth’s whiteness. If staining is minimal and you can’t quite afford an in-office treatment, a home bleaching kit may be a good choice for you at the moment.

Progress Can Be Monitored With a Dentist

Another benefit of whitening through a dental office is that your progress will be monitored by a trained professional. This can be beneficial in a few ways. First, if your dentist finds that the strength of the whitening solution is too high, it can be adjusted depending on your situation. Some people experience hypersensitivity as a result of teeth whitening, and it can be difficult to control when using over-the-counter kits.  However, your dentist has several options available to help reduce the sensitivity while you are whitening your teeth.

Keen Dental Care believes that nearly all patients are best-served by professional teeth whitening, which is why they offer this and other cosmetic dental procedures to residents of Columbia, MO and the surrounding areas. Learn more about the complete listing of dental care services currently available by visiting the website. If you’d like more information on how to brighten your smile or just want to schedule a routine teeth cleaning, call (573) 875-5336 to make an appointment.