There are many ways to effectively whiten your teeth including over-the-counter products, doctor supervised at-home teeth whitening with custom or single-use products and in-office whitening.  I will explain these options, the pros and cons along with basic costs to give you a better idea what might be best for you and your budget.  

Before beginning a whitening program, you want to speak with your dentist to make sure your overall dental health is solid enough to begin a whitening regimen.  Conditions such as gum irritation and disease, tooth sensitivity, tooth decay and existing cosmetic dentistry can play a roll in the overall ability to whiten your teeth and its success.  Side effects from whitening while usually minimal, can be made worse by certain pre-existing conditions. 

An effective whitening program for patients that have never whitened or haven’t whitened in many years should consist of 7-10 individual treatments or in-office whitening. Maintenance whitening of 3-5 treatments 2-4 times per year will keep your smile bright and white.   

Over-the-Counter & Doctor Prescribed Disposable Whitening Strips​​​​​​

These are the easiest and least expensive form of topical teeth whitening. The whitening agent is embedded in the strip and is activated once exposed to room air.  While you can improve your shade with these OTC products, dentist prescribed strips are generally stronger and more effective.  Overall, this is the least effective form of teeth whitening due limited strength of the whitening agent in the strip.  These treatments generally cost between $5-15 per treatment application.  Wear times are usually 1-2 hours. 

Disposable Pre-loaded Whitening Trays

These products are the newest delivery mechanism on the market.  Unlike a strip, they are pre-loaded with Hydrogen Peroxide whitening gel which is more effective a whitening teeth and also provides shorter wear times (15-60min). However, like a strip, they mold to your teeth with your body temperature to help prevent the gel from getting on your gums causing irritation.  While the adaptation is good with these disposable trays, some tissue irritation may occur and is not as effective as a custom tray for preventing this.  Very convenient and cost effective at getting whiter teeth. Our most popular option. These treatments cost between $10-20 per treatment.  

Custom Whitening Trays & Whitening Gel

The gold standard in teeth whitening programs.  Custom trays are made in-office within 1 week of taking molds of your teeth. These comfortable and flexible trays are loaded with whitening gel by you to whiten your teeth on your schedule.  Wear times vary by strength of the gel provided, but are generally 2-6 hours.  Sleeping in your whitening trays is no longer necessary.  Many of the whitening gels on the market have added agents to help control post whitening sensitivity.  Custom trays are the most flexible and customizable solution. Whiten when you want and refill gel is the most cost effective solution once the investment in the trays is made. Whitening trays with gel generally range between $250-400 with gel for 7-10 treatments.  Refill tubes range $15-50 depending on how many are purchased. 

In-Office Professional Whitening

When you want the best and want white teeth right away, this is the option for you. Instant gratification. Walk out with a bright white smile. In-office whitening uses a high strength gel applied by the doctor for 3-4 times for 15-20min each.  This is often supplemented with a high intensity light to dry the teeth and increase whitening effectiveness.  Your lips and gums are protected as the gel can cause burns otherwise.  Patients with temperature sensitive teeth in general are not great candidates for this treatment unless they have tried the above options without issue first.  In-office treatments like this generally range from $400-600 and many include whitening trays to maintain your new white smile for years to come. 

Dentist supervised whitening programs are the safest and most effective way to a new smile.  For patients considering cosmetic procedures, often whitening teeth first is advised before having crowns, veneers or bonding completed. This ensures a more esthetic outcome for you. 

If you have questions regarding teeth whitening programs, please call our Montgomery Office at (513) 794-1884 to schedule a free whitening consultation!

www.montgomerygeneraldentistry.com