Teeth Whitening Products

Teeth Whitening Considerations

More often than not, teeth whitening serves as an adequate solution to discoloration. However, the effectiveness of teeth whitening can vary, depending on the individual. Also, whitening procedures can cause temporary tooth sensitivity, which varies in intensity from person to person.

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Occasionally tooth discoloration is so severe that whitening alone cannot fully treat the problem. In these situations, veneers might be a better option. Your dentist can advise you about this.

The Teeth Whitening Procedure: In-Office vs. At-Home
Teeth whitening can be performed either in-office by your dentist or at home by you. While in-office whitening produces an immediate and often dramatic effect, many people appreciate at-home whitening for its flexibility and lower cost. How exactly do the two options differ?

In-Office Whitening
The advantage of having your teeth whitened in the dental office is that this approach is fast and produces immediate improvement. Typically, your teeth can be whitened by several shades within 45 minutes, dramatically improving your appearance in the shortest possible time. Tooth shade charts are used during the consultation stage of treatment to establish your current shading and determine your whitening goal. In-office whitening is unique in this respect, as your dentist has more control over achieving your specific teeth whitening goals.

During your teeth whitening procedure, you are made comfortable while your teeth are prepared. Your dentist places a guard in your mouth to protect the lips and gums from a whitening gel that is applied to the teeth.





In some types of in-office whitening, application of the whitening gel occurs in three sessions over the course of the visit. A special lamp is used to activate the whitening gel and speed up the whitening process. Once the gel is activated, it remains on the teeth for 15-20 minutes until the next application.

Disadvantages of in-office teeth whitening include cost and greater incidence of temporary tooth sensitivity. Since in-office, one-time regimens use potent whitening agents, there’s more potential for temporary sensitivity.

At-Home Teeth Whitening
Although many people opt for the "once-and-done" approach to teeth whitening associated with in-office treatment, some people prefer at-home methods. These range from prescription products provided by your dentist to over-the-counter products such as whitening strips.

The most effective at-home whitening systems use a prescription-strength gel kit your dentist provides. Most kits contain mouth trays that you fill with the whitening gel and place over your teeth for varying times, from a few minutes to overnight.

Application times vary greatly for the various dentist-dispensed, at-home products. Wear times of 30-60 minutes, once or twice a day, are common; results are achieved in a little as three days, but more commonly 5-10 or more days.

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Advantages of at-home products include cost and the ability to re-treat as needed. Although it takes longer, many people find that eventually the results of at-home whitening are on par with in-office procedures.