Expected results and price of professional teeth whitening

A guide to the top types of professional teeth whitening done by dentists, how much they cost and how long the results will last.

Teeth whitening is one of the biggest areas of the cosmetic industry. There are countless products that claim to make your smile brighter- everything from toothpastes to gels, even at-home bleaching kits. But the fastest (and best) way to achieve a brighter smile is to visit your dentist and have them expertly whiten your teeth. Though it is definitely more expensive than using the popular whitening strips that are all over the drugstores, it is worth the investment. While over-the-counter kits can take a week to over a month to be effective, a dentist can treat you in under an hour! And the results will last much longer. Below is a list of the most popular types of professional teeth whitening, and the estimated cost and effectiveness of each.

One of the most popular types of professional teeth whitening that dentists use is blue laser technology. The blue lasers are shined on teeth that have a peroxide mixture applied to them. This speeds up the whitening agents in the peroxide so that your teeth will become almost instantly brighter. One procedure will cost anywhere from $500-$1000. You may need more than one procedure, depending on how bright you want your teeth and the results from the first sitting. Typically, this type of whitening will make your teeth go 3-10 shades lighter. The results have lasted up to two years in some patients, while most will be a year to 18 months.

If the price of the porcelain veneers scares you away, there is a cheaper permanent alternative. It is basically the same procedure, only using resin instead of porcelain. Since resin is much less expensive, the price goes down to $300-$500 dollars at most dental offices. Since the procedure is very similar to the veneers, this will also take more than one visit, but is less than half the price.

In today’s busy world, you may not have time for the dentist, but you can still get your teeth whitened professionally. Simply call you dentist and ask them to order you an at-home whitening kit. These kits vary in price from $300-750, depending on whether they customize the plates to fit your teeth or not. They typically will take a week to ten days per kit, with each application taking 1 to 2 hours. This may seem like a lot of time and money, and you may wonder what the difference is between these and drugstore teeth whitening kits. The difference is in the ingredients. An over-the-counter kit will typically have 6% peroxide, while one that is purchased from your dentist will contain 10% peroxide. The results will last from six months to a year.

Of course, the results will last longer depending on your oral hygiene and diet. If you smoke or drink a lot of teeth-staining beverages like tea or coffee, you may see lessened results. But no matter how stringent your oral hygiene, professional whitening is better and quicker than trying to do it yourself. It is simply a matter of choosing which type of whitening fits your lifestyle, and your budget.