It wasn’t long ago that tooth whitening was the exclusive domain of the dentist’s office. Today, however, there are several effective over-the-counter ways to achieve a brighter, whiter smile. But what are the advantages and disadvantages of each? Can tooth whitening with a home kit really be as effective as an in-office bleaching? And, are at-home bleaching kits safe?
The primary advantage of having an in-office whitening session with a dentist is the expertise being brought to the table. A dentist can easily assess whether tooth whitening is even worth trying at all, saving the patient hundreds of dollars and several hours. Also, the dentist will know precisely what concentration of the whitening gel or bleach must be used to be effective, allowing for the best results in the shortest amount of time.
The main disadvantage of in-house tooth whitening is the cost. The whitening systems alone can reach close to a thousand dollars and, because it may require several visits before the desired results are achieved, the cost increases with every visit.
With this said, the most notable advantage of an at-home tooth-whitening kit is the favourable cost. Most kits can be purchased for under $40, not to mention the time and money that is saved not having to make trips to the dentist’s office. At-home kits are also safe, and generally use the same whitening agent, peroxide, as a dentist.
However, the peroxide in a home kit is in a much smaller concentration than a dentist will use, making desired results longer to achieve. Also, without consulting a dentist, users will not know if they are good candidates for tooth whitening. And if they’re not, neither a dentist nor an at-home kit will be able to help.
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