Is the teeth whitening cost of professional whitening treatment worth the extra money? In other words… does it really pay to go pro?
Let’s take a closer look…
Teeth whitening is one of the easiest ways to improve an appearance. Brighter, whiter smiles are often associated with good overall health, self-care and of course beauty. Naturally, this makes teeth whitening products extremely popular. Yet, with so many products available, it’s understandable that people may question whether the glut of cheap teeth whitening products such as whitening strips, gels, pastes and rinses really do what they say on the tin when compared to professional teeth whitening treatment.
In truth, results can be a bit of a mixed bag. The good news is that store-bought or over-the-counter products have improved in recent years and there are some good and effective products available. But when it comes to teeth whitening cost, these are usually the products you need to pay top-end prices for. However, at the cheaper end of the scale, some products may lighten teeth but any results are usually far less effective. Moreover, they can take a long time to achieve.
Why is this?
Simply because over-the-counter whitening products are obliged by law to contain whitening solutions that are weaker and less concentrated.
For example, some at-home whitening kits can be bought relatively cheaply and are in many ways similar to what a dentist may use. The significant difference, however, is that kits purchased from a dentist utilise higher concentrations of teeth whitening agent over a shorter amount of time. So while it can take several weeks or even months to achieve the desired effect, with a store-bought whitening kit, when the results are achieved they may only last several weeks.
For this reason, it isn’t unknown for people to spend large amounts of cash on multiple treatments (some successful and some failures) over a period of time. When on reflection they could have saved money by visiting the dentist in the first place.
Pros of store-bought whitening products
Pros of store-bought whitening products- Over the counter whitening products are an affordable alternative to professional whitening treatments but only if they work
- Whitening strips gels and kits are available in most pharmacies, large stores and online and therefore offer a convenient method of whitening teeth.
Cons of over-the-counter teeth whitening products
- No guarantee that it is the right teeth bleaching product for you
- In most cases, considerable time is needed to achieve whitening goals
- There’s no guarantee that a particular product will work
- Results are not long-lasting
- Zero dental supervision.
So what about professional whitening solutions?
You may think that whitening teeth is a simple process, but this is far from the case. To get the right long-lasting results you really need to seek out professional-grade methods.
While the methods and ingredients may appear the same, there are some things that you simply can’t replicate at home and that is in effect what you are paying for.
The right ingredient at the right quantity
If you have spent any time researching teeth bleaching solutions then you’ll know that the primary ingredient in many professional whitening products is hydrogen peroxide. This is an effective ingredient that breaks down when confronted with water and oxygen and is incredibly effective at removing staining from teeth.
Alternatively, many at home whitening kits utilise a derivative known as carbamide peroxide because it’s deemed safer for at home use. The problem is that it simply doesn’t deliver the results that hydrogen peroxide does. So when you buy an over-the-counter teeth whitening product at a cheap price, not only are you are buying a product with a weaker concentration, you’re also paying for a product whereby any results you do get may not last very long.
The right equipment
In addition, when you buy over-the-counter whitening strips or whitening kits with trays, you are in effect purchasing a one-size-fits-all product. The problem with this philosophy is that not all teeth are created equal and from a dental perspective this isn’t great for all-round even whitening.
Teeth may be slightly crooked or uneven, for instance, rendering whitening strips ineffective. Alternatively, whitening trays that are supposed to fit snugly on teeth for the maximum effect might not be doing so.
On the contrary, when you pay a higher teeth whitening cost and seek out take-home kits supplied by your dentist, they are dentally controlled. As a result, you can expect bespoke whitening trays that are custom-made to fit your teeth for better results. But equally, the hydrogen peroxide contained within the gel will be stronger and therefore more efficient.
But what about chairside whitening treatments?
When it comes to teeth whitening cost, professional chairside teeth whitening is the most expensive, but equally, it produces the best, safest and long-lasting results in the fastest time.
So how fast?
It is possible that patients can see results in as little as one hour. That’s far better than any teeth whitening product on the market and that is in effect the difference.
If you do have a budget in mind and are concerned about the teeth whitening cost of professional whitening procedures, then come and talk to the team at Infinity Dental Care. We offer some of the most competitive prices in the area plus a range of financing options so book a consultation today and let us help you put the sparkle back into your smile. Call us now at (02) 9159 6237