How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?
May 09, 2024Your teeth inevitably lose their brilliant whiteness as you get older. Yellowing of tooth enamel is normal, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it. Having your teeth whitened can make a huge difference to your smile and, by extension, your self-esteem. However, you might be wondering how much this service typically costs. How expensive is professional whitening? Do the kits they sell at the drugstore actually work? The price will vary for each teeth whitening option and at Park Dental we have several options for our patients.
Teeth Whitening vs. Bleaching
Teeth whitening and teeth bleaching are often used interchangeably, but they refer to two different processes. Here’s the difference between the two:
Teeth whitening is restoring the natural color of your teeth by removing stains and discoloration. This can be done through various methods, such as whitening toothpaste and strips or booking a consultation at Park Dental for professional teeth whitening treatments. Whitening products typically contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which help lighten the teeth’ color.
Teeth bleaching, on the other hand, teeth bleaching is a more intensive process involving using bleaching agents to whiten teeth beyond their natural shade. Bleaching usually occurs in a dental office and consists of more potent bleaching agents like hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. This process can remove deeper stains and discoloration, resulting in a brighter and whiter smile.
Different Whitening Procedures
Whitening procedures are generally split between home whitening and in-office procedures. As a note, there are better options than purchasing a drugstore whitening kit. While it’s a lot cheaper, the trays are one size fits all and seldom give a good result, and the treatment also tends to take longer.
At Park Dental, we offer both in-office and at-home whitening. Which one you choose depends on your schedule. We provide Opalescence PF and Opalescence Go trays with various wear times from 15 minutes to overnight while you sleep. Both of these use a potent gel with potassium nitrate and fluoride, strengthening tooth enamel and reducing sensitivity. We use Opalescent Boost for in-office teeth whitening, a powerful option that takes only 90 minutes and uses no lights or lasers.
We will discuss your options with you in a consultation and help you decide.
Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening
Whitening teeth improves your appearance and can positively impact your mental health and self-confidence. Dull, yellow teeth may make you less inclined to smile. They are also associated with age, and when people see yellow teeth, they are likely to notice wrinkles and other signs of aging.
Professional whitening with Park Dental is safe and affordable. We currently offer at-home or in-office whitening procedures. Whatever method you choose will always be better than over-the-counter trays from the drug store, which seldom give good results due to improper teeth fitting. Home whitening trays provided by your dentist use professional ingredients that suit your teeth.
In both cases, whitening treatments wear off over time and will eventually need to be repeated. The thinning and yellowing of your enamel is an ongoing process. You can slow this down by quitting smoking, limiting your coffee, tea, and red wine consumption, and using toothpaste with whitening agents.
Professional Teeth Whitening Services Available Today
We provide several great teeth whitening options for our patients. Reach out to schedule a consultation appointment to find out which option would be best for you!