Teeth Whitening: At Home Vs. In Dental Clinic

Our smile is one of our biggest assets, and a bright, dazzling smile with white teeth can be a big confidence boost. At Withers Dental we love seeing the look on our patients faces when they see those pearly white teeth again. But what can cause the discolouring of your teeth?

Over time, our teeth can become stained and discoloured from various factors such as age, diet and smoking. Fortunately, teeth whitening is an effective and increasingly popular solution to keep our teeth whiter. It is important to note that natural teeth whitening will only whiten natural tooth tissue and not composite, porcelain or any other restorative material used in fillings, crowns or bridges. There are two options available to professionally whiten natural teeth, a home whitening option and an in chair option. Both have their pros and cons.

Home Whitening

Home whitening kits are one of the most widely recommended whitening options due to convenience and affordability. They consist of custom fit whitening trays to minimise any damage to the gums, along with a gel containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The teeth are slowly whitened over a period of time with the usual usage time being 1-2 hours per day for 1-2 weeks. 

Advantages 

• Whitens teeth slowly creating a more stable result.
• Convenient as it can be done in your own home.
• Cost effective.

Disadvantages

• Possibility of damage to the gums if used incorrectly.
• Can cause mild sensitivity.
• Results can take weeks.

In-Chair Whitening

In-chair whitening is a procedure performed by a dental professional in the dental chair. It involves a high percentage of hydrogen peroxide that is usually activated by a blue light. During the procedure the gums and surrounding soft tissues are protected and a gel is applied to the teeth in 3-4 cycles. The results are immediate after the procedure.

Advantages

• Immediate results.
• Short amount of chair time.
• Done in a professional setting.

Disadvantages

• Can cause sensitivity.
• More expensive.
• Important to stick to a white diet for 48 hours post treatment.

When considering teeth whitening, budget, dental health and time commitment are the key factors in deciding the right treatment for you. Both in-chair and home whitening can achieve a bright, natural white colour. For more information and to specifically discuss your case, speak to one of our friendly Oral Health Therapists at Withers Dental Toowoomba.