Professional Teeth Whitening vs. At-Home Teeth Whitening

Teeth whitening is a great way to lift stains, reverse surface discolouration on your tooth and achieve an overall brighter, healthier looking smile. Whether performed at home or in the chair at the dentist, teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry treatment in Australia. Below we’ll look at different teeth whitening treatment options and how professional teeth whitening at the dentist compares to at-home teeth whitening options.

Teeth Whitening At Home

There are a wide range of at-home teeth whitening products available to buy over-the-counter, many of which are popular due to their convenience and low cost. Results tend to vary depending on the brand, price-point, and the cause of your tooth discolouration. These products include:

• Whitening toothpastes and rinses
• Whitening strips
• Teeth whitening trays

The results of any of these products, however, range from fairly limited to providing no noticeable difference at all for severe stains or discolouration. These products are only capable of whitening your teeth slightly compared to whitening treatments at the dentist.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening products don’t usually contain any more than 6 per cent hydrogen peroxide or 18 per cent carbamide peroxide, meaning their effect is always going to be limited compared to professional teeth whitening. This is due to safety. Higher concentrations of these chemicals can cause burns on your gums if not applied properly by professionals using the right equipment.

Professional Teeth Whitening

Professional in-chair teeth whitening by your dentist produces faster and more reliable results. This is because higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or other whitening chemicals can be safely applied under controlled conditions in a clinical environment. The process is quite simple, fast and non-invasive. After your dentist assesses the initial shade of your teeth during a consultation and you both figure out the end goal, the treatment is carried out over a few small steps:

• Your dentist will provide general teeth cleaning to remove plaque on teeth before applying the gel to ensure even, consistent placement.
• A rubber dam is placed in your mouth to protect your gums and other soft tissues against irritation.
• A pre-activation spray is applied to your teeth using a sponge brush.
• A mouth tray is filled with formulated whitening gel, which is placed on your teeth like a mouth guard
• A dental grade LED light is placed over your mouth to activate the gel while you sit back and relax.

This process can take as little as 15 minutes and can be repeated multiple times depending on the existing shade of your teeth and the results you want to achieve. Professional teeth whitening provides longer-lasting results and does not damage enamel and gums, while at-home whitening products don’t even remove the plaque on your teeth. Results will depend on a variety of factors, however. Your dental health and lifestyle choices play a big role in how discoloured your teeth are and how much whiter you can make them.

Schedule an Appointment with Dentist on the Gold Coast

To schedule a professional teeth whitening appointment, call Dentists on the Gold Coast today on 07 5531 2053 or make a booking online. Our dedicated team provides a range of general, preventative, emergency and cosmetic dentistry, including teeth cleaning, root canals and much more.