Teeth Whitening

If you’d like to whiten your teeth, there are many options available.  Here are our thoughts on the best options currently available and a brief history of the technology.  Every patient’s needs are different, and so are the solutions.

Overview of Teeth Whitening
Modern teeth bleaching began around 1997 with the concept of using bleaching gel in custom-made trays.  Since that time, commercial manufacturers of bleaching gels have developed products for over-the-counter and Internet purchase, and have advertised one-hour in-office dentist-supervised teeth bleaching.  While these options are safe, and can often be effective for patients, the results can be unpredictable.  Short term sensitivity, pain, and disappointing or uneven whitening are common.

Strategies for Whitening Teeth
As with most treatment decisions, there are trade-offs associated with each strategy and there are several important questions to answer.

(1) How white would you like your teeth to be? 
(2) How much time are you willing to personally invest in the process? 
(3) How sensitive are your teeth presently, and what is your tolerance for pain and sensitivity?  (4) What cost is comfortable for you? 

Below, you will find a chart with an overview of the options.  As always, we are available to
discuss these strategies with you to determine which is most suitable for you.

The chart below is also available as a printable PDF here.

	Level of Whitening Possible	Time Required	Potential for  Temporary Sensitivity / Pain	Typical Costs
Over-the-Counter (Crest WhiteStrips,  Rembrandt, Colgate, etc.)	Modest May be uneven	2 – 4 weeks following careful instructions	Mild – Significant Unpredictable	$20-50
In-Office Procedure (“Zoom” etc.)	Moderate – Significant Higher levels of whitening may require multiple visits	90 minutes in-office	Mild - Moderate	$350 / session
Custom trays to be used at home	Moderate	Nightly while sleeping for 14 nights	Mild Due to excellent fit of tray	$400 Custom trays and 14 day bleach supply
In-office procedure PLUS custom-trays	Moderate - Significant	90 minutes in-office Nightly for 14 nights	Mild - Significant	$680 1 in-office session, custom trays, and 14 day bleach supply
KOR Deep Bleaching**	Maximum	Nightly for 14 nights on average	None - Mild	$1,000-$1,300  depending on complexity