The average cost of teeth whitening is $275, according to 44 reviews from RealSelf community members.
However, your cost could range up to $476. Read on to find out why.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Teeth Whitening
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Is the cost of professional teeth whitening worth it?
RealSelf members give teeth whitening a 94% Worth It rating, with many saying that their teeth have never looked whiter.
If you want a significantly whiter, brighter smile quickly, professional in-office whitening—which uses a stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide than over-the-counter (OTC) products—is a great option.
One study found that an OTC bleaching technique took 16 days to achieve the same whitening level as a seven-day, at-home professional whitening tray system or a one-time, in-office procedure.
Another upside: In-office teeth whitening has the benefit of being performed by an experienced dental professional, which helps to ensure you safely get the results you’re after. For instance, the first step of the process is to create a barrier to protect your gums from coming into contact with the bleaching agent, which can irritate this sensitive tissue.
If you’re happy with more gradual whitening, a professional take-home bleaching kit with custom-fitted whitening trays and a milder concentration of bleaching agent that you can use for at-home teeth whitening is another option. Results may be slower to appear than with an in-office treatment, but this option may be recommended for patients who have more sensitive teeth. It’s also a convenient option for “touch-ups,” which may be necessary every six to 12 months, as the whitening results tend to fade over time.
More affordable store-bought products—whitening strips and kits—are also available. These contain a far lower concentration of bleaching agent, so they take much longer to work than professional whitening treatments. In addition to being time-consuming, they can be messy, unpleasant tasting, and deliver uneven results, especially if your teeth aren’t straight. That said, in some cases, they deliver noticeably whiter teeth. If cost is an issue, talk to your dentist about the best OTC whitening product to fit your budget.
Whatever whitening route you choose to go, protect your investment by practicing good oral hygiene and scheduling regular teeth cleanings. Toothpastes containing whitening agents can also help maintain your gleaming smile.
What affects the cost of teeth whitening?
1. Your dentist's level of expertise
The American Dental Association recommends consulting with a licensed cosmetic dentist to determine if teeth whitening is an appropriate treatment, based on your overall oral health.
The more experience your provider has, the higher your teeth whitening cost may be, but it's important that this treatment be performed (or at least supervised) by an experienced professional, for the sake of both results and safety. In-office teeth whitening treatments contain high concentrations of bleaching agents and need to be used carefully to avoid potential side effects, like burns to your gums or increased tooth sensitivity.
Even if you choose an option that involves dentist-supplied at-home whitening trays, an experienced dentist or dental assistant should explain how you can use them safely.
2. Their practice location
Large cosmetic dentistry practices in upscale neighborhoods of major cities tend to charge more than what you’d pay in an outlying area or smaller cities, as rent costs get passed on to patients. If cost is a big factor for you, look for a well-reviewed, qualified cosmetic dentist with a less exclusive address and more stripped-down operation.
3. The type of teeth whitening system used
There are a number of brand-name whitening systems in use at dental offices today, and each works slightly differently and has different costs associated with it.
Some methods require several in-office treatments to reach your desired results, while others—like BriteSmile and Zoom—employ a laser or light source that activates the bleaching agent (usually hydrogen peroxide) to deliver “instant” teeth whitening in a single treatment, at a higher cost.
Related: The Best Professional Teeth Whitening Treatments, According to Experts
4. The extent of your tooth discoloration
Teeth whitening systems work best on “extrinsic” tooth stains, those that affect the outermost layer (aka tooth enamel). These superficial yellow stains often develop due to regular consumption of deeply colored beverages and food like red wine, coffee, tea, tomato sauce, and berries. The nicotine, tar, and tobacco in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes also contributes to this discoloration.
While tooth whitening treatments can usually improve tooth color dramatically—by up to eight shades—stubborn staining may require one or more additional sessions, along with at-home whitening products like strips and whitening toothpastes.
“Intrinsic” stains that exist on a deeper layer of the tooth (as a result of some medication, overexposure to fluoride, aging, trauma, and root canal treatment) aren’t as likely to respond to traditional teeth whitening: they usually require internal tooth bleaching.
RealSelf Tip: Whitening only removes stains on natural teeth; artificial dental work, such as crowns, bonding, bridges, veneers, and fillings, don’t respond to bleaching agents. It's a good idea to have whitening done before this kind of dental work, so it matches a whiter version of your teeth.
5. Any additional procedures before whitening
Issues like tooth decay, gum disease, enamel erosion, or hypersensitivity may need to be addressed first, to prevent sensitivity following the whitening process. This could increase the total cost of your whitening treatment, but a portion of the cost could be covered by your dental insurance, and fixing these problems will improve your overall oral health.
6. Special offers and discounts
Some dental offices (or med spas) offer teeth whitening deals to attract new patients. Going this route can offer significant savings, but it's still important to read patient reviews for this particular service, to make sure you'll be in experienced hands.
Interested in teeth whitening?
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