In-Office Whitening vs. At-Home Whitening: Benefits & Differences
Having pearly whites is easier than ever thanks to the wide range of treatments available today that can be performed at the dentist’s office or at home. Tooth discoloration is a common issue caused by a variety of factors — food and beverages, tobacco use, illness, and aging. A dental evaluation is the right way to go if you’re considering treatment. It’s up to you and your dentist to determine an accurate diagnosis and the appropriate next steps to achieve a brighter and whiter smile.
Two Options, One Bright Smile
- The three main factors you need to consider when deciding whether you go with an office whitening or a home kit are: Concentration of the whitening agent: At-home whitening treatments have a lower concentration of peroxide at 10%. Compared to a professionally applied treatment, which can range from 15% to 43%. While at-home treatments may take longer to produce results, they can be effective in lightening the shade of your teeth.
- Duration of treatment: As we mentioned above, home treatments have a lower concentration of active ingredients. This means you would need to use them for a longer period of time to see a change in the shade of your teeth. Such is the case with whitening strips, which are usually meant to be applied daily for up to three weeks. On the other hand, a professional whitening often takes one session to get the results you’re after.
- Precision: With a professional teeth whitening treatment, the dentist will carefully apply the whitening solution to your teeth, making sure to avoid your gums, as it can irritate the soft tissue. It’s more challenging to protect your gums with an at-home product.
At-home whitening kits are available in a wide variety of options, making it convenient to fit the procedure into your schedule. But in-office whitening provides you with predictable results based on a personalized analysis of your teeth. Your doctor is safely applying the chemicals on your teeth, and you get immediate results and a fast transformation. At Frisco Dental, we are happy to help patients in the Frisco, TX area with the best teeth whitening option for their dental needs. Please call our office at [phoneNumber] to schedule a consultation today.
