The Cost of Teeth Whitening
Over time, your teeth may have become yellow or discolored. If this is the case, there may be a solution that matches your needs—even if your teeth need a significant amount of whitening. This solution is professional teeth whitening.
What Is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is the process of whitening your teeth using products that have special whitening solutions. While there are a variety of options for whitening, the most comprehensive and effective teeth whitening solutions are the ones provided by a cosmetic dentist. Cosmetic dentists will often suggest teeth whitening as an aspect of a patient’s overall smile design.
Teeth Whitening and Overall Smile Design
While the option is available to only have your teeth whitened, teeth whitening is often coupled with other procedures to produce an overall smile design. These procedures may include dental bonding, veneers, dental crowns, gum contouring or a variety of other procedures that can improve the cosmetic appearance of a patient’s teeth. If teeth discoloration isn’t the only issue that you have with your smile, speak with your cosmetic dentist about planning an overall smile design.
Teeth Whitening Options and Their Costs
There are different options for teeth whitening—some of which being over-the-counter, and others that need to be performed by a cosmetic dentist. Over-the-counter options include:
- Whitening Toothpaste
- Whitening Gum
- Whitening Mouthwash
- Whitening Strips
While most of these options are available for under $20, whitening strips are often more expensive. While whitening strips are more effective than other over-the-counter solutions, they should not be used without the approval of a dentist. Whitening strips can cause severe damage to the enamel of your teeth, so it is best to check with your dentist to see if your teeth are strong enough to support the whitening solution used in whitening strips.
Professional teeth whitening, while more expensive than over-the-counter whitening products, can help to transform your teeth from a deep yellow to a pearly white. There are a couple of different procedures that you may be able to choose from for your professional whitening, which include at-home trays and in-office laser whitening.
If you choose to go with an at-home tray, you will have a custom tray produced for your specific teeth. You will then be provided with whitening gel, which will be placed in the tray each time you use it. This option is more affordable, and is generally only $250.
In-office whitening is another excellent professional teeth whitening option, and it involves the use of a special whitening agent and a laser to whiten the teeth significantly in less than an hour. These treatments are more expensive, and are often around $350.
Speak with Your Dentist
In order to see which whitening option is best for you, set an appointment with a cosmetic dentist. They will help you to choose the appropriate whitening method, and they can even help with your overall smile design. Call your dentist today to set an appointment for a consultation.
More About Teeth Whitening : Should I Whiten My Teeth?