Over-the-counter Tooth Whitening vs In-Office Tooth Whitening

Is There a Difference?

^{Serving patients in Glenview, Golf, Northbrook, Winnetka, Evanston, Arlington Heights, Wilmette, Northfield, Mt. Prospect, Deerfield, Illinois}
DIY Teeth

The appeal of do-it-yourself projects has expanded to TV programs, websites, books and videos, and encompasses almost every topic, even your teeth! But if you have ever tried to build your own dog house, paint your own house, or landscape your own yard, you are aware that every “DIY” project comes with some drawbacks. While the end product is usually very satisfying, the process comes with a lot of hard work and a learning curve.

Tooth whitening is no different. The appeal of a “five shades whiter” smile in just fourteen days has made tooth whitening kits a popular item. But the reality may not be so simple.

Somewhere Over the Counter

Over-the-counter tooth whitening kits are less expensive than professional whitening and often profess the same results, until you read the fine print on the box. Most over-the-counter whiteners plainly state that they only work on natural teeth. That means fillings, crowns, veneers, and dentures will all remain whatever color they are when you begin using the whitener. Rather than having matching stained teeth, if the product works as well as you hope, you will have at least two obviously different colors in your mouth. Even if you don’t have crowns, veneers or fillings in prominent locations, over-the-counter tooth whiteners can’t reach the cracks and gaps between your teeth, and will often leave those areas with darker stains.

In the Time it Takes

Another negative to any over-the-counter whitening kit is the investment of time. Most whitening strips recommend use twice a day for thirty minutes each time over a period of two weeks. That’s fourteen hours your devoting to a product which may not work as well as you hope it will. Additionally, many over-the-counter whiteners will tell you up front that you may experience “tooth sensitivity” which can translate to pain while eating or drinking. Although the container may say this is “normal,” most people don’t feel that tooth pain is in any way to be considered normal.

The truth is, over-the-counter whiteners work for many people. But the benefits may not outweigh the inconveniences.

Benefits of In-Office Whitening

In-office tooth whitening offers the benefits of over-the-counter whitening, and a few more:

• In-office tooth whitening only takes one office visit. Rather than sitting unable to talk for fourteen hours, one visit allows you to walk out of the office with noticeably whiter teeth.
• In-office tooth whitening can reach all the areas of your teeth, including the gaps and the back of the tooth.
• In-office tooth whitening whitens all your teeth, the natural ones and the veneers, crowns, fillings, inlays, onlays, and dentures you have on them.
• In-office tooth whitening procedures are carefully calculated to avoid tooth sensitivity.
• In-office tooth whitening allows you to choose the level of whiteness you would like to achieve.

To schedule a consultation or ask your questions about tooth whitening, please contact Colonial Dental Group, helping Glenview, Illinois and surrounding areas on the North Shore have whiter, brighter smiles.