Cost Of Teeth Whitening: The Ultimate Guide
Who doesn’t like to look at their pictures with broad smiles showcasing their bright and white teeth? But even after brushing and flossing their teeth regularly, you may find that they are missing your sparkling smile. Ever wonder what you should do to get rid of those yellow and brown teeth? What is the procedures for teeth whitening ? What is the cost of teeth whitening procedure? What factors affect the price of teeth whitening procedures?
What Is Teeth Whitening:
Your teeth will lose their shine and white color with time. And many factors affect it. For example, age, food, drinks, medication, trauma, etc. And with some changes in lifestyle, you can maintain your teeth with pride. But there is a procedure called teeth whitening that can bring instant results and do wonders.
Teeth whitening is a treatment that bleaches your teeth and helps you to get white sparkling teeth. It is a standard dental procedure and can be quickly done by dentists or hygienist. There are also over-the-counter products that you can use at home.
Teeth Whitening Products:
The products used in teeth whitening procedures are bleaching products like peroxides, for example, hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The percentage of peroxides present in bleaching agents varies from one to another.
The in-dental office treatment has a higher percentage of peroxide, around 35% to 45%, while over-the-counter products have a low rate of 7% to 8%. The higher percentage of peroxide present in the product means it takes less time to do whiten your teeth.
Procedure Of Teeth Whitening
(1) In-Clinic Teeth Whitening Procedure:
Dentists regularly carry out professional teeth whitening procedures in the clinics. The procedure takes around one hour. Two common in-clinic whitening procedures are (1) Zoom Teeth Whitening by Philips and (2) Beyond Teeth Whitening System. When the patient comes for teeth whitening, the dentist assess the condition of your teeth and gum. He takes the record of your teeth’ shape and might even take pictures to compare pre-procedure and post-procedure whitening results. The dentist will recommend hygiene treatment ( Ultrasonic scaling and polishing) to remove external stain and biofilm on the teeth prior to whitening treatment.
The whitening procedure starts with the polishing of teeth, followed by retraction of the lips and cheeks (Fearon, 2007). Gingival barrier is applied to all teeth to protect the gum. A special blue light is used to set this gingival barrier for around 15 seconds. After that, the dentist applies the whitening gel evenly on the front teeth. The whitening gel is activated by the whitening machine shining on the teeth. This procedure usually takes 30mins to one hour or until the desired colour is achieved. Once completed, the gel and the gingival barrier are removed.
(2) In-Home Treatments
Nowadays, many over-the-counter products are available in the market as whitening toothpaste, gels, and strips. They have a lower concentration of peroxides. The cost of teeth whitening by these products is relatively cheaper than offered by the dentists but they will only lighten your teeth by a few shades normally.
Pros And Cons Of Teeth Whitening
There are plenty of benefits of teeth whitening and the procedure done in the clinic is far more effective and long-lasting than the over-the-counter products. Your dentist can assess if are suitable for the treatment or not.
The common risks of teeth whitening are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. For most people it is only a temporary side effect of the treatment. Another problem that can happen is uneven whitening, particularly if you have different shades of teeth before the whitening procedures.
Cost of the teeth whitening in New Zealand:
The cost of teeth whitening depends on who is doing your procedure (Dentists, Hygienist or Beauty therapist) and the brand you are using. In general the cost of teeth whitening procedures at clinics by a dentist is more than those at home. In-clinic teeth whitening ranges from $99 to $500 in Auckland.
For a lists of Dentists or Cosmetic Dentists that provides whitening treatment, click the link below:
Dentists: https://dentistsnearme.co.nz/listing-category/dentist/
Cosmetic Dentists: https://dentistsnearme.co.nz/listing-category/cosmetic-dentist/
FAQ
We have listed some of the questions our dentists get asked frequently about teeth whitening.
- Does teeth whitening procedure really work?
Yes, it works! This procedure uses bleaching agents to clean your teeth and lighten your teeth’ color, resulting in whiter shade teeth. Depending on the whitening system, personal oral hygiene care, your lifestyle and whether you regular visit your dentist for maintenance, the result may last from 1 year to three years.
- What should you ask your dentist before getting the treatment?
The answer is Yes. The dentist will examine your teeth and gum to see if you are suitable for the treatment. All tooth decay and broken teeth should be repaired prior to any whitening procedures. This is to prevent damage to the teeth from the whitening gel. It is also best practice to get your teeth cleaned properly before whitening procedures so that the whitening can work better.
- Does it work on all teeth?
No, it doesn’t work on all teeth. The treatment cannot correct all types of discolorations. For example, while it can treat yellow teeth, but brown or grey discoloration cannot be fixed by teeth whitening procedures alone. You may need porcelain or composite veneers to further mask the discolorations.
- Is teeth whitening procedure safe? Are there any risks?
Yes, according to research, it is safe for most people. Some people that have very sensitive teeth are advised against the treatment as the bleaching agents used in the system can cause even more sensitivity to your teeth. Therefore, you should always consult your dentist before any whitening procedures
- Is the procedure expensive?
Nowadays whitening procedures is quite affordable depending on the whitening method chosen. For example, at-home whitening treatment is much cheaper than the in-clinic treatment.
References
Carey, C. M. (2014). Tooth whitening: what we now know. Journal of Evidence Based Dental Practice, 14, 70-76.
Fearon, J. (2007). Tooth whitening: concepts and controversies. J Ir Dent Assoc, 53(3), 132-40.
Klunboot, U., Arayathanitkul, K., Chitaree, R., & Emarat, N. (2012). The temperature effects of diode laser on pulpal tissues for the teeth whitening treatment. Procedia Engineering, 32, 722-726.
