Let’s first touch on at home products because it seems that this is where people are overly-unrealistic in most instances. Your typical take-home tooth whitening system can cost anywhere from $40+. You’d be amazed at what sort of expectations people have from such an inexpensive product. First, you have the very impatient consumers who are disappointed to find that after 1 treatment their teeth haven’t moved to a lighter shade. People need to understand that at-home whitening kits take time to work. You’re not going to see results right away as you would with professional tooth whitening available at a dentist’s office. The typical tooth whitening system needs to be used once a day for a specific duration until the consumer will see any sort of substantial whitening effect.

It is also important that consumers remember that peroxide levels in over-the-counter kits are much lower than those in professional tooth whitening solutions. This reduced amount of teeth whitening peroxide is to protect consumers form unintentionally damaging their gums. However, this reduced peroxide concentration also mean less effectiveness. Those getting their teeth whitened using an at-home kit should expect a subtle change, not anything absolutely shocking. If you want celebrity-style whitening, you need to get your teeth whitened at a dentist’s office. This is not conjecture, it is fact. If you have a small amount of discoloration, an at-home kit should sufficiently meet your needs. Otherwise, head to a dentist’s office for a cosmetic teeth whitening procedure. Also, note that not all in-office procedures are created equal. Those procedures offered on the lower end of the price spectrum are not likely to get you completely dazzling results.

The bottom line is that if you want more glamorous results, you need to be ready to spare some change. Peroxide tooth whitening needs to be done at a cosmetic dentist’s office for maximum effect. An at-home kit will rarely cut it for those with high expectations. The peroxide tooth whitening offered in-office is more potent and thus much more effective. It will only take an hour of your day and is pain-free.

During a whitening procedure, the dentist will apply a whitening gel to a tray. The tray will then be applied to your teeth. The teeth whitening tray is typically transparent to allow light to reach the gel. When the tray is fitted into place, the dentist typically shines a specialized laser on the gel to activate it. Some procedures require that the patient sit under the light for about an hour, while others are demanding of less time. The dentist may choose to repeat the treatment once the first session is over. Once the procedure is over, the whitening effect will be immediately apparent.

At their foundation, both over-the-counter tooth whitening products and the whitening procedures offered in-office are similar. They utilize tooth whitening trays and a special light to activate the tooth whitening gel (typically a laser). However, when you make a detailed comparison you will find that the latter is much more effective (for reasons we’ve mentioned above), not because it utilizes better tooth whitening trays or similar, but rather because the concentrations of the main ingredient are greater. The disparity is evident in the different results that those who’ve undergone in-office whitening see when compared to those who’ve undergone at-home treatment.

You can find more information on what whitening treatments are reliable by speaking to a reputable provider. They can assess your current oral health and determine which treatment is best for you. Other online resources can also be instrumental in helping you connect with people who’ve actually undergone such procedures.