In-Clinic vs At-Home Teeth Whitening: Which Is Better?

Key Differences Between Each Type Including Cost

The main difference between at-home and in-clinic whitening is the strength of the results. In-clinic whitening can use stronger bleaching agents as dentists are licensed for it and they’re overseeing your care. Whitening at a dental clinic is also often activated with LED or laser light, making it more effective.

In-Clinic Whitening

• 90-minute appointment with professional supervision
• Results: 5-8 shades whiter
• Lasts 6 months to 2 years depending on lifestyle
• Higher upfront cost but longer-lasting results

At-Home Whitening

• Various methods: strips, trays, or mouth guard-style applications
• Results: 2-3 shades lighter after 1-3 weeks of use
• Lasts typically 3-4 months (less with staining foods/drinks)
• Lower cost but requires frequent touch-ups

At-home kits use the same bleaching chemicals but at much lower doses because they’re being used without medical supervision, so the effects aren’t as strong. There are various methods available, such as strips you place on your teeth or trays similar to retainers.

Professional whitening at a dental clinic is considerably more expensive than at-home kits, and as whitening is a cosmetic concern, the treatment generally won’t be covered by dental insurance plans. However, it’s worth considering how many kits you would buy over the same time period—continually topping up your results with at-home kits will add up, whereas in-clinic whitening is a one-off cost for longer-lasting results.

Making the Right Choice for Your Teeth

Before you make your decision, you should know that teeth whitening is considered safe, but only when done correctly—and there are risks involved. The safety and supervision factor is one of the biggest differences between the two options.

In-clinic whitening safety advantages: 

1. Health professional monitoring throughout the process
2. Pre-treatment assessment of teeth and gum health
3. Protective barriers applied to gums and lips
4. Customised treatment avoiding dental work like crowns 
5. Real-time adjustments if sensitivity or pain occurs

At-home whitening kits must be used following the instructions exactly to avoid safety issues, but there’s no one overseeing the process to ensure that happens. The trays are often one-size-fits-all, and if they don’t fit well, the bleaching agent could touch your gums, causing pain or burning in worst-case scenarios.

If you have any dental issues like gum disease or cavities, the whitening chemicals could make those problems worse. It’s also common for people to use more product than recommended in hopes of faster results, but this is unsafe and could lead to enamel damage, causing sensitivity in your teeth and even cavities down the road.

If choosing at-home whitening, ensure you: 

1. Follow all guidelines exactly as written
2. Ensure proper tray fit before adding product
3. Maintain regular dental checkups to confirm oral health
4. Never exceed recommended usage amounts

For many people, the decision between in-clinic and at-home whitening comes down to budget, as they don’t want to pay the higher price for clinic whitening. This is a valid decision, and if you’re fine with a slower process and fewer shades brighter for day-to-day improvement, at-home whitening will work for you.

However, in-clinic whitening is best if you want quicker, stronger results for attending a big event like a wedding. If you have existing dental work or oral health issues, it’s also best to choose a clinic to ensure the process is supervised and won’t cause problems for your important oral health.

If you want to use a home whitening kit, it’s still best to talk to your dentist about it first to ensure they think your oral health is good enough, and they can give you tips to use the kit safely.

At Dental @ Niddrie, we take our commitment to your oral health seriously and will help you whiten your teeth in the safest way. Our clinic is built with patient care at the heart of it, from our advanced technology to our multilingual staff, so you’ll always feel comfortable here.