In-clinic teeth whitening or home kits: which is best?

If you’ve wanted to whiten your teeth, you undoubtely wondered whether you should invest in in-clinic teeth whitening or a home kit would be a good enough solution. Luckily, we’re qualified to answer all of t he questions you have!

How do you choose the right teeth-whitening for you?

In general, there are two teeth whitening methods available at present – in-clinic teeth whitening (also known as in-chair teeth whitening) and home whitening kits. Both approaches come with specific pros and cons, and in this article, we’ll do our best to give you the information to help you decide.

In-clinic (or in-chair) teeth whitening

If you’re looking to achieve fast and prominent results, then in-clinic whitening will be your best bet. Although the exact final results and experience will vary by brand, as a general rule, you can trust that you will leave a clinic with teeth up to six shades lighter!

How does it work?

In-clinic teeth whitening takes approximately two hours. The first and most important part of the procedure is a general dental check-up. The check is required to ensure that your enamel is healthy and the whitening process will not cause harm or discomfort. 

Once the dentist has confirmed that you are ready for your treatment, they will apply the whitening gel over your teeth. The gel is then activated with a special blue light. The whitening is completed in three to four 15-minute long sessions, after which you’ll be able to see the final result.

When using Phillips Zoom! teeth whitening, you will also be given home-whitening trays and gel, so you can top-up your results at home.

You shouldn’t be drinking or eating staining foods at least 48 hours after the whitening to ensure your results set well. We also advise that you minimise the consumption of coffee, tea, and highly colouring foods to keep your teeth white for longer.

Depending on your biological predisposition, your natural tooth colour, lifestyle choices and environmental factors, your teeth whitening may last up to 3 years. You can prolong this period by occasionally using your home teeth-whitening trays for a few nights.

Home teeth whitening kits

If you’re looking for a more cost-efficient approach to teeth whitening, then a home kit might be a good idea. When provided by a dentist (which we strongly recommend), the trays are custom-made for you. The dentist will also confirm that you have had a recent dental check-up or urge you to schedule one before providing you with the teeth whitening gel. Although teeth whitening is a safe procedure, the gels may harm the enamel of teeth if there’s pre-existing decay.

After your custom trays are created, the dentist will instruct you on using the gels and providing you with the requested quantity.

Which teeth whitening option is best?

There’s no single answer to this question, but here’s a breakdown of the possible replies.

Financially, home whitening kits are the best solution. On average, they cost two to three times less than in-clinic whitening.

If you’re seeking value for money, however, in-clinic teeth whitening is undoubtedly the winning option. It gives you much better results faster and comes with a home whitening kit anyway, so it’s a two-in-one deal.

In terms of permanence of the results, in-clinic whitening is again the winner. Based on our experience, people who use home teeth whitening kits often stop the procedure halfway through, never getting to the shade of white they’re aiming for, and as a result, their teeth restore their previous colour quicker.

And lastly, if you’re looking for a better experience, then in-chair teeth whitening is what you should opt for. Although teeth whitening always causes higher tooth sensitivity over a short time, our patients report lesser overall discomfort from the in-clinic teeth whitening procedure than the home teeth whitening kits.

And lastly: how can people with very sensitive teeth benefit from teeth whitening?

As we mentioned above, teeth whitening inevitably increases teeth’s sensitivity. Therefore, if your teeth are already sensitive, this treatment may be unbearable for you. Happily, not all is lost!

Using teeth bonding and applying a thin layer over your teeth will help refresh your smile and provide a protective shield over your enamel, helping you reduce any discomfort you may be experiencing.