Teeth whitening - dentist administered laser/take home kit

Deusfaux

Does anyone have any experience with teeth whitening (bleaching or laser)? I'm looking at working in a profession where a very white smile is valued.

I'm finding quotes of about $300 for the take home kit - which is a custom mold made by the dentist, and it takes about 2 weeks of bleaching to reach the intended shade,

and double that or $600 for the one treatment in dental office, last about an hour and then it's done.


I don't have a problem with it taking longer, and I like saving money so I'm looking at the first option. Research says the worst I can expect is increased sensitivity and irritation that would go away within a couple days anyways.

Experiences? Horror stories?

onceling

My dentist was running late last time I was there, so I chatted to the receptionist for a while and we got onto this topic. I don't actually need this done myself so hopefully some others have some personal stories for you. However, she said that she would just recommend the home kit with mold to people over the in-house one sitting one because she found it just as effective and less $$$.

Improvolone

I recall numerous times that dentists were doing the Zoom! treatment for real cheap for charity events. Maybe something like that is coming up near you?

Deusfaux

yeah im told the at home is just as effective, it just takes longer and some people really don't like having to wear the molds

chromdom

I just got done with the Aquafresh home kit -- about $30.00, and my teeth are definitely whiter. I am now following my brother's lead, and trying Listerine whitening mouthwash. I suspect that, for purely cosmetic reasons, drugstore stuff is just as good as the dentist. If you are looking for real whiteness, I call you a klansman, and offer you no help. If you just want your teeth a bit whiter, over the counter stuff is fine.

YodaTuna

chromdom wrote: »

I just got done with the Aquafresh home kit -- about $30.00, and my teeth are definitely whiter. I am now following my brother's lead, and trying Listerine whitening mouthwash. I suspect that, for purely cosmetic reasons, drugstore stuff is just as good as the dentist. If you are looking for real whiteness, I call you a klansman, and offer you no help. If you just want your teeth a bit whiter, over the counter stuff is fine.

These use the exact same ingredients as the stuff you will use with the molds. The only downside to the whitening strips is that they won't cover as many teeth as the molds will.

RNEMESiS42

I used Crest White Strips every day for a couple weeks a few years ago and it helped substantially. Although, true, it won't cover your teeth all the way to the back, but who is inspecting your teeth inside your cheeks besides your dentist?