Hi, it’s Michael Ghobrial here from Sure Dental. Every day, on my Facebook feed and my Instagram, I get lots and lots of advertisement about tooth whitening, and different tooth whitening products and all of them vary in cost considerably. And, it got me thinking that I assume a lot of patients out there are probably a little bit confused as to how to go about teeth whitening, with all the different options there, why there’s such a variation in the cost. So, I thought I’d make this video to help you in understanding what to consider if you are considering whitening your teeth.
So teeth whitening treatment can range from $6 toothpaste to $1300 in-office whitening and everything in between. Given the large range, I thought I would share some of the things to consider that will impact the price.
The first thing to consider is, how are the teeth being whitened. There are things like whitening toothpaste, and then there bleaching products. With the whitening toothpaste, you have some chemicals in there that help lighten your teeth. But, one of the biggest things is, often the toothpaste is a bit abrasive, and that can actually brush away at tooth structure. So, it removes extrinsic stains, but it can also remove tooth structure. And that can be a bit of a concern with the whitening toothpaste. Over time, your teeth can become more sensitive.
The other way is actually to whiten the structure of your tooth through bleaching. And this can be done, either in-office using advanced techniques or at home, and all of them work differently, and different modalities work more effectively than others. Professional whitening is incredibly effective for a wide range of discolorations. The light-activated whitening can also be effective, depending on your base color, but it also utilizes a bit of heat, which may cause temporary tooth sensitivity. This will be the most expensive option, but also the safest and most effective, as you are being monitored by a dentist.
But the other technique that is quite effective is the at-home whitening, with trays that are customised and professionally fit, so that you can use the bleaching product at a medical-grade, but you can do it safely. It won’t burn your gums, because you’re doing it under professional instruction. But also, the trays are custom-fitted to your mouth, and fitting very nicely, so that you don’t cause any damage. Because everything is customised for you, it will cost more than off-the-shelf products, but it is also safer and much more effective.
There are do-it-at-home whitening products, you can buy online. Some of the concerns around that are, the bleaching material actually escaping from the trays, and it can damage your gums, or be swallowed as well, whilst these will be the cheapest option, we don’t recommend them.
There are numerous factors to contemplate when evaluating teeth whitening procedures. Are we merely attempting to eliminate extrinsic discolorations, or are we aiming to bleach the tooth itself? Will we opt for an in-office treatment, which carries a slightly higher cost? Will we utilize a concentrated light source, or will we consider a professional customized at-home whitening system, which can be a cost-effective way to achieve outstanding results as well?
I hope this video gives you a better understanding on the cost of teeth whitening and why the price can vary so much. If you are considering teeth whitening to upgrade your smile, we would love to look after you. Simply complete the form on our website at www.suredental.com.au, direct message us on social media, or give us a call on 07 3113 9698. See you on the next video.
