Blog Post

Which Is Better- Professional Teeth Whitening or Over-The-Counter Kits?

  • By Milena Marguenski
  • 18 Jun, 2022
Over the years, teeth whitening procedures have gained huge popularity among people, especially younger generations. As soon as people turn 18, they reach out to dental professionals to get that bright smile.

With the procedures’ popularity, several pharmaceutical companies launched their over-the-counter teeth whitening kits. This made the procedure more accessible and cheaper as compared to a professional session.

But which one is better? Let’s understand both the procedures first.

Professional Teeth Whitening Process

Professional teeth whitening refers to the process of undergoing dental treatment to brighten the color of your teeth. It s is carried out by using two products- hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.

In a professional teeth whitening procedure, the dentists use a solution with a higher percentage of chemicals. This is possible as they have the means to isolate the teeth from gums & avoid any solution contact.
The dentists use a tooth shade chart to determine the current color of a patient’s teeth and what shade they wish to get. Further, they use various tools on your teeth to clean plaque and to polish your teeth.

The procedure ensures accuracy and a promising end result.

Over-The-Counter Kits

Even though the professional teeth whitening process is more efficient and cost-effective, the over-the-counter kits are cheaper. The chemistry of these kits are not as strong as compared to a clinical treatment.

These kits are also available at your dentist's clinic where they make a custom tray for your teeth. These tray’s have carbamide peroxide gel in them which helps in the process of teeth whitening.
It is a slow process as compared to hydrogen peroxide, but it is better as carbamide reduces the sensitivity if it touches the gums. The process takes time and the results might not be as great as a professional process but these are cost effective.

Difference Between The Procedures

Professional Teeth Whitening

  • Chemical content is higher in the solution
  • Treatment is done with carbamide and hydrogen peroxide
  • Process takes one or two visits to the dentist
  • Expensive treatment but offers longer lasting results
Over-The-Counter Kits

  • Chemical content is lower in the solution
  • Contains more amount of carbamide peroxide gel
  • Home kits take weeks before you can see results
  • Cheaper alternative to a professional cleaning with temporary results

Conclusion

Professional teeth whitening & over-the-counter kits, both give out the same results. The major differences are the price point and the time it takes to achieve the desired results. You can fast track the procedure with a professional procedure.

A professional procedure guarantees you great results post procedure in less than an hour. You also have the added advantage of going through a complete dental checkup as you’ll be at the dentist.

A home kit will take a few weeks before you can see the final results. Further, a professional procedure ensures proper hygiene and safety, which a home kit might lack. You can also save the money you spend on kits for a proper procedure.

At Park Dental Care, we offer all types of dentistry services from teeth whitening to smile correction to dental implants. Consult with our experts for the best solution and get your shining smile back.
By Milena Marguenski 02 Aug, 2022
Everyone dreams of having the perfect smile that will make their lives better. The ideal dazzling smile comes with perfectly aligned white teeth. A good dentist can help you through the entire process, including acquiring financial aid. Get braces only from a dentist who will hold your hand through the entire process.

Even after you get braces, you will need to adjust your lifestyle to take care of them. But it’s a small price to pay for a lifetime of perfect teeth. Let’s take a look at these do’s and don’ts when you have braces.
By Milena Marguenski 02 Aug, 2022
What to eat or not to eat for optimal dental health. Here’s some food for thought!

A person has to choose their food carefully and decide what is best and worst for them. Healthy eating habits improve not only your dental health but also your bodily functions. But a lot of foods that look healthy can have a bad impact on your dental health.

To lead a long happy life, you have to ensure that your eating habits are just right. But on the other hand, those big juicy hamburgers and slices of pizza are so very tempting. Consuming junk food on top of living a bad lifestyle is even more unhealthy.

Let’s take a look at the most common best and worst food items for your dental health.
By Milena Marguenski 28 Jul, 2022

You might think that brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing is a great way of  cleaning your teeth , but there are other things that can affect your dental hygiene. On a daily basis, there are so many things we do intentionally and unintentionally that cause damage to our teeth.

These habits are not good for your teeth and  gums  as they cause serious damage to them. Food and beverage related habits that harm the teeth are common knowledge but there are some not so obvious habits too.

Let’s look at these habits that cause damage to your teeth and gums.

By Milena Marguenski 15 Jul, 2022

If you thought that oral health problems are only for adults, then think again. The first teeth start appearing by 4 to 5 months of age. Then by the age of 3, kids have a full set of teeth. This is the time when parents have to be extremely careful about  oral hygiene.

By the age of 6-7, the primary teeth start to fall out to make space for the permanent teeth. These permanent teeth are the ones that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. However, there are certain oral problems such as tooth decay, lip sucking, and early teeth loss.

Let’s take a look at these common oral health problems.

By Milena Marguenski 15 Jun, 2022
The lifestyle choices you make daily affect your health positively or negatively. This is true when it comes to gum diseases, as well. If diagnosed in the early stages, we can reverse the damage caused to the gums.

However, if the damage is left untreated, it can lead to irreversible damage. According to the CDC , about 42.7% people by the age of 30 years face some sort of periodontal disease. These diseases increase with age.

Let’s take a further look into the type of disease and how they can be treated.
By Milena Marguenski 26 Apr, 2022

Whether you have recently moved to a new town or your previous doctor has relocated their clinic, you probably are having a lot of questions to ask your new dentist on your first appointment.

To help you out, in this article, we’ve rounded the six most essential queries you should inquire about from your dentist during your first consultation. So, read on to find out more:-

By Milena Marguenski 20 Apr, 2022

Dentin hypersensitivity or sensitive teeth, as the name suggests, is the response to certain stimuli such as hot and cold. Have you ever felt discomfortable after sipping a spoonful of hot tomato soup or taking a big ice cream bite? If so, then you’re not alone here. Sudden jittery pain from hot or cold foods is a clear sign of sensitive teeth.

The sensitivity may be temporary or permanent. It may affect one tooth or several teeth. There are numerous causes for tooth sensitivity such as gum disease, tooth decay, having acidic foods, and more, and it can be treated by making some tweaks to your oral hygiene habits.

Here, in this article, we’ve rounded up four effective ways to beat tooth sensitivity, so let’s scroll down and find out:-

By Milena Marguenski 01 Mar, 2022

You will be surprised to know that more than 47% of American adults aged 30 and older have some or the other form of gum problem.

Gingivitis is one of the common gum diseases which can lead to redness and swelling in your gingiva - the part of your gum.

By Milena Marguenski 17 Feb, 2022

Do you know over 3.5 billion people around the world are suffering from dental issues?

 That is a big figure!

 Oral diseases affect people from all walks of life - kids, adults, and seniors.

By Milena Marguenski 28 Jan, 2022

You will be surprised to know that nearly  9 out of 10 people  have misaligned teeth.

Malocclusion or misaligned teeth is one of the most common orthodontic disorders that can affect your overall personality.

This dental issue can be due to various reasons like thumb-sucking, accident, oral tumor, and gum disease. Whatever be the reason, it’s advisable to fix misaligned teeth before they do more damage.

More Posts
Share by: