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

Milena Marguenski • 18 June 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.

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