Depending on your specific needs, the average teeth whitening cost is between $99-$367. There are many factors that can determine the cost of teeth whitening.

The most effective way to whiten your teeth is professional teeth whitening treatment applied by your dentist in the office. The results of this type of treatment can last between 1 and 3 years. In-office teeth whitening involves the following process: The gum tissue is protected from the effects of the bleaching gel.

The most effective way to whiten your teeth is professional teeth whitening treatment applied by your dentist in the office. The results of this type of treatment can last between 1 and 3 years. In-office teeth whitening involves the following process: The gum tissue is protected from the effects of the bleaching gel.

How much does in office teeth whitening cost

The most expensive (and most effective) method for whitening teeth is a laser whitening treatment, which costs (on average) around $1,000. Having your teeth whitened in-office will cost approximately $600, and while this is significantly more money than the cost of take-home kits or other teeth whitening products, such as gels, gums, or whitening toothpastes, which can range from $5 to $50, having your teeth whitened in office will result in a significantly brighter smile, because your dentist can use a stronger concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

A popular option for patients looking to have faster and better results, but for whom cost is a significant consideration, is to have a customized tray made to address your unique dental needs. Once the tray is formed, your dentist will provide instructions for wearing the trays at home. These custom kits typically cost around $250 to $500, with an additional $30 factored in for annual maintenance.

Preventing Staining From Occurring

Teeth can become stained for a variety of reasons, the most common of which is poor oral hygiene, tobacco use, or excessive consumption of certain foods or beverages. Teeth staining can also be the result of an underlying issue. If you are interested in having brighter, whiter teeth and are looking to avoid paying costly office bills, here are a few things you can do to improve the appearance of your teeth.

• Practice Good Oral Hygiene: One of the most effective methods for avoiding and correcting stained teeth is to practice good daily oral hygiene habits. Be sure that you brush and floss twice daily, ideally using a toothpaste with fluoride or whitening agents. It is also important to replace your toothbrush every three or four months.
• Avoid Staining Foods: Although it can be hard to avoid soda, tea, or a nice glass of wine, each of these beverages can play a primary role in causing your teeth to stain. Foods like tomato sauce and certain berries can also cause your teeth to stain.
• Stop Using Tobacco: There are countless reasons why it is a good idea to stop using tobacco, one of which is that use of tobacco will not only jeopardize your health, but will also stain your teeth, especially smokeless tobacco.
• Routine Dental Checkups: In addition to maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being conscious of your diet, scheduling dental exams every six months (or more frequently for patients prone to periodontal issues) will allow your dentist to remove plaque and staining substances that will brighten up your smile.

How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Last?

Do you want whiter teeth? Gradual yellowing of teeth tends to happen over time, leaving your smile looking a little dull. If you’ve noticed that your smile doesn’t look very white in pictures or in the mirror, you might consider trying a teeth whitening treatment.

There are many different types of teeth whitening products available. They all come at different prices and provide varying degrees of success. Professional teeth whitening treatments are by far the most effective, which is why they generally cost more than over the counter whitening products. Before you consider paying for professional teeth whitening, you may wonder how long it will last and whether or not it is worth the cost. Here’s what you can expect.

In-Office Professional Whitening Treatment

The most effective way to whiten your teeth is professional teeth whitening treatment applied by your dentist in the office. The results of this type of treatment can last between 1 and 3 years.

In-office teeth whitening involves the following process:

• The gum tissue is protected from the effects of the bleaching gel.
• The whitening gel is applied to the teeth.
• A laser light is applied to the teeth to accelerate the whitening process.

This procedure is repeated as many times as necessary to achieve the desired shade.

Take Home Professional Whitening Treatment

Many dentists offer a take home teeth whitening treatment option. Custom trays are designed to fit your teeth so that you can apply the whitening gel at home. Take home whitening treatment results last for about a year.

Take home teeth whitening involves the following process:

• Apply a drop of bleaching gel to the mouth tray.
• Place the mouth tray over your teeth.
• Leave the tray in place for the instructed amount of time according to the type and strength of the gel you are using.
• After you remove the tray, rinse your mouth with lukewarm water.
• Rinse the tray with cold water.

Repeat this procedure every day or night for two weeks or according to your dentist’s instructions.

Combine In-Office and Take Home Treatment for Longer Lasting Results

In-office whitening treatment offers dramatic, almost immediate results. You will leave the office with a whiter smile in just one appointment. These results may last for as long as 3 years, but your teeth may gradually yellow within that time. Rather than starting all over with another in-office treatment, you can use the take home trays to whiten your teeth as needed to keep them looking whiter for longer.

How to Help Your Teeth Whiter for Longer

After you see your amazing results, you want your teeth to stay white. Here are some tips for keeping your teeth white for as long as possible after your treatment.

• Avoid coffee and tea.
• Avoid red wine and dark fruit juice.
• Avoid dark chocolate and red or brown sauces.
• Avoid food and drinks with artificial dyes.

What you eat or drink in the first 48 hours after your whitening treatment is the most important. If you can’t avoid the above items permanently, try to avoid them for the first few days after your treatment.

Oral hygiene is an important part of keeping your teeth white. Keep your teeth clean and bright between whitening treatments by doing the following:

• Brush your teeth twice a day.
• Floss your teeth once a day.
• Rinse with mouthwash once a day.
• Use whitening toothpaste and mouthwash.
• Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth if needed after your whitening treatment.

Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?

Teeth whitening is one of the most popular dental cosmetic treatments among patients of Northfield Dental Group. Many patients are eager to learn more about our in-office procedure, including whether it is painful. In this blog post we discuss the answer in detail and what patients should expect during and after treatment.

Some Tooth Sensitivity May Occur

Our professional in-office teeth whitening procedure involves applying a hydrogen-peroxide gel to the teeth, which is then activated by laser light. The hydrogen-peroxide gel breaks up stains and discoloration, lightening the teeth. Although safe, the bleaching agent can cause some discomfort in the form of tooth sensitivity. Not every patient experiences tooth sensitivity during treatment. Whether or not you experience discomfort will depend on whether you experience tooth sensitivity to begin with.

A benefit of getting your teeth whitened in-office is that the strength of the whitening gel can be modified. Doing so can minimize or eliminate discomfort and make your treatment as painless as possible. As an added safety measure, we will also cover your lips and gums prior to treatment to protect them from the bleaching agent.

How to Manage Tooth Sensitivity after Treatment

To minimize discomfort and tooth sensitivity after your teeth whitening treatment, we recommend the following:

• Avoid hot and cold foods and beverages for a few days
• Brush your teeth using a soft-bristled toothbrush and lukewarm water
• Breath through your nose instead of your mouth to prevent airflow from irritating sensitive teeth

Our team may also recommend taking over-the-counter pain medication to minimize discomfort.

Is Teeth Whitening Right for You?

Professional teeth whitening can improve your smile up to eight shades by removing stains and discoloration due to:

• Smoking
• Drinking dark-colored beverages (e.g., coffee, red wine and tea)
• Consuming certain foods like berries, beets and tomato sauce
• Certain medications
• Aging or genetic factors

How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

Teeth whitening treatment is a convenient and affordable way to brighten your smile.

There are many whitening options available that vary in price:

	In-Office	LED Kits	Strips	Toothpaste	Mouthwash
Cost	$262 to $1,180	$50 to $300	$10 to $50	$3 to $15	$2 to $10
Peroxide Level	20 to 40%	10 to 20%	5 to 15%	up to 5%	up to 2%
Time	2 hours per session	10 to 45 min per session	30 minutes per session	2 minutes a day	30 seconds a day
Upkeep	Every 6 months to a year	A few times a month	A few times a month	Daily or a few times a week	Daily or a few times a week
Sensitivity	Moderate risk, temporary	Moderate risk, temporary	Moderate risk, temporary	Low risk, temporary	Low risk, temporary

What Causes Tooth Discoloration?

Tooth discoloration occurs for many different reasons. The most common is exposure to certain foods and drinks, but many other things can also affect tooth color.

Tooth stains can be either extrinsic (affecting tooth surfaces) or intrinsic (within the tooth itself).

Extrinsic Stains

Extrinsic stains, or surface stains, are the easiest to remove with bleaching.

These stains are often the result of exposure to certain foods, drinks, and tobacco products. The pits and grooves in teeth can soak up color from these substances. This causes brown and yellow spots over time.

The most common foods and beverages that cause surface stains include:

• Coffee
• Dark tea
• Dark soda
• Red wine
• Dark fruits
• Fruit juices
• Leafy green vegetables 
• Dark chocolate  

Tobacco use, smoking or otherwise, can also result in surface stains over time. Plaque and tooth decay can also cause teeth to appear yellow or brown.

At-home kits and in-office treatments are usually effective at removing these kinds of stains. 

Intrinsic Stains

Intrinsic stains are deeper than surface stains and are harder to get rid of. Rather than a colorful substance leaching into the enamel, these stains result from changes inside of the tooth. 

Some causes of intrinsic stains include:

• An injury to the tooth
• Fluorosis (excessive fluoride exposure)
• Certain medications, such as tetracycline antibiotics
• Genetics or certain medical conditions

An injury to a tooth can also cause an extrinsic stain to become intrinsic, as colorful foods or other substances can pass through fractures in the enamel.

Unfortunately, these kinds of stains won’t always respond as well to whitening treatment. Dental restorations such as veneers, crowns, or dental bonding may be needed to provide a fully restored appearance.

Note that your teeth can also appear yellow due to worn enamel. Dentin, the layer of tissue beneath the enamel, is naturally yellow.

Whitening treatment won’t be effective for teeth with severely worn enamel. This is another situation where dental restorations may be a better option.

Professional Whitening vs. At-Home Teeth Whitening Costs

Luckily, many products are available that reduce tooth discoloration. This includes both at-home and professional whitening treatments.

However, there are significant differences in the cost and effectiveness of these products.

Over-The-Counter (OTC) Teeth Whitening Costs 

OTC methods make whitening easy and affordable for everyone.

These products require more effort than visiting a dentist for professional whitening treatment. But treatment costs hundreds less.

Keep in mind that OTC whitening requires more upkeep than professional whitening. The results also aren’t instant and may not be as drastic as those achieved by in-office whitening.

The most common OTC teeth whitening products include:

1. Whitening Strips

You can buy whitening strips online or from various stores. They usually cost between $10 and $50 per package for several strips.

Simply place the strips over your teeth and leave them on for about 30 minutes.

Whitening strips typically work well. But some people struggle to keep them on their teeth. Many people also experience increased sensitivity after using whitening strips.

2. Whitening Trays

This is an aggressive option that provides professional-level results with the added convenience of whitening at home. Treatment takes longer than professional treatments like Zoom.

Custom whitening trays range from about $100 to $600.

To get custom whitening trays, you’ll need to visit your dentist for an impression. This is used to create custom trays that fit your mouth perfectly.

You’ll use the trays and bleaching agent to gradually whiten your teeth.

You can also use non-custom whitening trays. These are available for $10 to $30 and don’t fit as snugly over your teeth. The downside of non-custom trays is uneven whitening and messier application.

Like many whitening options, at-home trays tend to make your teeth more sensitive. Fortunately, desensitizing gels are available. Ask your dentist about this if you’re concerned about pain.

3. Whitening Toothpaste

This is the simplest of all whitening methods. Whitening toothpastes contain low levels of peroxide or abrasives and are typically used once or twice a day.

Peroxide dissolves stains, and gentle abrasives can polish teeth. However, whitening toothpastes won’t change the natural color of your teeth or lighten deeper stains.

You may already be using whitening toothpaste. If not, there are plenty of affordable options on the market.

Most whitening toothpastes cost between $3 and $15, depending on the brand and whitening intensity.

This method is best if you have light surface stains or want to maintain your tooth color after a more intensive whitening treatment.

The most aggressive whitening toothpastes contain blue covarine. This chemical adheres to teeth and makes them look less yellow without removing stains.

You’ll see improvements in about 2 to 6 weeks after using a whitening toothpaste daily.

4. LED Teeth Whitening Products

LED whitening kits are a new method of at-home whitening. These kits have increased in popularity in recent years. They cost between $50 and $300.

This method is non-invasive and uses an LED light to speed up the whitening process.

LED whitening products remove stubborn stains. They also provide quick and effective whitening results.

During the LED whitening process, the teeth are first painted with a bleaching agent (usually peroxide-based). Then, the LED light activates the whitening agent and starts the chemical reaction.

When this interaction occurs, the blue LED light penetrates the enamel and lifts existing stains.

LED lights are highly efficient. They don’t have a warm-up time and switch on at their highest intensity.

Professional Teeth Whitening Costs 

Professional teeth whitening products are more expensive than at-home treatments. The average price for in-office whitening ranges from $262 to $1,180 per treatment.

Some popular professional whitening methods include:

1. ZOOM

Zoom Whitening whitens teeth significantly – up to 90% of their maximum brightness. It’s an FDA-approved whitening method that takes 1 hour in a dentist’s office.

Zoom also offers a less aggressive home whitening option. You’ll wear custom trays filled with gel for several hours a day for up to 12 days. Treatment is completed in the comfort of your own home.

Professional Zoom treatments are easy, convenient, and provide instant results. Like most whitening methods, Zoom can cause tooth sensitivity.

The average cost of Zoom teeth whitening is between $300 and $600.

2. BOOST

Opalescence Xtra Boost is a minimally invasive method for treating discolored teeth.

The gel works best on discoloration caused by prescription medications, tooth trauma, and other conditions. It also helps lift surface stains. 

Boost uses a 38 percent hydrogen peroxide power bleaching gel that requires no special light for activation.

The gel is sticky, so you don’t need to worry about it slipping off your teeth once it’s applied.

BOOST has a slightly lower risk of sensitivity because it contains PF. This is a mixture of potassium nitrate and fluoride.

Opalescence is cheaper than Zoom (around $500 per treatment). 

3. Kor Whitening

Kor restores oxygen in teeth, removing all stains and discoloration. It’s especially effective for treating tetracycline-discolored teeth.

Kor’s initial treatment is done in a dentist’s office. The follow-up treatments are done at home. After completing this phase, you’ll wear the trays monthly to maintain results.

Kor gets high ratings from dentists for its effectiveness, partly because the whitening trays fit snugly over teeth. This reduces the risk of saliva diluting the whitening gel. The gel is also refrigerated to maintain its potency.

KöR is slightly cheaper than Zoom. Treatment costs between $500 and $1,000.

Does Insurance Cover Professional Teeth Whitening?

No. Whitening is considered a cosmetic treatment. This means its main purpose is to improve the appearance of teeth. It’s not medically necessary.

Like most treatments that are not medically necessary, the patient is responsible for the full cost.

However, some dental practices offer payment plans to make whitening procedures more affordable.

There are also some credit options available for whitening and other cosmetic procedures.

You’ll still pay for the services out of pocket — but you can stretch the payments out over time. Interest may or may not be applied.

Teeth Whitening Alternatives

Here are a few (more expensive) teeth whitening alternatives:

Veneers

A veneer is a thin, tooth-colored shell that fits over the front of your tooth. The shell can change the tooth’s color, shape, and size.

Veneers fix many cosmetic issues but can’t repair damaged teeth.

The most common veneer materials include porcelain and composite. Porcelain veneers are the strongest and most natural-looking option.

Veneers are much more expensive than teeth whitening treatments. They cost anywhere between $659 and $1,618 per tooth. Although pricey, the results can last up to 25 years.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding solves minor damage or gaps between teeth. It’s usually used to fix dental issues such as tooth chips, fractures, or gaps.

Similar to teeth whitening treatment, bonding can improve tooth discoloration.

Dental bonding procedures cost around $300 to $600 per tooth (without insurance).