Tooth Whitening: In-Office vs. DIY | La Costa Dental Excellence

If you are planning to whiten your teeth, the important first step is to choose a whitening method. At La Costa Dental Excellence, we can help you navigate the multitude of options. It’s important to remember that they all employ a peroxide-based whitening solution. The difference lies in the strength of the bleaching solution and method of delivery. In-office whitening procedures generally use a solution with a relatively higher concentration of peroxide. In other words, it is stronger.

Let’s look at the pros and cons of DIY and in-office teeth whitening.

At-Home Teeth Whitening Advantages

Generally less pricey
Doesn’t require a trip to your Carlsbad dentist
May cause less tooth sensitivity and pain

At-Home Teeth Whitening Disadvantages

Takes longer to achieve the desired level of lightening
Whitening appliances don’t protect gum tissue
Solution must be applied many times over a period of weeks

In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening Advantages

Same day results
Administered by a dental professional
Gum tissue is protected
You may be able to pay for it with HSA or flex spending

In-Office Professional Teeth Whitening Disadvantages

More expensive

Did you know that in order to maintain the brightness achieved from an in-office teeth whitening treatment, a patient should follow up with at-home touch-ups? Therefore, a combination of in-office and DIY methods is often the most effective solution.

A note about non-professional teeth bleaching kiosks:

A few years ago during the height of the tooth-whitening craze, teeth-whitening kiosks started popping up in San Marcos area malls. Though some have closed their doors, a few remain in business. La Costa Dental Excellence urges patients to avoid these establishments. There is little regulatory oversight and customers have no guarantee of the safety of their services or the qualifications of their employees. As always, it is important to only trust your smile to dental professionals.

La Costa Dental Excellence advises patients to meet with their Carlsbad dentist before starting any tooth bleaching regimen. An oral examination will help your dentist know if tooth whitening will deliver the results you are seeking. This is especially vital when you have tetracycline stains or multiple restorations.