Ever seen a celebrity with stained teeth? A bright white smile is the most important accessory you could have.
White, unstained teeth not only improve your self-confidence but also your social standing and job prospects, so it’s no surprise that more and more of us are turning to whitening treatments.
Usually performed in a dental office or salon (but always by a dental professional), there are professional whitening treatments that are designed to bleach your teeth back to a brighter, whiter colour. Say goodbye to that horrible staining!
How much does teeth whitening cost?
Teeth whitening treatments must be carried out by a qualified dentist or other regulated dental professional and as a result, it almost always takes place in a dentist’s office although a large part of the treatment is actually carried out at home.
The costs vary practice to practice and, because you will have to attend multiple appointments over a period of a few weeks or months, teeth whitening treatments can be expensive overall.
First let’s take a look at what a typical teeth whitening treatment involves
- A consultation with your dentist
- An individually fitted mouth guard – it’s very important that the mouth guard has been made from a mould of your personal teeth as an imperfectly fitting mouth guard could let the chemicals through to your gums.
- The first whitening treatment is usually done in office
- Bleaching gel that you will apply at home over a period of a few weeks
- Monitoring and check-ups
Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments
Your dentist will most likely offer you two types of treatment.
- Chemical bleaching that takes several weeks, sometimes a couple of months.
- Power whitening, which takes around a week and works by using laser light to speed a similar process.
Cost of Regular Teeth Whitening
In the UK most regional dental offices offer professional teeth whitening treatments from just £200-£300.
These are treatments that include a personalised mouth guard, consultations and in office treatments as well as a take-home teeth whitening kit and check-ups.
Cost of Power Teeth Whitening
These treatments involve a more hands-on approach from your dentist including the use of laser light beams. As a result, this kind of treatment usually starts at £500.
Can I get Teeth Whitening treatments on the NHS?
NHS Dentistry only covers procedures that are required for good overall dental and oral health and this doesn’t cover cosmetic dental procedures in general. However, if you have a tooth that is discoloured due to damage, such as a root canal, then you may be able to have it whitened under the NHS price plans by your NHS dentist.
Can I just do a home whitening kit instead?
There are lots of home whitening kits on the market that are very similar to what a professional dentist will use and give to you. Many contain gel, strips or pens and often contain chemicals such as peroxide to white the teeth.
At around £20-40, these home teeth whitening kits are obviously a lot cheaper than professional teeth whitening treatment but are they safe?
Without the regulation and controls that professional dental teeth whitening treatments go through, home-whitening kits can carry risks, not least because you won’t have an individually fitted mouth guard.
However, many people have had excellent experiences with home whitening kits, especially if used properly and carefully. If you want to give home teeth whitening kits a try before considering the cost of professional teeth whitening then try out SMILE:Strips