Gel Tooth Whitening – How to Get the Best Results at the Lowest Cost

Gel tooth whitening is a popular and effective way to get brighter and whiter teeth through the application of peroxide bleach gel. This gel works to restore natural whiteness to teeth that have become discolored due to stains from foods and thinning of enamel. Coffee and nicotine are two stains commonly found on teeth that make them look dull or yellowish. Whitening gel can be an effective way to erase those stains and let your natural white teeth shine through.

There are three teeth whitening options widely available today. Gel whitening can be done at your dentist’s office. Your dentist is a trained professional that is skilled at achieving the best results. In-office whitening produces a significant color change in just a short time period. It is also the safest method for gel tooth whitening. Your dentist is able to control gum and tooth sensitivity due to the thicker tooth whitening gels available in the dental office.

The gel whitening process will begin with your teeth being cleaned and then examined to make sure they are in good oral health. Next the dentist will protect your gums with a rubber dam before applying a high concentration of peroxide gel. The peroxide gel must remain on the teeth for 15-20 minutes at a time. At the end of each interval the gel will be washed off and fresh gel will be applied.

Each time the gel is washed off, your teeth will be examined to see how they are progressing and to determine which ones need another application of gel. If your teeth have not whitened to the degree that you want, your dentist may recommend that you return at a later time for another gel tooth whitening treatment as the maximum limit for the gel application is one hour per session.

Although gel tooth whitening in the dentist’s office is effective, there are some disadvantages. The main one being the cost. In-office whitening is expensive and can cost up to $650. Another drawback is that the results can be unpredictable based upon age, the type of tooth stains, and heredity. Although it works for many, you may not get the results you want after paying a hefty fee. Also, in-office tooth whitening isn’t permanent so your dentist will probably advise you to continue with some type of home maintenance.

If you don’t want to spend as much money by going to your dentist they can dispense a take-home kit. The cost of the take-home kit ranges from $100 to $400. Many dentists agree that dentist-dispensed gel tooth whitening take-home kits provide the best results when used over extended periods of time. Such kits contain higher percentages of bleach than your average over-the-counter kits.

Dentist-dispensed kits consist of custom fitted application trays that keep the bleach in contact with the teeth. The gel can be fine tuned by your dentist to ensure proper concentration and loaded to the trays before use. Your dentist will instruct you as to proper use of the gel tooth whitening take-home kits.

Gel tooth whitening kits can also be purchased over the counter at the store. This is the least expensive way to whiten your teeth. These kits can be purchased for under $100. The peroxide concentration in the store bought kits is lower than what you would get in a dentist supplied kit or from an in-office treatment. These kits also come with a standardized tray unlike the custom fitted one you would receive from a dentist. Even with those drawbacks, you can still get whiter teeth from store bought kits, just don’t expect the same rapid results that you would get from a professional teeth whitening treatment.

If you want to save money, but still get great results, then home whitening could be just the answer! This method of gel tooth whitening can be highly effective, if you know where to look for the right home kit!

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