If you’ve ever stood in the drugstore aisle wondering whether whitening strips will actually work, you’re not alone. Dr. Rob recently sat down to discuss at-home vs. in-office teeth whitening to help patients understand which option makes the most sense for their smile.
Why would someone choose in-office whitening over whitening their teeth at home?
Office whitening is much more powerful than home whitening. The solutions we use in-office are 5 to 10 times stronger than the solutions you can get with whitening strips. This gives us the ability to be more effective, especially in more difficult situations.
In-Office Whitening Protocols
The darker the teeth are, the more difficult it is to whiten them, so we have different protocols based on how dark a person’s teeth are. If a patient comes into the office and they have really beautifully white teeth, whitening strips from a drugstore may suffice. If they come in and maybe have a wedding or big event and want immediate results, a single office visit can really brighten their teeth.
For darker teeth, we recommend two office visits separated by 10 days of home whitening in between. The first visit opens up the pores in the teeth, and the home whitening does a really nice job of lightening things up, but the last visit is really the power bleaching visit.
Overall, whitening strips can be very effective in helping remove surface stains and for light teeth, but professional whitening is stronger and more effective. The right approach depends on your current tooth shade, your timeline, and the results you’re hoping for.
To figure out which option is best for you, schedule a consultation today.
