What's the Difference Between In-Office and At-Home Teeth Whitening?

People spend a considerable amount of time and money, not to mention deal with an awful lot of discomfort, to improve their appearances. The fact is that sometimes a simple and easy treatment like teeth whitening can make a dramatic difference in how you look.

If you want to choose the easier, more economical, and painless path to looking great, you have two options when it comes to professional teeth whitening — in-office or at-home. Here at DentAlign NYC, Kenn Kokosian, DDS PhD, offers both, and we want to explain how each works so that you can make the best choice for your teeth-whitening goals.

In-office teeth whitening

When you come in for an in-office teeth whitening treatment, we start by preparing your teeth and protecting your gums and other soft tissues. Once you’re ready, we apply hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which are both powerful bleaching agents, to your teeth.

To activate the bleaching agents, we apply an ultra violet (UV) light to your teeth.

After about an hour, you’ll be able to leave with teeth that are many shades whiter.

At-home teeth whitening

If you want to whiten your teeth at home, you first come in so that we can design trays that fit snugly over your teeth. We then send you home with these trays, as well as the bleaching agents, and you do the rest.

Each night, you put the bleaching gel inside the trays and wear them for a certain amount of time. Rest assured, we discuss your whitening goals beforehand and supply you with the optimal schedule. Whether it’s two hours or 10 hours, once the day’s treatment is done, you simply remove the trays, rinse your teeth, and clean the trays for the next round.

Choosing the teeth whitening option that’s right for you

There are a few factors that you should consider when choosing between in-office whitening and at-home whitening.

With in-office whitening, you only need to undergo one treatment and your results are immediate. Going this route is an ideal solution for people who may have a special event coming up or who have little time in the day for at-home whitening.

If you’d prefer a more subtle approach to your teeth whitening, the at-home kits are ideal. Each day your teeth whiten gradually and, at the end of your treatment timeline (usually two to three weeks), you’ll have the same results as you would with a single in-office whitening.

Another advantage of at-home whitening is that you can keep the trays for future touch-ups. 

With either choice, you’re bound to be pleased with your bright, white teeth so there’s no wrong decision to be made here. To get on the road to that winning smile, contact our office in Midtown East Manhattan, New York, to set up your teeth-whitening appointment.