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Your Guide To Teeth Whitening Costs & Reviews In Australia
There's nothing more effective to opening doors - be it socially or professionally - than to flash a beaming smile. But how much does teeth whitening cost?
It almost always works, disarming even the staunchest of your critics, and forcing even your most ardent opponents to drop their guard. Unfortunately though, nature has not equipped all of us with the pearly whites to pull it off.
As we age, the hair on one's head turns white, while the teeth in one's mouth turns yellow. Some would give anything to have that process work in reverse!
The question is: Can you do something to even the odds about oral health? - like teeth whitening (find out more about teeth whitening here)
Let's find out what works, and what's a waste of money, and reveal teeth whitening cost figures in Australia!
Teeth Whitening Options
To get an accurate idea of how much you'll pay, you first have to decide on which type of teeth whitening treatment to go for. To see the average costs that you'll pay, scroll to the bottom of this page.
All options rely on varying concentrations of peroxide and application times. It's recommended that you talk to your dentist before you start whitening your teeth.
Here are the 3 major options for teeth whitening:
Teeth Whitening Strips
How It works - strips with a film of bleaching agent are applied to the teeth in the morning and night, which gradually improve the shade of your teeth
How long it lasts - 1 to 2 weeks after using, depending on your diet and lifestyle.
Best suited for - very mildly stained teeth or anyone who wants to try an option without going to the dentist. Learn more about these products here!
At Home Bleaching Kits
How It works - A solution is applied to a mouth-guard like tray, you then insert this tray into your mouth and sit back and relax while it goes to work for 30-60 minutes
How long it lasts - Results vary depending on your lifestyle, however expect them to be pearly white for 3-12 months with proper care.
Best suited for - mild-medium stained teeth. A great option for anyone not wanting to fork out thousands for dental teeth whitening. There is plenty of competition on the market so read our home teeth whitening review page before purchasing
'In-The-Dental-Office' Treatments (E.G. 'Zoom Whitening - Led Teeth Whitening)
How It works - A gel is applied to the teeth and an LED light is used to whiten the teeth over the course of an hour. The tooth surface is effectively dehydrated to achieve whitening. Once complete, you're given a take home kit for maintenance.
How long it lasts - In-office teeth whitening lasts about 1 to 3 years after using, depending on your diet and lifestyle.
Best suited for - mildly stained teeth. In-office whitening or Zoom whitening is the most popular option and is a great choice for anyone who wants their teeth whitened once every few years. Read more about it here.
'Smartlight 3LT' & 'Smart-bleach KTP laser' Whitening Systems
How It works - these systems are more advance methods of teeth whitening that utilise specially formulated red gel and green light to whiten WITHOUT dehydrating the surface of the teeth. They result in a much more natural and longer lasting result, however you'll pay for it. Read more about these systems on our teeth whitening products review page.
How long it lasts - 3 years + (subject to your lifestyle and eating habits)
Best suited for - anyone with a larger budget looking for the highest standard of teeth whitening available
Teeth Whitening Reviews: Does It Actually Work?
Teeth whitening entails the bleaching of the teeth to turn them lighter in shade. Time, age, dietary preferences and dental hygiene habits all play a part in discoloring our teeth.
Excessive consumption of beverages like coffee and red wine, for instance, can have an impact on the brightness of your teeth. In some instances, long-term use of some medication can also dim the shine on ones teeth.
Teeth whitening cannot be done when one has dentures or veneers.
So will teeth whitening help? It most certainly can help where:
- The affects of dis-coloration are not long stemming
- Teeth are otherwise in relatively good condition (e.g. crack free or without cavities)
- Patients have been visiting the dentist regularly for routine cleaning, and practicing good dental hygiene at home
The bottom line:
Teeth whitening DOES work, however its only the top-of-the-line procedures (such as the smart light KTP system' which will give you the whitest and brightest result.
Other methods, such as home-bleach kits can result in great results providing that your teeth are generally in a decent condition beforehand. Read more about home teeth whitening here!
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
The answer is: It depends on the procedure or product used, and how it is administered.
Teeth whitening can be initiated with simple products, like hydrogen peroxide-containing mouthwash, where immediate use after consumption of coffee or red wine (for instance) will help prevent beverages from staining teeth too much.
However, if you frequently let the affect of such teeth "darkening agents" fester overnight, then the affects of mouthwash will not last too long either.
Other products, such as over the counter teeth whitening strips, could keep the dulling affect of darkening agents at bay for several months. However, regularity of use (as directed by the manufacturer's instructions) is the key to making the impact of the product/process last longer.
Many patients prefer dentist supervised whitening procedures, as opposed to using non-prescription products by themselves. Since the products/processes are monitored by professional staff, they can (and do) use ingredients that are more powerful in efficacy.
Some of these procedures involve protecting the gums first, and then painting the teeth with whitening solutions, letting the solution sit for periods between 45 minutes and an hour, and then rinsing/cleaning it off.
Some dentists administer Laser Whitening which uses a bleaching product, and a laser light that is shone on the teeth, to activate the bleaches' whitening characteristics.
The affects of these dentist administered products/procedures may last for as long as two years. However, for the impact to last that long, dentists often recommend follow-up bleaching touch-ups on a bi-annual basis.
At Home Teeth Whitening - Is it Worth It?
While Whitening Strips and over-the-counter whitening agents can be used by individuals at home, the most commonly prescribed home teeth whitening procedure is called home bleaching.
The process involves several visits to a dentist who is qualified to perform it; and starts off with the dentist creating a tray, that acts as a mouth guard, after taking impressions of the patient's mouth.
The dentist also prescribes a whitening agent, often a gel-like solution or a whitening gel, which patients can use to fill the tray and wear at home.
Depending on the severity of the dis-coloration being dealt with, the tray may be worn anywhere between two and eight hours.
The trays are transparent, and can often be worn discretely during the day. Some patients wear them at night while sleeping.
These systems are becoming more and more advanced, resulting in better results and whiter teeth with less effort.
As a caveat, however, always check with your dentist to ensure whitening is safe for your individual situation before going ahead with whitening treatments.
There is also the option of natural teeth whitening strategies. See the following video for some inspiration:
Teeth Whitening Costs
Like anything in life, the costs for teeth whitening are relative and variable. It all depends on a number of factors:
- Are you using over-the-counter, non-prescription methods?
- Are you using home-based dentist recommended treatments?
- Are you opting for an in-chair procedure at the dentist's office?
- How pervasive is your whitening challenge?
- How long is the treatment expected to last?
- Do you need any other procedures done in conjunction? (e.g. root canal treatment?)
Teeth Whitening Strips | At Home Bleaching Kits | Office Treatments (e.g. Zoom) | Smartlight 3LT Procedure | Smartbleach KTP laser Procedure | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
How long it takes | 1 hour or less | 1 hour or less | 1 hour or less | 1 hour | 45 minutes |
How long it lasts | 1-2 weeks | 3-12 months | 1-3 years | 3-4 years | 4-5 years |
Single or all teeth? | All teeth only | All teeth only | All teeth only | All teeth only | Can target a single tooth & all teeth |
Costs | $20-$50 | $50-$400 | $800-$1000 | $1000-$1100 | $1300-$1500 |
Basically, this is how much teeth whitening cost.There may also be other cheaper in-chair or home-based options available. Some Spas and manicure/pedicure shops, for instance, offer in-shop or take home teeth whitening kits.
The issue with such treatments is that there is no medical supervision on their use, either on-premises or to sign off on the suitability of the home-use products.
While these procedures and/or products may work for some individuals, one should always consult a qualified dentist to ascertain whether the ingredients and chemicals used are safe for home use.
Some bleaches are extremely harsh, and if not correctly used can burn the exposed surfaces of your mouth (gums, insides of your cheeks). Bleaching can also cause demineralisation of the teeth, and only teeth and gums that are suitable for such treatments should be exposed to them.
For more information on teeth whitening visit this page, otherwise check out the Dental Guide Australia Homepage for more dental advice and information regarding dental costs in Australia.
