Teeth whitening treatmentsreduce or remove stains on teeth and lighten and brighten their whiteness. These are either administered in your dentist's office or through at-home products that you may get from your dentist or purchase over the counter (OTC).1
A brighter, whiter smile is so appealing to people that Americans spend close to $2 billion on teeth whitening products annually, trying to achieve those perfect magazine grins.2While teeth whiteners vary in their efficacy, they can make a big difference in your smile.
How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?
The costs of teeth whitening varies widely — from as low as $20 for an OTC product to as high as $650 for an in-office treatment.3Both the type of treatment you get and how often you may need to apply a treatment will determine the cost.
| Teeth Whitening Treatment | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| In-office whitening | $650 for upper and lower teeth;3internal teeth can cost up to $272 per tooth5 |
| Dentist-provided take-home kits | $100 to $4003 |
| Over-the-counter products | $20 to $100 per product3 |
Average cost of in-office whitening
In-office teeth whitening tends to be quicker because dentists can apply prescription-strength whitening agents that you cannot apply at home.3The average cost for one of these treatments — which may run from 15 minutes up to an hour — is around $650 for upper and lower teeth.3Internal teeth may run as much as $272 per tooth.5If stains are resistant to treatment, a dentist may add on home-use systems, which can incur additional costs.3
Average cost of dentist-provided take-home kits
It's not uncommon for dentists to send patients home with whitening kits to apply over time — even overnight. These can run between $100 to $400 on average, and that cost may not include the dental visit itself.3
Average cost of over-the-counter products
There are many products available on the market in the forms of whitening strips, paint-on applicators, trays and toothpastes. While these will produce some whitening, they may be the shortest lasting or require significantly more applications. These range from around $20 to $100 per product.3
Additional teeth whitening cost considerations
Most dentists will require a consultation before administering a whitening protocol.1The cost of that visit may be around the same cost as a dental cleaning, which can range between $75 and $200 if not covered by insurance.4Even if you pay for an in-office treatment, a dentist may recommend additional take-home or over-the-counter products that could add additional costs.3
Is Teeth Whitening Covered by Insurance?
Most insurance companies do not cover teeth whitening because it is considered a cosmetic procedure and not a medical one. However, there are a handful that do, so it's a good idea to check with your insurance's current explanation of benefits.Some insurers have covered teeth whitening at anywhere from 20% to 80% in-network, and sometimes after a six-month waiting period.5
What Does Teeth Whitening Treat?
Teeth get stained in a variety of ways — from external sources and medications to genetic or illness-based reasons. Teeth whitening helps lighten those stains, and dentists break these types of stains into two categories:1
Extrinsic stains
Extrinsic stains mar your lovely choppers due to things you eat and drink, such as red wine and coffee, or highly pigmented foods like beets or cherries. However, behaviors such as smoking or chewing tobacco, as well as exposure to iron and copper can also cause staining. Additionally, discoloration can result from poor oral hygiene, such as not brushing andflossingregularly.1
Intrinsic stains
Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, are caused by such things as genetic disorders; trauma, such as a fall or accident; problems with tooth development in utero or infancy; thinning enamel due to aging; certain medication use, like some antihistamines and some antibiotics babies can be exposed to in the womb; and the overuse of antiseptic mouth rinse such as chlorhexidine rinse.1
Teeth Whitening Treatment Options
Anyone interested in whitening their teeth may feel overwhelmed by the numerous over-the-counter products on the market alone. Whitening can be achieved through several methods, with a variety of results.
One study that compared the efficacy of at-home, in-office and combined bleaching regimens found that all methods achieve significant whitening, but the in-office bleaching and combined bleaching regimens produced a higher intensity of whitening.6Ultimately, a dental consultation will be the best way to choose the right treatment approach for you.
Below are various whitening options and what to expect.
1. In-office professional teeth whitening
A common way to whiten your teeth is to have your dentist administer a whitening agent in the office. The dentist will protect your gums with a gel or rubber guard, and then apply the agent to your teeth while you wait. Some treatments may involve applying a peroxide-containing gel and possibly an accompanying light that accelerates the whitening process.1
Power bleaching is another in-office procedure in which your dentist applies concentrated hydrogen peroxide in water for up to thirty minutes, with or without a light accelerant.1
What to expect
Most dentists will insist upon performing a clinical exam before administering tooth bleaching procedures to assess the source of the tooth discoloration, determine any allergies that could deter them from using whitening agents and pick the right course of treatment.1
While patients may be hopeful that whitening will magically erase all stains, whitening effects vary depending upon the type of stains being treated. For example, brown stains resulting from medical conditions like fluorosis or medications like tetracycline may be more responsive to bleaching than white stains that are also a result of fluorosis or orthodontic treatments. Whitening may not work on some stains, however, or bonded or filled teeth. Additionally, some stains may just take longer treatment to address.1
2. Stain removal toothpastes
Whitening toothpastes combine bleaching agents, such as peroxide; mild abrasives to physically rub away stains on the surface; and sometimes blue covarine, a semitransparent pigment that reflects light to make teeth appear whiter.The key word with toothpastes is “surface," as these toothpastes will not be able to remove stains that have hung around for years or which have crept deeper into your tooth enamel.7
What to expect
While these toothpastes will help whiten your teeth, the effects are generally temporary and will only treat surface stains. Other downsides include a potential risk of increasing tooth and gum sensitivity.7
3. Dentist-provided at-home whitening
Another option for whitening that you can get from your dentist but administer at home is a dentist-created tray of at-home whitening solution. You simply follow their instructions on how to apply the whitening solution and for how long — from the comfort of your home. Results will likely move slower than what you would get in a dentist's office, from between days to weeks.8
What to expect
The results of at-home whitening under a dentist's approval will likely achieve the same results as in-office treatments, but more slowly, and possibly with the need for multiple treatments.1
4. Over-the-counter bleaching products
An abundance of tooth bleaching and whitening products litter your average drugstore and grocery store, including toothpastes, whitening strips and whitening trays.9These products typically have a lower number of bleaching agents than those found in your dentist's products, so their effects may be less potent or take longer to achieve.1You can search the American Dental Association's (ADA) list of accepted at-home tooth bleaching products.10
Bleaching Versus Whitening
You may see the words whitening and bleaching being used interchangeably, but there is a difference in these terms and the treatments behind them:3
- Bleachingis a term that can only be used when the teeth are whitened beyond their natural color using products that contain a form of bleach, usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
- Tooth whiteningrefers to restoring the tooth's original color by removing the debris that causes stains from food, drinks and smoking, among others.
No matter which method you use, tooth whitening is generally achieved through one of two types of tooth bleach: hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.8
Should You Whiten Your Teeth?
For the most part, the only real requirement to be eligible for teeth whitening is having stained or discolored teeth. Teeth with a yellow stain see the best results, as brown, gray or mottled stains may not bleach evenly. A dentist will be able to help you set realistic expectations for the results.11
However, there are some circ*mstances under which teeth whitening is not recommended:11
- If you haveperiodontal diseaseor sensitive teeth, as whitening agents can irritate teeth and gums
- If you have tooth-colored fillings, crowns, caps or bonding in your front teeth — whitening agents will not change their color
Possible Side Effects of Teeth Whitening
Tooth whitening is not a particularly invasive procedure, but for some people, it may cause some potential side effects, including:3
- Sensitivity.Bleaching agents, particularly in concentrated form, may create sensitivity to temperature, pressure and touch, leading to pain in the teeth and gums. People with recessed gums, cracks in teeth or those with leaking restorations are particularly prone. A dentist may recommend a toothpaste that contains potassium nitrate to ameliorate sensitivity.
- Gum irritation.A more common possible side effect is gum irritation from the use of the peroxide whitening agents. This can last several days and typically goes away after the whitening process is complete or the bleaching agent is decreased.
- Multicolored teeth.Certain types of tooth restoration, including bonding, crowns and veneers, do not respond to bleaching agents, which may lead to the whitened teeth appearing brighter than the restorations.
Recovery From Teeth Whitening
Since some people may develop sensitivity, irritation and pain from teeth whitening, it may be necessary to take some steps to soothe or moderate the potential effects on aggravated teeth and gums. This may include:12
- Reducing the strength of whitening agents
- Decreasing the amount of whitening product
- Spreading out the time between treatments
- Using a desensitizing gel, fluoride treatment or toothpaste
Increasing the Duration of Whitening
In order to maintain the benefits of teeth whitening, at-home maintenance may be required. In addition to further treatments, patients can prolong their whitening effects by doing the following:3
- Stay away from high-staining foods and beverages for at least a week after whitening.
- Sip dark-colored beverages with a straw.
- Maintain excellentoral hygiene, especially after meals.
- Visit your dentist regularly for checkups and cleanings.
Whitening Your Teeth Is a Personal Decision
Ultimately, deciding to whiten your teeth is a personal decision that you should make after consulting with your dentist. Because of the variety of options — from in-office treatments to at-home ones — with a wide range in price, you should be able to find an option that works for your budget and smile.
Most importantly, always consult with a dental professional before making any decisions or purchasing over-the-counter products.
CareCredit Credit Card Financing for Teeth Whitening
Whether you're investing in teeth whitening or you're simply paying for a dental exam, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.* Use our Acceptance Locator to find a dentist or orthodontist near you that accepts CareCredit to help get you on track to your perfect smile. Continue your wellness journey by downloading theCareCredit Mobile Appto manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.
In addition to teeth whitening, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for pet care, cosmetic, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?
Author Bio
Jordan Rosenfeld has been freelance writing for 21 years about finances, health, education and more. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The Billfold, Good Magazine, GoBanking Rates, Daily Worth, Quartz, Medical Economics, The New York Times, PayPal, The Washington Post and more.
