Many people wish to have pearly white teeth but are discouraged by the perceived
cost of teeth whitening. They wish they had a smile like that of their favorite
movie star, but are afraid to visit the dentist because they think they cannot
afford it. The fact is that the costs of teeth whitening procedures can vary
quite a bit.
Teeth whitening procedures seek to reverse the discoloration of teeth. The
discoloration comes about for a number of reasons like consuming colored liquids
(coffee, red wine, etc) and also from smoking. While many people want to correct
the discoloration, they also want an idea of the cost of teeth whitening before
going ahead.
This article will look at some of the factors affecting costs and give you an
idea of what the actual costs would be for different treatment options.
Keep in mind that it will not be possible to give an exact dollar figure for the
cost of teeth whitening with each option. However, you can certainly get a
general idea of the expense involved.
The factor that has the greatest impact on cost is the specific whitening method
you decide upon. The options range from having a dentist do it for you over
multiple sessions to buying over the counter products that you can use by
yourself at home. If you choose to buy over the counter products, prices can
vary quite a bit by brand and product type.
The condition of your teeth - the extent and type of discoloration, the presence
of other dental problems that need to be addressed, whether you need cosmetic
work like customizing caps, etc - will affect the price you pay.
The extent of discoloration has an effect on price. If only a few teeth need
treatment, it would cost much less than if many or all teeth need to be treated.
The duration of the treatment - which is often decided in consultation with you
- has a bearing on cost too.
Your geographical location has a clear impact on the price. You can expect to
pay more to a dentist located in the downtown area of a large metropolis than
one located in a small town or rural community.
The reputation of the dentist and his or her experience has a bearing on the
cost too. A dentist with strong academic credentials, years of experience and a
long list of prominent people as clients will tend to charge more than average
dentists.
Now you can see that the cost of teeth whitening depends on several different
factors. Let's take a look at the actual dollar cost figures for different
treatment options. You can also see that it is not possible to give accurate
cost estimates since that would depend on other factors besides the treatment
option itself.
Starting at the lowest end, there are specially made toothpastes and gels that
are meant for teeth whitening alone (as opposed to regular toothpaste which has
a cleaning function and only secondarily a whitening function). These can cost
anywhere from $2 to $18 or so.
You could buy teeth whitening strips for around $15 to $50. The whitening effect
lasts for about a month or two.
Many over the counter products use trays filled with gels to whiten teeth. The
treatment must be done multiple times to see results. You can buy these
whitening kits for around $20 to $175.
If you choose to go to your dentist, he can create a customized tray to fit your
teeth perfectly. This will cost approximately $200 and upwards.
The dentist also has laser teeth whitening procedures that are considerably more
expensive. You can expect to pay anywhere from $250 to $1500 depending on some
of the factors listed earlier.
The above should give you a good idea of the approximate cost of teeth
whitening. You can get an exact estimate by consulting your dentist.
