Have you any experience of tooth whitening either through a dentist or an at home kit?

Question

I was thinking about getting my teeth whitened recently. They aren't in a bad way but 30 years of tea, coffee and red wine have left them a little off colour. Has anyone else out there had there teeth whitened? How much did it cost and was it worth it? Have you tried one of the home kits? I tried one years ago but you had to use it at least twice a day for a month and I just didn't have the patience. Finally, do you know if the procedure is still possible with a crown?

Any help appreciated.

Answer 1

I am a dental nurse and have also had the experience of tooth whitening. I had it done as a home kit given to me by my dentist. the ones you buy from chemists dont tend to work as the percentage of dental bleech used in them is not high enough. Bleaching is a private treatment as the NHS wont fund asthetic treatments so it could cost from £300 onwards. It is very good. The procedure will work but because crowns are made of porcelain, they wont change colour. You would have to get the crown changed after to be the same shade as your whitened teeth. White composite filling wont change colour either

Answer 2

Any solution you buy off ebay will not be as effective unless it is used with a tray which is custom made for your individual teeth. That way, the solution stays on the teeth and does not touch the gums or get swallowed.

Sensitivity: some people are sensitive by nature, so the solution makes them even more so. Products containing high amounts of fluoride will greatly decrease the discomfort - which is another reason to obtain whitening products from your dentist rather than off the internet or from a pharmacy.

From your spelling, I assume you are in the UK. Here in the US, take-home kits from the dentist start at under $200 and might be free if the dentist is running a promotion.

Existing crowns will not change color, but if there is a dramatic change in the rest of your teeth, you might consider having a crown redone if it shows.

Answer 3

I had it done using the mould and gel method. The dentist makes a mould of your teeth and then you apply it at home. It worked BUT the agony I went through really wasn't worth it!!! Some products make your teeth highly sensitive, imagine biting on tin foil when you have a filling and not being able to stop it, the pain continued even after I removed the gel. Even thinking about it now makes me wince!!! I then tried the oxygen whitening at the dentist, I had to stop him after 5 minutes again due to the pain of sensitivity!!!! If you have sensitive teeth, I'd avoid it!! Most whitening systems due not work on crowns either.

Talk to tour dentist about available treatments, they don't come cheap though, expect to pay around 300 - 400 pounds in the UK.

Answer 4

hello,

i have used a home kit recently. If you leave it on for half an hour and do it for a couple of days, you wont have brilliant white teeth but they'll be noticeably whiter.

the dentist use 40% bleach, the home whitening kits are 15-20% so they wont be as effective immediately but it is definitely worth trying the home kit first. in the UK, it's £200 at the dentist, I got my kit off eBay for £10!!

if you want the name of the seller i used, i mcan highly recommend them

Answer 5

The procedure performed by a Dentist is by far better. I haven't had any luck with the do it at home kits. There is no problem with the crown that I know of. Ask your Dentist.

Answer 6

I am using one at home at present bought it in Lloyds Pharmacy for £8 it works you have to follow instructions & use it twice a day,ask in chemist whether it would be suitable for Crown? At the dentist I had them done for nothing as I am on Income support amongst other benefits but if you are not on Income support I believe the cost is about £20-25`s

Answer 7

ive had both dentist cost £250 and then i saw on ebay the same ammount of syrynges as the dentist sold from a dental company in america for £13 inclusive of postage it was also the company who supplies to extreme makeover usa and theyre solition is 4 x the strength of that of my dentist so in 3 days i had the results of 2 --3 weeks from the dentist.the dental on ebay is in warehouse auctions and job lot sites having crowns and fillings are not a problem however the bleach has no effect on them xxxx

Answer 8

Crest Whitestrips work really well, but I stopped using them myself because they made my teeth way too sensitive. They're not very expensive at all, much cheaper than going to a dentist!

The good thing about paying more for the dentist is that it only takes one treatment to see dramatic results. At home products can take weeks.

Answer 9

Dont use home kits, better to go to a dentist and have your teeth cleaned and polished, then seek his advice. Home kits can damage your tooth enamel.

Answer 10

I used Crest White Strips, the ones for the 14 days and they worked great. I would recommend them to anyone after my experience.