How Much Does Teeth Whitening Cost?

Through the natural aging process or due to your diet and habits your teeth will become stained over time. There are over the counter solutions to address the problem at home or you can work with your dentist to give you a better teeth whitening savage mn solution professionally. Let’s look at the cause of the tooth discoloration, the options at home and the difference if done professionally.

The Causes behind Tooth Discoloration

Teeth become stained or become yellow in one of three ways. The first category is that of extrinsic discoloration. This is the result of the outer layer, the enamel, becoming stained by some of your favorite beverages or food. Coffee, wine, teas, colas and dark fruits will stain the enamel. So will any tobacco products.

The second category is that of intrinsic discoloration. This happens when the second layer of the tooth, called the dentin, darkens and gets a yellow tint. Since the enamel is somewhat transparent you will see a darkening of the tooth. This can happen from exposure to fluoride or the use of tetracycline antibiotics as examples.

The third category is age-related discoloration which is essentially a combination of both. Enamel will become thinner as you age allowing the dentin color to be more prevalent in addition to the staining properties of what you may eat and drink.

At Home Solutions

There are many over the counter teeth whitening products, ranging from simply tooth paste to gels and trays to strips. Even grass root remedies like baking soda and coconut oils have been around for many years. This is a perfect scenario in you get what you pay for. The value in having your teeth whitening done professionally is that of time, concentration of the product and proper supervision.

The Difference with Teeth Whitening done professionally

Research has proven that there is a significant relationship with the concentration of the bleaching agent and the duration of the exposure of the agent. So a huge fact is that in home, over the counter remedies deliver 3% to 20% of peroxide, which is either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, the bleaching agents. Professionally administered teeth whitening contain 15% to 43% peroxide. A huge difference in concentration and the amount of your time in dedicated to teeth whitening.

The Cost Range for Teeth Whitening

Having your teeth whitening done by a dental office can literally be done in one visit. After your teeth are examined and then professionally cleaned a resin is painted on your gums to protect them. A bleaching gel is applied to your teeth for 15 to 30 minutes and then washed off. Depending on the results this process could be repeated once or twice more. The average for having your teeth whitening done by a dentist averages about $650 versus $100 when taking months to do it with over the counter solutions without the same results. Your dentist will evaluate your diet and make suggestions moving forward to improve your oral hygiene and to avoid tooth discoloration as you age.

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