Both professional options use the same active ingredient at different concentrations. In-chair whitening uses a high concentration under supervision for about ninety minutes. Take-home trays use a lower concentration over a couple of weeks.
In-chair, $490
Philips Zoom in one appointment. You walk out with the result. It suits a deadline: a wedding, a milestone birthday, a job you are photographing yourself for. Sensitivity for a day or two afterwards is normal and settles.
Take-home trays
Custom trays moulded to your teeth, worn with gel over about two weeks. It tends to cause less sensitivity because the concentration is lower and the exposure is gradual. The real advantage is that you keep the trays: topping up in two years costs a tube of gel rather than a full appointment.
What whitening will not do
- It does not change the colour of crowns, veneers or white fillings, so a restored front tooth can end up mismatched
- It does not work well on grey discolouration from tetracycline or trauma
- It does not last forever: expect one to three years depending on coffee, tea, red wine and smoking
If you have restorations on your front teeth, the order of treatment matters. Whiten first, then match the new restorations to the lighter shade.