Teeth Whitening Wars: In-Office vs. At-Home Treatments

Cosmetic dentistry transforms the smile, and there’s no doubt that whitening your teeth can be one of the best and fastest ways to do that. Here at Pioneer Dental Group in Norwalk, California, our respected cosmetic dentist, Dr. Behzad Binafard, brings 35 years of experience with smile makeovers. 

Dr. Binafard and our team draw on that deep knowledge to customize smile makeovers for both desired appearance outcomes and personal lifestyles in our boutique dental practice. 

We understand it can be confusing to try to separate what works from what doesn’t when it comes to teeth whitening, so our February blog explains how each option works and which wins.

In-office teeth whitening

In-office teeth whitening uses clinical-grade products to achieve the maximum level of whitening possible. With some chairside systems, patients may see a dramatic change, anywhere from a few shades to eight shades lighter (possibly more depending on your starting point). 

There are several different in-office systems, but most use a paint-on gel containing an active ingredient that removes stains (either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide).

The peroxide concentrations are much higher than those used in at-home kits. For example, in one recent study analyzing popular in-office whitening systems, the peroxide content ranged from 35-45%.

Peroxide removes stains through an oxidation process. The peroxide in the gel emits microscopic oxygen molecules that work their way into your teeth. These molecules can penetrate not only the top tooth layer (enamel) but also the underlying layer (dentin). 

The oxygen molecules break down the pigmented compounds that coffee, tea, nicotine, and red wine leave behind. The resulting fragments are much smaller and lighter in shade, leaving your teeth whiter immediately. 

Some in-office whitening systems also use a special light to accelerate this stain-breakdown process. 

With chairside whitening, you can go from stained teeth to a bright, white smile in just one office visit, sometimes in as little as an hour. 

Comparing in-office and at-home whitening

At-home teeth whitening varies considerably, ranging from over-the-counter (OTC) kits you can buy in any drugstore to prescription-only systems you get from your dentist. Ingredients may vary widely with OTC options, from activated charcoal to peroxide to many others. 

At-home whitening takes time. Most systems require daily use, usually wearing a tray containing whitening gel, for at least a couple of weeks. 

OTC teeth whitening can be effective when you choose the product carefully. However, results are usually less dramatic than with in-office whitening because ingredients are lower-strength, often more like 3-10% peroxide. 

At-home whitening kits obtained through a licensed dental professional are safe and proven effective. They may also be more powerful compared to other kits, but still not approaching the power of office-based whitening.

With nonprescription at-home teeth whitening, use extreme caution. Some ingredient lists may be incorrect, and some products may not be safe or proven effective. The American Dental Association recommends using only at-home whitening products bearing the ADA Seal of Approval. 

The verdict: In-office or at-home whitening?

Final answer? There’s no clear winner because both in-office and at-home whitening can be effective. It all depends on how white you want to go, how stained your teeth are, and what’s most convenient for you. 

Our team at Pioneer Dental Group is happy to help you find what’s best for your needs. Call our office today at 562-684-6179 to schedule your consultation or book your appointment online anytime. ​​