In-practice
One appointment, strongest concentration, supervised.
In one paragraph
What it is.
Professional whitening uses a stronger gel than anything sold over the counter, applied either in the chair or in custom trays you wear at home.
It lightens natural tooth structure. It does not change crowns, veneers or fillings, so if you have front-tooth work already, whitening first and matching afterwards is the right order.
The specifics.
Take-home
Custom trays and gel, worn over a couple of weeks. Usually the better value.
Existing work
Crowns, veneers and white fillings do not change colour. Sequence matters.
Sensitivity
Common, temporary, and manageable. Tell us if your teeth are already sensitive.
First, a check
Whitening over untreated decay or gum disease is a bad idea. A quick exam comes first.
How long
Typically one to three years, depending on coffee, tea, red wine and smoking.
Money
What it costs.
You get an itemised written estimate before anything starts. We bill your insurance directly, so you usually pay only your own portion on the day, and the Canadian Dental Care Plan is accepted. In-house financing is available through PaySpyre, so treatment can be paid for over time.
Questions.
How white will my teeth get?
It varies by the tooth structure you start with. Yellowish shades lighten readily; greyish ones respond less. We will give you a realistic expectation rather than a promise.
Does whitening damage enamel?
Professionally supervised whitening at appropriate concentrations is not shown to damage enamel. Sensitivity during treatment is common and temporary.
Will it whiten my crowns and fillings?
No. They stay exactly the shade they are, which is why we whiten first and match any new work afterwards.
Is in-practice or take-home better?
Take-home usually gives a comparable result for less money. In-practice is faster if you have a date to hit.