Ocean:  if u use the whitning product at walmart ...like the ones u can do in 2hrs they work very well!! the others laser and gel trays are just soo expensive!

Cost
Laser whitening can cost from $500 for a spot treatment to $2000 for a complete set of teeth.

Risk
Studies show that 98% of patients are happy with their results after the treatment; however there are some possible side-effects that can range from tooth sensitivity, and some tenderness in the gum and soft tissues of the mouth. If the laser bleaching procedure is done repeatedly, there is a chance that over-bleaching could occur. Teeth may turn translucent or gray. There is also a chance that laser whitening may not be the correct procedure for you. For people who do not benefit from laser tooth whitening, other cosmetic dentistry procedures such as porcelain veneers, bonding or crowns may be better options to improve your smile. A good consultation with your cosmetic dentist will help you to determine which cosmetic dental procedure will work best to help you achieve your ideal smile.
2007-04-24 11:55:07

Avalon von Aldaran:  have you even tried crest white stips?they worked really good on my daughters teeth...they are really honestly sparkling white now.i will get them for my self too.
2007-04-24 11:55:46

slovo:  If you tried the Crest strips and they did not work then it is unlikely that the trays from the dentist would work, same chemical and similar strength. The laser is expensive. I would retry the Strips and use 2 boxes, use 1, wait a week and then use the other.
2007-04-24 11:57:18

rooseveltq:  Laser is better, but expensive.
The gel trays are the gel trays. I used the Premium product from Crest. It worked really well. I had tried the regular Crest White Strips, but no real change. The Premium works in a 7-10 days and the change is really noticeable. I refresh it every 6 months or so. 2 Treatments in one package of the Premium.
2007-04-24 11:58:16

A.C.:  gel trays
2007-04-24 11:59:13

Shannon T:  Laser is done by a dentist who applies a 35% Hydrogen Peroxide solution on your teeth. Once this solution is on, a light is held a couple of inches away from your teeth to speed up the chemical reaction of the Hydrogen Peroxide. The only benefit of doing laser whitening is that your teeth become white instantaneously. This procedure cost $400 plus. The problem with this procedure is that after a year of your normal eating habits (drinking coke, tea, coffee, etc.) your teeth become slightly discolored again and develops a new stain. With the laser whitening, you will have to go and pay $400 plus to repeat the procedure. With the custom mouthpieces, you already have the custom mouthpieces that you can wear a year later for a night to take off the new stain at no cost.

The custom gel mouthpieces get your teeth whiter and for much less. The process is not as instantaneous as laser surgery, but you will achieve the same or better results after 5 - 10 applications.
2007-04-24 12:03:03

NoahHope:  Yellow teeth look better, but if you must look like a peppermint breath zombie, I recommend Crest whitening Strips~ yes, really
2007-04-24 12:09:55

emmalue:  Shannon's answer is very complete and accurate.

Studies are beginning to show the "light activation" really doesn't do much except impress the patient.

Over-the-counter strips and applications aren't as strong as what you get from your dentist, and they don't fit your teeth exactly. Solution gets on your gums or is swallowed.

Quite a few dentists offer free bleaching as an incentive for new patients. Look for ads or call around.
2007-04-24 12:17:07

knitknitpurlpurl:  I did the lasers cuz it took only 1 session for me. And the doctor controls it so I didn't have to worry about me fumbling it up . Or putting too much on the tray or losing them, etc. Trays may take too long and I wasn't too good with keeping up with it. But lasers are slightly more expensive but worth it. You'll see results immediately. Good luck!
2007-04-24 14:01:12

jojolau07:  There is a third option that you might want to consider. This is called power whitening. It's sometimes mistakenly called laser whitening, but it's actually really different.

Power whitening is done in dental offices with 35% hydrogen peroxide (we do it in the dental office where I work, that's how I know all this). The system we use is called Beyond and it's only a 30 minute treatment. Granted, it is more expensive than the take-home trays that you can get (we charge $450 for the whole session), but the results are better and you don't have to mess around with goopy trays or strips for weeks on end.

The main risk with the tray whitening systems is that you can really irritate your gums if you're not careful or if the trays don't fit properly. You also run the risk of swallowing the gel.

I highly recommend doing in-office power whitening. But be careful which system you use. The one that we use in our office, Beyond, is really great and safe. It's from a newer company, so they're not as well known yet as Zoom. But Zoom's product is really dangerous. I have tons of friends who have tried out the Zoom machine and they had horrible results - burned lips and gums and horrible sensitivity. (I had to do tons of research before we invested in a power whitening machine - sorry if I'm boring you with all the details.)

Good luck with your decision!
2007-04-24 23:30:43

prettyinpink:  The laser treatments are a great way to get a good start on tooth whitening. The in office procedure takes about one hour and it's a combination of a gel being applied to your teeth and the light activating the gel for 3 sessions of 15mins each. Again its a great start, but you'll need to use the home trays as well to up keep your lighter shade. You should also try to stay away from staining drinks or foods such as coffee, tea, etc. It's well worth the money because results could last for up to 2 years, and there is nothing like a beautiful, bright smile, I know this first hand. Good luck.
2007-04-28 22:44:52

oho b:  Ok here is the deal. Badly stained teeth. There is a reason. Smoking, drinking coffee, wine, cola, doing drugs, not brushing your teeth, diet. If you smoke even if you whiten them they will go bad again, same with coffee and food. Eat more food rich in calcium and phosphorus (milk, cheese, broccoli, fish). Avoid cola (it sucks the calcium of your body). Brush your teeth after each meal and floss once a day. Take tooth paste from dentist. The one that is 10 times more powerfull than the one u buy in the store. Gel - depends on whos making it, but laser is better. However there is reason why u have stained teeth, U need to find the reason and then change your ways, otherwise your teeth will stain again.
2007-04-30 07:44:01

irishpotato7:  My mom is a Dentist and she says that the "Professional" teeth whitening that your Dentist can give you doesn't work very well...... it's really like a jump start that's all. Don't expect for them to be really white if the laser is the way you go. Gel trays work soooooo much better. they may be a little bit more touble, but it's totally worth it. I used them for a month or so and I use them sometimes when I think about it. My teeth are really whilte and everyone is jealous! I say go with the trays!
2007-05-01 13:57:45

jmlee4777:  There are pros & cons to each from my experience. Take home kits are not as strong as the Zoom! whitening, therefore they take longer to produce results. The Zoom! states that it whitens deeper than take home trays. Zoom! should come with a set of take home trays with a tube of gel for future touch ups also. A take home kit is more controllable as far as shading is concerned, Zoom will whiten as far as it will go & you have minimal control of where you ultimatly end up. After the whitening treatment the Zoom! treated teeth seem to be more sensative than normally experienced in the take home kit. With either system used, we always advise patients to do a flouride treatment with their cleaning prior to your whitening. (After experimenting with our staff we found that those of us who did a good "Soaking" flouride treatment as well as using ACT mouthwash (because it is a flouride rinse) daily for 1 week prior to whitening felt a significant difference as far as discomfort or "zinging" was concerned.) With either system stay away from drinking anything red or dark in color while whitening. Ask about these things when you have your consultation. Stay away from acidic foods as they have a tendency to make your teeth zing more. Do drink milk & eat cheese - yogurt for calcium. That seems to help the zinging calm down. Take home trays can be dangerous as far as the tissue is concerned but if you make sure not to overfil and check to see that the trays are cut at your gumline you should be fine. Don't think that the same thing can't happen with the lazer whitening, there are always risks involved when using chemicals. When they do lazer whitening, you have to have a liquid barrier placed on your gums that turns to a rubber material when it dries to protect it from the lazer. Your mouth is barricaded for moisture as well. Like I said, you have pros and cons depending on what it is you are looking for. Generally Lazer whitening is a great deal more expensive than your take home kit. When talking about their take home system, ask about their experience with their patients as far as shade level lifts. If your teeth aren't very dark you may only need to lift a few shades, meaning you only use 1 or so tubes out of 4 tubes which most kits come with. The gel is normally good for upto 5 years if kept in the refridgerator for future touch ups as you feel needed. Nite White is my favorite take home system, but to be honest, I like it's performance & haven't tried many of the newer systems. Also, be aware that if you have any crowns or fillings on your front teeth, no whitening system will change the color of them. These will need to be replaced to match your new shade, make sure to incorporate that into the cost of having this done. Hope this helps. Good Luck ;-)
2007-05-01 20:22:21

vdpphd:  Teeth whitening is a cosmetic thing - it is about looks, period, and is not worth the risk.. Every whitening method there is physically or chemically attacks the tooth surfaces. Unless your teeth are seriously discolored, or you are a professional model whose livelihood depends on having white teeth, avoid the risk and save your money.
2007-05-01 23:59:30

Debbie W:  Definitely laser if your teeth are stubbornly yellowed (which happens to those who are on antibiotic therapy for any length of time). In that instance, the strips/gel trays simply will not help. Even the laser treatments and special fluroide treaments wont help. But for everyday staining (tea, coffee, cigarettes), the strips or gel should work fine. Also try using a little baking soda/water paste daily in your toothbrush to help brighten them.
2007-05-02 10:40:33