In Chair Teeth Whitening vs Take Home Whitening Trays: Which Is the Best Option?
In Chair (clinic) Teeth Whitening vs. Take Home Trays: What is the best option? In our last blog, we looked at what you can realistically expect from teeth whitening, how white your smile can get, how long results usually last, and the difference between professional treatments and DIY kits.
If you’ve been thinking about whitening your teeth, you’ve probably realised there are a lot of choices. From in-chair whitening at the dentist to simple strips you can grab at the pharmacy, each option has its own benefits and drawbacks.
At Surry Hills Dental Centre, one of the most common questions we hear is:
“Should I go for one session in clinic teeth whitening, or are take home whitening trays good enough?”
In this article, we’ll break down the differences in plain, simple terms so you can decide which approach best fits your smile goals, lifestyle, and budget.
Teeth Whitening Trays – A Convenient At-Home Option
Teeth whitening trays are one of the most popular whitening solutions. They’re thin, flexible trays coated with a whitening gel, designed to be worn over your teeth for a set amount of time.
Why do people choose whitening trays:
Easy to use: You can apply them at home; no appointment needed.
Affordable: They’re budget-friendly compared to in-clinic whitening.
Reusable: As long as you don’t have new dental work, the trays can be reused indefinitely, only needing refill gels.
However, teeth whitening trays also come with some limitations. The strength of the whitening gel is lower than what’s used for in-chair whitening, meaning results are often less noticeable and may take weeks. Because they are applied at home, they are susceptible to user error - if the gel does not cover every tooth evenly, it can leave some areas looking patchy.
Hot tip - not all teeth whitening trays are created equally. The customized ones made by your dentist tend to work better because with a better fitting tray, there is less leakage of the whitening gel, and less ingress of saliva into the intended whitening area. Compared to stock trays available in pharmacies, customized trays are a far superior option.In Chair Teeth Whitening – Stronger and Faster Results.
In Chair Teeth Whitening – Stronger and Faster Results
Professional teeth whitening is carried out in the dental chair using advanced technology and stronger whitening agents that are not available over the counter.
Why do people choose professional teeth whitening:
Faster results: Noticeably whiter teeth in just one session (great if you have left it last minute and have a wedding to attend this weekend!).
Even coverage: Customised treatment ensures all teeth whiten evenly.
Safe and supervised: A dentist monitors the process to protect your teeth and gums.
This option is ideal for people who want dramatic, reliable results without the wait, or can’t trust themselves to consistently wear their whitening trays at home. Due to its stronger whitening gel concentration though, some may experience temporary sensitivity during the whitening process, although this can be mitigated by preparing the teeth with desensitizer and over the counter analgesics.
Which One Should You Choose to Whiten Your Teeth?
If you’re looking for a gentle, affordable improvement, and you have time, teeth whitening trays is a good option. But if you’re after a brighter result faster, professional teeth whitening is worth the investment.
At the end of the day, it depends on your budget, lifestyle, and how quickly you want to see results. Many patients use professional in chair whitening to a whitening boost, then maintain their results with take home whitening trays, for long lasting white teeth with minimal sensitivity.
Achieve Your Best Smile With Us
At Surry Hills Dental Centre, we’ve helped countless patients across Sydney achieve brighter, more confident smiles with our professional teeth whitening services. Whether you’re in Darlinghurst, Zetland, Redfern, or Waterloo, our central location and friendly team makes whitening and dentistry easy for a change.
If you’re ready to see the difference that professional teeth whitening can make, book your appointment with us today.
