The cost of teeth whitening in the UK can cost anywhere from £20 to £1000 or more. It will really depend on the type of teeth whitening treatment you go for.
In this article, we will look at the different options available for teeth whitening, including professional treatments such as laser whitening and in-office LED, as well as the cost of home whitening so you can decide what is the best option for you to get the smile you want.
To understand how much teeth whitening will cost, it helps to know what types of procedures are available. Teeth whitening treatments can be categorised according to professional, which is those which involve a dentist, and those which do not, or a home whitening kit.
In-office LED and laser whitening is the procedure that boasts the fastest results, but it is also the most expensive. The procedure takes place in the dentist’s office and can last around one hour. While you are sitting in the chair, your teeth are coated with a strong bleaching gel, which often contains hydrogen peroxide. A laser or LED light is then shone on the teeth to quicken the bleaching process. With this type of procedure, it is possible to get your teeth by 2-8 shades whiter in only one session. The process is all supervised by a trained dentist who will also apply a gum shield to your gums to protect them from the strong gel. It is considered a very safe treatment option but there is some possibility of sensitivity as it is an intensive treatment. You can expect to pay between £500 and £1,000 for a laser teeth whitening treatment at the dentist, this will depend on the system used and the number of sessions needed.
Take-home custom bleaching tray treatment is carried out by a professional dentist in-office, but the process of whitening takes place at home. First, custom trays are made to fit your mouth precisely. The dentist will then give you bleaching gel, again often containing peroxide, and you will be shown how to use it correctly and safely. The treatment can take around two weeks on average and by the end of treatment, you can expect to notice a significant difference in the colour of your teeth. The trays are worn for between 2-6 hours per day, according to your dentist’s instructions. The teeth whitening take-home kits cost around £200 – £400 from UK dentists. They provide a safe option for those looking to get whiter teeth from home.
There is also the option to combine these two options, the in-office and take-home whitening treatment. This can provide fast results and more sustained results. One brand that offers this in the UK is Enlighten and you can expect to pay around £400 – £750 for a full course in the UK.
You can also get fully at-home teeth whitening kits over-the-counter in pharmacies and online. These kits can cost anywhere from £20 to £150 or more, and usually contain a whitening gel, a mouth tray, and can sometimes include an LED activating light.