Professional in-office teeth whitening

Bottom line

Professional in-office teeth whitening produces the greatest whitening results in the shortest amount of time. The trade-off is that it tends to cause more sensitivity issues than other types of whitening. And it's a lot more expensive. If you prefer a more affordable alternative, our Best Reviewed selection -- professional at-home teeth whitening (*Est. $200 to $600) -- also produces dramatic results for a fraction of the cost, although it will take a little longer. Experts say both types of professional whitening are the safest options available.

Performance

Fast and dramatic results. Experts say professional in-office teeth whitening is the most effective teeth whitening procedure available. Whether performed at a dentist-supervised center such as BriteSmile or by your own dentist, reviewers say professional light-activated treatments speed up the bleaching process and that they can lighten teeth up to 10 shades in a single one-hour treatment. According to researchers at the International Association for Dental Research (IADR), professional at-home treatments can take up to 40 times as long to produce the same results.

Most reviewers at TeethWhiteningReviews.com are pleased with the results of in-office bleaching. One says, "my teeth were very yellow due to neglect and lots of coffee drinking. I didn't expect them to be this white! They look amazing." Results, of course, vary depending on the condition of teeth. Some reviewers said their teeth got whiter by eight or more shades, while others said their teeth improved by just four or five shades. One reviewer said, "my teeth are whiter by a few shades, but I did have white teeth to begin with." Results last a long time (up to two years), but the procedure is expensive and you may need multiple treatments.

Ease of use

Uncomfortable but over in an hour. Although in-office whitening can be uncomfortable -- we saw several complaints of zingers during the treatment -- most users are pleased with the speed of the procedure. The whole process takes about an hour and results can be seen immediately. Furthermore, the process is relatively uncomplicated since your dental practitioner is doing all the work. That being said, many dentists send patients home with mouth trays for further whitening and/or maintenance. Patients are also asked to follow a "white" diet that eliminates all coffee, tea, colas and other foods known to cause staining for 48 hours.

Safety

ADA-approved. Professional teeth whitening is the only type of bleaching treatment to earn the ADA seal of approval. That's because it's the safest method for whitening teeth. Experts say that having a dentist's supervision makes all of the difference because it ensures that you are a good candidate for whitening. Those with cavities and/or gum disease are at risk for additional pain and further damage from the bleaching agents.

Although experts say professional teeth whitening is completely safe, we saw several complaints of extreme tooth sensitivity and zingers from users at TeethWhiteningReviews.com. One user says, "The 'zings' have turned into constant pain ... I had to leave work early and have my dentist call in pain meds for me." Sensitivity issues vary from one person to the next -- some don't notice any at all -- but most users say they diminish completely within a day or two.