Professional teeth whitening by dentists

Experts say professional 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. Results last a long time (up to two years), but the procedure is expensive and you may need multiple treatments.

Dentist-prescribed bleaching kits are another option; these employ custom-fitted mouth trays and offer a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide than over-the-counter treatments, which experts say yields better, longer-lasting results. Reviewers say that less costly over-the-counter treatments such as Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid (*Est. $40) take longer to achieve similar results.

We found the best review of professional teeth whitening procedures at The Wall Street Journal, where several whitening treatments are tried and compared. The International Association for Dental Research also examines the efficacy of light-assisted whitening and take-home whitening strips. Other reviews, including Alternative Medicine magazine and U.S. News and World Report, do not test treatments but do explain the differences and, with the help of trained specialists, point out which are the best.