Teeth whitening cost is the first consideration for many with discolored teeth. Since teeth whitening is considered a cosmetic treatment, the rate can vary wildly from dentist to dentist and city to city.
This post provides the average cost of whitening in your city.
Professional teeth whitening cost: what influences it?
First, let’s see what influences the cost of teeth whitening. We have come up with the following.
- The whitening method you decide on. We will discuss the methods available in the market below.
- Your location. If life in your city is expensive, your dental whitening treatment and all dental cosmetic treatments will be expensive.
- Do you need another treatment with whitening, for example, bonding or filling?
- How frequently do you perform teeth whitening? If you have never done it before, your dentist may require a longer time to whiten your teeth.
- Do you have cavities? The holes in your teeth must be blocked before the whitening procedure begins. That will require extra time, and your teeth whitening cost will be higher than average.
- The technology your dentist will use to whiten your teeth. Using the latest technology will give you superior whiteness and cost you more.
- The expertise of your dentist. A dentist in high demand may charge more for their services.
- The financial ability of your dentist’s clientele. If your dentist generally treats rich patients, their fees may be already high.
Standard, in-office peroxide teeth whitening may last up to 3 years. However, your teeth may be discolored much before that. It will depend on your oral health and your eating or drinking habits.
Teeth whitening cost in major US cities in 2023
The following sample has been taken from the teeth bleaching treatment price publicly available across the US.
This data should be regarded only as a reference point. Only your dentist can give you a quotation based on your oral health.
This estimate is without insurance and refers to standard in-office teeth whitening. Expect the price to be lower if you use a home teeth whitening kit.
Also, note that this price does not include the cost of any other procedure that you may need before teeth whitening.
This data reflects the cost of the KöR® Whitening Deep Bleaching System and Philips Zoom!® Tooth Whitening method.
| City | In-Office Teeth Whitening Cost |
| Austin | $300 – $800 |
| Boston | $400 – $800 |
| Charlotte | $300 – $800 |
| Chicago | $250 – $900 |
| Columbus | $300 – $700 |
| Dallas | $350 – $900 |
| Denver | $300 – $1,000 |
| El Paso | $150 – $500 |
| Houston | $400 – $800 |
| Indianapolis | $400 – $700 |
| Jacksonville | $300 – $900 |
| Los Angeles | $300 – $750 |
| Memphis | $300 – $600 |
| New York | $400 – $900 |
| Philadelphia | $400 – $800 |
| Phoenix | $300 – $900 |
| San Antonio | $300 – $700 |
| San Diego | $400 – $700 |
| San Francisco | $400 – $1,000 |
| Seattle | $300 – $800 |
| Washington | $200 – $1,000 |
The average starting cost of teeth bleaching in the USA is $300. The lowest starting price was seen in El Paso ($150), whereas prices for the same in Washington ($200) and Chicago ($250) are below the national average cost.
The maximum cost may be as high as $1,000 in cities like Washington, San Francisco, and Denver.
Whichever US city you are in, the average cost of in-office teeth whitening will be between $550 and $750.
Dental whitening cost in European countries in 2023
| Country | Cost of teeth whitening |
| Germany | $375 – $900 |
| Italy | $120 – $400 |
| Republic of Ireland | $120 – $500 |
| Spain | $250 – $600 |
| The Netherlands | $350 – $1,000 |
| United Kingdom | $450 – $1300 |
UK dentists charge the highest amount for professional in-office teeth whitening in Europe. The price is only a third in Italy and Ireland.
The UK is the most expensive place for dental work among all developed nations. Germany and The Netherlands are not far behind.
Teeth whitening for dental tourists
You may believe in dental tourism. If so, check the table below.
Some of these countries are known for dental cosmetics work—for example, India, Turkey, Bulgaria, and The Philipines.
Let’s see how they fare when it comes to the whitening treatment.
| Country | Cost of Teeth Whitening |
| Bulgaria | $100 – $300 |
| Cuba | $120 – $250 |
| India | $100 – $150 |
| Mexico | $150 – $250 |
| Panama | $80 – $150 |
| Thailand | $250 – $400 |
| The Philippines | $60 – $200 |
| South Korea | $200 – $350 |
| Turkey | $100 – $250 |
The Philippines seems to be the cheapest country for whitening your teeth.
In-office, professional teeth whitening in The Philipines costs a minimum of $60 and may rise to $200 based on the condition of your teeth.
Compare that to the price for the same in the USA, where the minimum cost is five times higher, and the maximum cost is four times higher.
India, Bulgaria, and Turkey offer the next best rate for teeth whitening. Teeth bleaching in these countries starts at $100 and may rise to $250.
Low-cost teeth whitening
If the teeth whitening price is high, you may opt for low-cost whitening.
Low-cost teeth whitening may include the following:
- Take-home whitening trays from your dentist
- At-home teeth whitening kits
- Teeth whitening pens
- Whitening strips
- Whitening toothpaste
Take-home whitening trays
You can save a third of the professional whitening cost by taking the whitening trays home and whitening your teeth yourself.
Teeth whitening trays from your dentist will cost you about $400.
These trays are custom-made to fit the unique shape of your teeth. In contrast, commercial-grade whitening kits bought online or from your favorite store do not include custom-fitted trays.
Your dentist will also recommend a specific amount of whitening solution for your teeth. They will also tell you how and when to wear your trays.
At-home teeth whitening kits
At-home teeth whitening is much cheaper than that. You can buy a teeth whitening kit for $100 or less, which has whitening gel, desensitizing gel, LED light, moldable trays, and a color chart.
Peroxide is an aggressive whitening agent. While whitening your teeth, it may also remove essential minerals from them. Be careful when you DIY.
SPAP+ Teeth Whitening Kit, $169, is peroxide-free. It replaces peroxide with Phthalimidoperoxycaproicacid (PAP) to reduce the impact of the whitening agent on your gums.
If you have tooth decay or wear dental appliances, it is not advisable to use at-home whitening systems. You may harm your teeth or your appliances. You need a dentist to examine your teeth and recommend the right product.
Teeth whitening pens
Whitening pens offer you a much cheaper solution than whitening kits. They do not last long but are still capable of helping your other teeth whitening methods last longer.
They are known to be a quick-fix solution and painless.
In addition, they are also more convenient than whitening kits or whitening trays from your dentist. You can use them from the comfort of your home without requiring the supervision of a dentist.
Understand that whitening pens do not work on crowns, composite fillings, or veneers. They are also less effective when removing intense stains from your teeth.
Some characteristics of whitening pens:
- They are portable.
- They are thin, plastic tubes that have a whitening gel inside them.
- You can use them before going to your special events.
- The whitening period is complete within 30 minutes, and you can start eating or drinking within an hour.
- You can use whitening pens 2-3 times daily if needed.
Whitening strips
Teeth-whitening strips are a hassle-free solution for many.
Some are also good for those who like natural ingredients in their dental products. Perly Whites’ coconut and charcoal whitening strips are an example. Using these strips is painless, and their teeth-whitening action is also fast.
No whitening strips can whiten your teeth as perfectly as an in-office whitening service. They do not have the right concentration of bleaching that your teeth may need to look white.
They also come with some disadvantages. For example, your whitening result may not be smooth and equal across your mouth.
Besides, if the strips come in contact with your gums, the bleach may irritate them. In exceptional cases, the bleach may even harm the soft tissues of your gums.
This is what American Dental Association has to say about whitening strips. ‘With whitening strip or tray-based treatments, sensitivity may develop within two to three days after starting the program and usually resolves by the fourth-day post-treatment.’
Whitening toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste has its limitation. It is not custom-made for you. That is why its result will be irregular. You may also have to continue using whitening toothpaste for a long time to get the minimum results.
A commercial-grade whitening toothpaste will cost you no more than $20 at your nearest supermarket.
Average Cost Of Teeth Whitening in 2023
Based on our research on dentists across the USA, we estimate the following to be the average cost of whitening your teeth.
| Whitening Method | Average Cost |
| Laser teeth whitening | $1,000 |
| Standard in-office whitening | $600 |
| Whitening kits from your dentist | $400 |
| Commercial-grade whitening kits | $100 |
| Whitening Pens | $40 |
| Whitening strips | $20 |
Is teeth whitening safe?
Teeth whitening services and products are safe for you.
According to Food and Chemical Toxicology journal, teeth whitening products are ‘safe for all members of the population, including potential accidental use by children.’
But they have some drawbacks.
- Your teeth may turn temporarily sensitive.
- If the peroxide comes in contact with your soft tissues, you may feel irritation in your mouth.
- Peroxide may harm your pulp.
- Your cavity has to be covered first to prepare you for the in-office teeth whitening. That will cost you an extra amount.
- If you have gum disease, you may feel inflammation in them due to the teeth whitening process.
- Pregnant? Do not use teeth whitening.
- Teeth whitening products do not work on your dental appliances.
A new, non-hydrogen peroxide bleaching system has come to the market. It penetrates only half of your dentin, thus preventing pulp irritation.
Final Word
Teeth whitening costs depend on different variables, including the whitening method you select for your teeth.
You can choose between laser whitening and peroxide whitening, the two standard, in-office whitening methods popular in 2023.
If you are tight on budget, choose take-home whitening trays from your dentist, or buy a whitening kit from your favorite store.
The cheapest teeth whitening systems are whitening pens and whitening strips.
Any method you choose may have some effects on your mouth if not administered carefully.
FAQs
Teeth whitening is an effective way of making your mouth more beautiful. Professional, in-office whitening comes with top-notch safety measures that you deserve. The in-office whitening gel is also more powerful than the gel you may get in a commercial-grade whitening kit. That is why whitening under the supervision of a dentist lasts longer.
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic treatment. It is not a regular treatment. Your life will not be in danger if you do not whiten your teeth. That is why dental insurance plans do not cover it. You have to bear the cost out of your pocket. Unless, of course, you have a plan that covers cosmetic dental treatments.
If you wear porcelain veneers and crowns or have done dental bonding work, you may not qualify for teeth whitening treatment. Having dead teeth may also disqualify you from the whitening treatment. In addition, you may not seek teeth whitening treatment if your tooth enamel is too thin or has serious cavities.
Sources
- University of Michigan Health System (UMHS). Teeth Whitening.
- American Dental Association. Whitening.
- Colgate. Teeth Whitening Pens 101.
- Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice. Tooth Whitening: What We Now Know.
- Food and Chemical Toxicology. Tooth whitening products and the risk of oral cancer.
- Chemical Engineering Journal. ‘A novel tooth bleaching gel based on peroxymonosulfate/polyphosphates advanced oxidation process: Effective whitening avoiding pulp damage and sensitivity.’ Volume 429, 1 February 2022.