The first consideration is the convenience getting to the end result. There's no question that a dentist is interested in your overall dental care. Therefore they are more likely to focus on healthy, usable teeth and less on esthetics. If you think about it, this is actually a good thing.

Understand that the quality of the teeth whitening however is very comparable. The dentist typically will use much stronger whitener gels to achieve faster results. They may also use a laser or blue light which when used with "special" gel is claimed to work even faster. Speed however is not the reason why you're considering getting your teeth whitened, it's for a brighter smile.

The dentist will achieve results faster but they also need a formal appointment which makes the dental method less convenient.

The next important point of interest is the ability to whiten or what the final result will look like. Here, both the home teeth whitening solutions and the dentist both do an excellent job. The difference is that although the dentist may get faster results, there is a risk of your teeth becoming sensitive to temperature extremes due to the aggressive nature of the dental whitening materials used.

Another point is the need for occasional maintenance treatments. The benefit here definitely goes to the home whiteners because you can treat your teeth anytime you feel they are starting to get a little stained or dull. The dentist method will require another appointment and treatment at their office.

Finally there's the overall cost. A high quality home teeth whitening product can be obtained for under 150 dollars. This is typically more than enough to whitening and brighten your smile in less than a couple of weeks. The dental method typically can cost several hundred up to as much as 800 dollars for the initial treatment without considering the expense of the maintenance treatments that will be needed.

Bottom line is that if you have strong and healthy teeth, using a home whitening solution can save you money and deliver the same bright smile and unstained teeth as the dentist. In the end, home whitening is both an economical, safe and convenient way to whiten all your teeth and bring back that youthful smile.