Going to the dentist is the best way to achieve safe, predictable results. The in office procedures are the best as it is time efficient ( 1 visit), the most effective products can be utilized, and sensitivity and safety are most controlled.
Dentist supervised at home procedures can result in very good results as well, however we have found that these procdures often resulted in higher levels of sensitivity and a decline in patient compliance as it may not have been done exactly as prescribed and optimal results may not be achieved as patient tolerance or enthusiasm declines with time.
Store bought strips are ok for starters, but in our experience most patients end up back in the office because of their personal dissatisfaction with the end result.
Non dentist whitening "spas" are a concern to the dental profession as unsupervised use of lasers and other chemicals can create injuries to the patient. In additon if there are undiagnosed previous dental conditions such as decay or periodontal disease, the bleaching procedure could also create unanticipated dental problems.
