Whitening Trays - You Said What?
A Guide to choosing Teeth Whitening Trays
Let’s face it, almost every man and his dog is offering some type of teeth whitening product or service these days! Whether this be from dentists, beauty therapists, online retailers or those just attempting to take a share in the market, it’s a teeth whitening mine field.
With
this comes a myriad of whitening options including choices of bleaching gels,
concentrations, formulations and whitening trays. Although each have their pros
and cons this guide will focus on the latter providing you with the most common
Teeth Whitening Tray options available to those wishing to whiten their teeth
in the comfort of their own home.
There
are three types of tray options available – Thermoforming, Pre-Filled and
Custom Fit Whitening Trays. We will discuss each of these below.
Thermoforming Whitening Trays
 |
| Thermoforming Trays |
Are
mouldable plastic trays which are adapted to your teeth by warming the tray in
hot water and then shaped by pushing/sucking the warmed plastic over your
teeth. Thermoforming Bleach Trays are the most common trays used by online or
non-registered dental whitening retailers i.e. dentists tend to steer clear of
this option. Teeth Whitening Gel is then applied to the trays and placed in
your mouth to complete the whitening process.
They
are a cost-effective alternative to visiting the dentist and are usually
supplied in packets of two or three – one for your top and bottom teeth and one
spare. The effectiveness of these trays is highly dependent on how well you ‘mould’
the tray to your teeth and the quality of the tray purchased – usually the
price is a good indicator in reflecting the quality of the Thermoforming Tray.
Price: Under $25
Fit: Poor – Average
Tips:
- Be cautious for overly cheap options – this usually reflects the quality of the material used.
- If you are a first-time user it may be worthwhile purchasing as spare set of trays as it can take a few attempts to get a tight, suitable fitting tray.
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
·
Cheap
|
·
Very
technique sensitive – poor fit will result in a poor whitening result
|
·
No
dentist needed, buy online
|
·
Poor fit
can result in gum irritation or burning
|
·
Can be
used multiple times
|
·
Quality
of trays cannot always be guaranteed
|
·
Readily
available
|
·
Not recommended
by Dental Professionals
|
Pre-filled Whitening Trays
 |
| Opalescence GO! - Pre-filled Trays |
Is
essentially the middle road when it comes to Teeth Whitening Tray options. The
prefilled tray combines the ‘mouldable’ idea behind thermoforming trays but also
contains whitening gel that is ‘in built’ into the tray. This options is great
for those who are looking for utmost convenience and are short on time. The
pre-filled trays (upper and lower) are placed into your mouth for the
recommended wear time. Like Thermoforming Trays these are readily available and
not usually endorsed by those professionally trained in teeth whitening due to
the risk of poor fitting or adaptability.
Saying
this, due to increasing popularity Opalescence, developed Opalescence GO! – a very
effective option combining Opalescence Whitening Gel with Prefilled UltraFit
Trays which seamlessly adapt to your teeth in response to your mouth’s ‘warm
environment’. This product is popular, has a strong following, is backed by
Opalescence’s Worldwide reputation among Dentists and takes the ‘risk’ out of
purchasing one of the many online whitening products.
Price: $20 - $150
Fit: Average – Good
Tips:
- Check to see whether the trays mould to your teeth or are one-size fits all – steer clear of the latter.
- Stick with a reputable well known whitening gel or brand.
- Although convenient, crunch the numbers, in the long run you may find yourself paying more for each individual whitening treatment.
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
·
No need
to purchase both trays and whitening gel
|
·
Each
pre-filled tray is single use
|
·
Saves
time with pre-measured and filled trays
|
·
Long term
- may be more expensive
|
·
Options
endorsed by dentists
|
·
Poor fit
can result in gum irritation or burning
|
Custom Fit Whitening Trays
 |
| Custom Fit Trays - Customised to your mouth |
Unfortunately,
due to the specialist and professional nature associated with Custom Fit Trays
fabrication they are usually only available from your dentist for quite a hefty
price tag of usually $400 (or more). Fortunately, The House of Mouth has
developed an intelligent DIY Custom Fit Tray product which allows customers to
take the imprints of their teeth within the comfort of their own home. The
imprints are then posted back to them; your trays are fabricated and sent back
to you with your choice of whitening kit (if so desired). It’s quite simple
with Complete and Tray Only Packages starting from $220.
Price: $220 - $400 (or more)
Fit: Good – Excellent
Tips:
- If visiting the dentist specifically for this option, ensure to confirm whether you must meet certain criteria e.g. they may require you to see a dentist for a check-up and clean appointment first.
- For DIY options - be mindful of the lead time between placing your order and receiving your Custom Fit Trays. If possible, expedite your order with express shipping to reduce such issues.
Advantages
|
Disadvantages
|
·
Customised
– provides the best fit
|
·
Cost may
be a deterrent for some
|
·
Less whitening
gel leakage onto gums
|
·
Not as
readily available as other tray options
|
·
Better teeth
whitening results
|
·
Some
dentists may not permit whitening until you have had a check-up/clean
|
·
Safest
and most reliable
|
|
·
Now available as a DIY Option
|
The Verdict
There
are many Teeth Whitening Tray options which differ greatly in price,
availability and reliability. Always do your research and be aware that not all
options are the same despite many online retailers making farfetched claims.
So, our two take home tips are:
- A tighter fitting and more customised (to your mouth) whitening tray will usually result in better and safer teeth whitening treatments.
- Reputation is Key - Always choose a professional whitening brand, bleaching gel and tray product. It pays to do some research before simply jumping on in.
