This is a common question that is being asked to most dentists. However one must understand that there is no straight answer to this question. There are lots of factors that affect teeth whitening cost.
Factors influencing cost:
1) Teeth whitening method
Today teeth whitening market is widely spread across the country. With technology being evolved in an amazing rate, new types of teeth whitening are being invented every month. However traditional methods are also being used in large scale. Based on the method cost for teeth whitening varies a lot. Based on technology and equipment used, cost varies to large scale. It is an acceptable fact that home based method would be a way cheaper than in-office method.
2) Quality of products used
Most of us know that teeth whitening gel is a common product that is being used. Based on the quality of the gel price varies to a greater extent. There are few manufacturers with good quality products charge a premium price too. A quality gel does not have any significant side effect.
3) Based on technology or equipments used
As said earlier, technology is one critical factor that varies teeth whitening method to greater extent. For instance following are the different light activated or laser teeth whitening methods that have different price. The price varies only because of the technology and equipment that is being used.
The Zoom teeth whitening system.
Opalescence teeth whitening system.
The BriteSmile teeth whitening system.
The LaserSmile teeth whitening system.
The Sapphire Chairside whitening system.
The Beyond Power whitening system.
The Rembrandt teeth whitening system.
The LumaCool teeth whitening system.
The NUPRO White Gold / Illumine system.
The Niveous teeth whitening system.
4) Based on location of dentistry
Whether the dentistry is located in rural area or urban area the cost varies to greater extent. This may be because of the transportation cost, level of expertise dentist available and various other measures. While we cannot comment on the quality of service based on locality, what we can confirm is that the cost varies very much. Moreover in high cost areas like San Francisco, the cost is expected to be higher when compared to rural or low cost areas.