These days, social media often promotes quick fixes for dental concerns. One trend is charcoal toothpaste, marketed as a natural whitening solution. While it may sound appealing, charcoal can be abrasive, potentially wearing away enamel and contributing to sensitivity or gum issues. Noticeable whitening is also unlikely.
Another option you may come across online is self-bleaching kits. These contain very low concentrations of peroxide and may provide only short-term changes.
The main concern with using these products is that they don’t consider the individual condition of your teeth and gums. Without professional advice, there’s a risk of causing harm or missing underlying issues. For safe and effective whitening, it’s best to consult a dental professional. So lets compare professional vs at-home teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening your dentist can offer
With professional teeth whitening at your dentist, there are three different types of whitening packages we provide. They are the take-home teeth whitening kit, the one hour in chair whitening kit, and the combination of the two. At The Dental Room, we use one of the most advanced teeth whitening systems in the market – the Philips Zoom System.
This is different from the whitening toothpaste you would find on a supermarket shelf—those are also quite abrasive on the teeth, and the concentration of peroxide is minimal, which is what allows them to be sold in a supermarket. It takes a long time for you to get noticeable results, and you may ruin your teeth in the process.
With the take-home kit, we provide you with custom-made whitening trays that fit perfectly onto your teeth. Whitening gel is then applied to the trays and used for 30 minutes a day for two weeks. The one hour procedure offers the convenience of having your dentist apply a higher concentration of whitening gel to your teeth while you are in the dental chair. Many of my clients choose the combination of one hour in chair procedure for a quick boost and use their take-home trays to maintain the brightness from time to time.
The teeth whitening process
Professional whitening uses products with higher concentrations of peroxide than those you’ll find over the counter. This means the results can be more noticeable compared with DIY kits. Under the care of a dental professional, whitening is carried out using a chemical process rather than an abrasive action, which helps protect your teeth.
When performed in a dental setting, your individual needs can be assessed and monitored to support both safety and effectiveness. This ensures your oral health is prioritised throughout the whitening process.
Contact us on (03) 9857 3988 or book an appointment with us online here.
Results, potential risks, complications, and recovery times can differ for each individual and each procedure. Any dental procedure carries risks and benefits. Refer to thedentalroom.com.au/risks for more information on risks and potential complications.
Before starting any treatment, we recommend seeking independent advice from an AHPRA-registered health practitioner and considering a second opinion. This content is intended for adults, is general in nature, and should not be regarded as medical advice. Individual results cannot be guaranteed.
Images and videos featured on this page are shared with our clients’ consent and have not been altered with filters, editing, or AI tools.
NEXT: Teeth-whitening techniques
About Dr Shawn Rama
Dr Shawn Rama is the Principal Dentist and Founder of The Dental Room, with more than 20 years of experience in general and aesthetic dentistry. He graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2003 and has undertaken further training in aesthetic dentistry, complex restorative dentistry and dental implants. Dr Shawn is also an accredited Invisalign® Platinum Provider and a member of the Australian Dental Association. He founded The Dental Room in Balwyn North in 2016, creating a boutique practice centred around personalised, considered dental care.
