Laser Whitening vs. Dentist-Led Home Kits
Which Offers the Best Results in London?
Stop paying premium prices for temporary whitening. Discover why Londoners are switching to our Dentist-Led Home Whitening system for deeper results at a fraction of the cost.
The Limitations of "Instant" Laser Whitening
If you are researching teeth whitening in London, you have likely seen advertisements for "Zoom," "Laser," or "1-Hour Whitening" ranging from £400 to £800. The promise is tempting: walk in with yellow teeth, walk out with white teeth in 60 minutes.
However, there is a scientific reason why many patients are disappointed with laser treatment just a few days later.
Dehydration vs. Deep Stain Removal
Laser whitening works by using a high-intensity light to heat the peroxide gel. While this speeds up the reaction, it also rapidly dehydrates the tooth enamel.
- The Dehydration Effect: When teeth are dry, they may appear opaque and chalky white. This is the "wow" moment you see in the mirror immediately after a laser session.
- The Rebound Effect: Over the next 48 hours, your teeth naturally reabsorb moisture from your saliva. As the enamel rehydrates, it becomes translucent again, and the underlying colour returns. This is why many laser patients feel their teeth have "faded" back to yellow within a week.
Why Dentist-Led Home Whitening Lasts Longer
At Teeth Whitening London, we champion the Dentist-Led Home Whitening approach. We do not use dehydration tricks.
Our process uses oxygenation. By keeping the whitening gel in contact with your teeth for longer periods (using custom-fit trays), oxygen bubbles penetrate deep into the microscopic pores of the enamel and dentin and lift stains. This breaks down the long-chain stain molecules that have accumulated over years.
Because this process happens while the tooth remains hydrated, the result you see at the end of your 14-day treatment is real, stable, and maintainable.
Comparison: Laser Treatment vs. Our Home Kit
To help you decide, we have broken down every aspect of the treatment experience.
1. The Cost & Lifetime Value
- Laser: You pay for the dentist's chair time. If you want to top up your smile next year (which you may do, as diet and lifestyle cause new stains), you usually have to pay the full procedure fee again, which can be £500+.
- Home Kit: You pay a one-off fee of £199. This includes the manufacturing of your custom-fit whitening trays. These trays are durable and yours to keep for life. When you need a top-up, you simply buy a syringe of professional gel from us (£35). It is an investment that can pay for itself after just one use.
2. Sensitivity & Comfort
- Laser: The heat generated by the light, combined with the high concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide, often shocks the tooth nerve. This results in "zingers"—sharp, electric-shock style pains that can last for 24 hours.
- Home Kit: We use Carbamide Peroxide and Hydrogen Peroxide. Because there is no heat involved, the risk of nerve shock is drastically reduced. If you do feel sensitivity, you can simply skip a night. A flexibility you don't have once a laser procedure has started.
3. Evenness of Results
- Laser: The light source is static. If the light doesn't hit the sides of your smile (the premolars) as directly as the front teeth, you can end up with uneven shading.
- Home Kit: Your custom trays are made from a precise mould of your mouth. The gel wraps around every surface of every tooth, ensuring a perfectly even, edge-to-edge whiteness.
Ready to Get Started?
Book your assessment today and start your journey to a brighter smile.
Book Your Assessment - £199Your Step-by-Step Treatment Plan
We are not an online shop sending generic boxes. This is a clinical prescription service overseen by qualified dentists.
Step 1: The Assessment & Impressions
You visit us for a quick appointment. We check your oral health to ensure you are safe to whiten. We then take precision impressions (or 3D scans) of your teeth.
Step 2: Lab Fabrication
Your impressions are sent to our dental laboratory. Technicians craft your ultra-thin, clear whitening trays. These are designed to seal tightly against the tooth to prevent saliva from washing the gel away.
Step 3: The Whitening Phase
You collect your kit, which includes your trays and the professional-strength gel. You wear the trays for 1–4 hours (or overnight) for 14 days. You will notice your teeth getting brighter every single day.
Step 4: Maintenance
Once you reach your desired shade (often B1), you stop. Clean your trays and keep them safe. Use them for one night every few months to maintain that bright, "just-whitened" look for as long as you desire.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is home whitening as effective as laser whitening?
A: Yes, and often more so. While laser is faster (1 hour), home whitening provides a deeper whitening. Studies show that 14 days of home whitening can achieve the same, if not lighter, shades than laser treatment, with results that are far more colour-stable over the long term.
Q: Why is your kit £199 when I see kits online for £20?
A: The kits you see on social media or online are not "dental" whitening. By UK law, over-the-counter kits can only contain 0.1% peroxide, which is too weak to whiten teeth effectively. Our kits contain up to 6% Hydrogen Peroxide (or 16% Carbamide), which is 60x more concentrated and clinically proven to provide far better results. Furthermore, online kits come with "boil and bite" trays that fit poorly, leading to leaked gel and potential burnt gums. Our trays are custom-made in a lab.
Q: Will it damage my enamel?
A: No. When prescribed by a dentist, whitening is one of the safest cosmetic procedures available. The gel works by releasing oxygen to clear stain molecules; it does not "strip" or "sand down" your enamel.
Q: How long do the results last?
A: This depends on your diet (coffee, red wine, smoking). However, because home whitening treats the whole tooth structure deeply, the baseline colour change is very maintainable. With our "Trays for Life" system, you can affordably top up your smile whenever you notice it fading.
Q: Can I switch to home whitening if I've had laser before?
A: Absolutely. Many of our patients come to us because their laser results faded too quickly. Using our home kit is the perfect way to "lock in" a white shade permanently.
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