Professional Whitening vs. Dental Veneers: A Cost Comparison

You’ve probably heard the phrase that “the smile is the first thing that someone notices about you”. The Academy of General Dentistry reported that 40 percent of survey respondents notice a smile first in people they work with and 96 percent see a smile as important to someone’s appearance!

The observation is not as vain as you might think… in addition to being a factor in overall attractiveness, teeth can reveal a lot about a person’s health and hygiene habits. So, how do you make sure you’re making the best first impression?

Make your smile the best it can be, of course! Whether you choose to do so with professional whitening treatments or you’re considering dental veneers, let’s break down the first question everyone asks me: What’ll it cost?

In-Office Teeth Whitening

There are countless drugstore whitening products available. Almost every dental product these days is available in a version that’s marketed as having “whitening benefits”… toothpaste, mouthwashes, floss, certain kinds of toothbrushes, etc. But the best results to be found from whitening are those that are achieved with a combination of at-home and in-office whitening treatments. Like every dental treatment at Modern Touch Dental, your whitening procedure with us will be totally customized. Little known fact #1: whitening does NOT work for some people. We take the time to discuss your teeth and go over realistic expectations for you during your complimentary whitening consultation appointment.

If we find that your teeth will be receptive to whitening, your treatments would cost anywhere from $57 (take-home Sheer White® strips) to $400 per year (combination at-home and in-office whitening). Each box of whitening strips contains approximately 10 days of whitening. Results from combination at-home + in-office whitening last about a year.

Little known fact #2: Whitening doesn’t add any whiteness to your teeth! It simply removes staining and restores your teeth back to their brightest and best natural state. For this reason, “final” results vary greatly. For an instant smile upgrade (and a shade of whiteness you get to predetermine), see below:

Porcelain Dental Veneers

Modern Touch Dental applies only the most advanced, natural-looking dental veneers. We use a super thin, super strong, impervious stain-resistant porcelain material (as opposed to composite resin) and there is truly no one-size-fits-all when it comes to veneers. We work with you in advance to select the ideal shape, shade, and style for your face structure.

Just like for professional whitening, not everyone is an ideal candidate for dental veneers. We’ll work with you to determine the best solution for your smile during your complimentary consultation.

While we have an entire catalog of options from which to choose (the combinations are virtually endless), your investment for dental veneers is always the same: $1,200 per tooth. Each veneer lasts approximately 10-20 years, though, with regular, proper care (like you would care for your natural teeth), we’ve seen them last even longer! Don’t believe it? Ask Dr. Wegner- his veneers are going strong 19 years and counting…

The Verdict

Over a 10 year period, you’re looking at approximately $4,000 for combination at-home and in-office whitening treatments (if maintained on an annual basis making payments over time) and approximately $4,800 for a standard 4 porcelain dental veneer smile makeover (paid at the time of treatment).

At the end of the day, determining the “better deal” really comes down to what you value most. If you’re looking to simply restore the brightness and natural whiteness to a smile you already love, professional whitening is the way to go. If, however, you’re not eligible for professional whitening on your natural teeth or you’re looking to make additional adjustments to your smile in addition to whitening (such as fixing a chip or crack, reshaping corners, changing the width or height of a tooth, permanently color-correcting, or adjusting spacing or crooked teeth), dental veneers will give you the long-lasting confidence you seek.