Teeth whitening cost: add up your dentist’s quote

Professional whitening lightens the colour of natural teeth with a bleaching gel, usually based on hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. The Australian Dental Association describes two main methods. In-chair whitening is done at the clinic with a strong gel, often with a light, and you usually leave with whiter teeth. Take-home whitening uses thin, custom-made trays and a gel your dentist supplies, worn for a set time each day over some weeks. Some people are advised to use both.

The teeth whitening cost on a quote can include an examination, impressions or scans for the trays, the trays themselves, the gel, an in-chair session and later top-up gel. Healthdirect advises always asking how much a treatment will cost before you start, and considering safety and how well it works, not just the price. This calculator uses only your own figures. Enter each line and include top-ups, because they are a recurring cost.

Healthdirect explains that only registered dental professionals can use the strong whitening gels and products containing more than 6% hydrogen peroxide. Whitening may also be offered in places such as beauty salons by people who are not dental professionals, and kits are sold online, in pharmacies and in supermarkets. Healthdirect warns that using these kits, or being treated by someone who is not a dental professional, can put you at risk of harm.

The ADA says whitening is best done by a dentist, dental hygienist or oral health therapist. Before treatment they check whether your teeth are suitable. Healthdirect lists situations where whitening is not recommended, including pregnancy or breastfeeding, sensitive teeth, gum disease, cracks or holes in the teeth and untreated dental problems. If the discolouration is deep inside a tooth, for example after root canal treatment, healthdirect says external gel will not make it whiter and your dentist may suggest internal whitening instead. You can check any practitioner's registration on the Ahpra register.

• Is an examination included before whitening starts?
• In-chair, take-home or both?
• How much top-up gel is included, and what does more cost?
• Do any crowns, veneers or fillings need replacing to match afterwards?

Whitening has side effects. The ADA warns that strong hydrogen peroxide gel can cause chemical burns if it touches the lips, gums or tongue, and that teeth can become sensitive to cold, sometimes severely. Healthdirect advises seeing your dental professional if sensitivity or irritation lasts more than a day or two. Your dentist will explain how to prevent and manage sensitivity before you start. Healthdirect adds that whitening gel is dangerous to swallow and can cause nausea and stomach irritation.

Whitening only lightens natural enamel. The ADA notes that porcelain crowns, veneers and composite fillings keep their colour, so they may stand out after whitening and need replacing, which adds to the cost. Most dental care is not covered by Medicare, and the Child Dental Benefits Schedule does not cover cosmetic work. Ask your health fund whether your extras policy pays anything for whitening before you book, and enter only a confirmed amount in the calculator.