Everyone wants to have that million-dollar, Hollywood-approved smile – choppers that not only look good and aligned but also shine bright with nary a stain. Even though it is natural for your teeth to appear slightly yellow, for many of us, vanity prevails. It is, after all, the age of flawless Instagram selfies. Those with severely stained teeth with brown patches may also view teeth whitening procedures as a necessity.
To cater to this widespread desire, the healthcare and aesthetic industry have come up with a whole gamut of products and solutions to bring you one step closer to having whiter teeth. Among the options available are whitening strips, charcoal toothpaste, gel pens, tooth polishing devices, and light-activated treatments.
Certain folks are even touting natural alternatives (such as rubbing orange peels on your teeth), some of which sound dubious and may, in fact, be wearing down the enamel layer of your teeth, instead of properly and safely whitening them.
How does teeth whitening work
Depending on the efficacy of the product and the nature of your personal habits – whether you smoke and drink coffee, or generally abstain from foods that will lead to rapid teeth discolouration – the whitening effect may last between a week and a few years.
It uses bleaching agents containing either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide – off-the-counter, take-home kits are only allowed to contain no more than 0.1% of hydrogen peroxide, whereas a professional treatment at the dental clinic may use the same ingredients in higher concentrations of about 10% to 20%.
The most popular products and treatments incorporate LED or UV light activation. The latter produces heat, while the former emits blue light. Combined with the whitening gel, it triggers a reaction with the enamel and removes both deep and surface stains on the teeth. Teeth whitening procedures, particularly at-home ones, may also feature the use of a mouthpiece that serves as a tray for the whitening gel. These either come in a standard design or a custom-made piece.
Before you embark on your dental transformation, it is paramount to check if your teeth are well-poised for whitening too. Choppers with brown and grey spots, for instance, have a lower chance of success. Likewise, bleaching agents don’t always work well on dental crowns and veneers.
An overview of teeth whitening costs in Singapore
Type of teeth whitening
Price range
At-home teeth whitening kits (Low end)
$33.90 to $78
At-home teeth whitening kits (High end)
$100 to $389
Beauty salon teeth whitening treatments
$69.90 to $192.60 per session
Dental clinic teeth whitening treatments
$778 to $1,300
The cost of at-home teeth whitening kits in Singapore
At-home whitening kits
Price
Pro Teeth Whitening Co. Premium Dental Whitening Strips with Activated Charcoal
$39.90 for 28 strips
iWhite Instant 2 Teeth Whitening Kit
$52 for 10 trays
iWhite Instant Dark Stains Teeth Whitening Kit
$59.90 for 10 trays
iWhite Instant Teeth Whitening Express
$62.90
BlanX White Shock Teeth Whitening Treatment with LED Bite
$33.90
Just Smile Premium Teeth Whitening Kit
$78
Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips
$69.90 for 40 strips
Mooi Teeth Whitening Kit
$76
Zenyum Bright Starter Kit
$389
The most affordable option for teeth whitening is to do it yourself with an at-home kit. Pick one up off the shelf at Watsons or Guardian, which typically carry brands such as iWhite and BlanX, or opt for independent local brands such as Just Smile, Mooi and Zenyum, whose whitening kits come with a slightly heftier price tag.
Although these at-home teeth whitening kits may not be as effective as in-clinic treatments, they offer a convenient way to remove mild stains. Not every kit is created equal either. For instance, Pro Teeth Whitening’s product uses whitening strips, which contain a lower amount of bleaching agent for sensitive gums, but risk missing certain spots and grooves along the teeth.
On the other hand, iWhite’s kits use trays that offer more extensive coverage. Certain solutions also make use of whitening pens and a reusable LED mouthpiece – an increasingly popular option endorsed by celebrities and influencers. At $389, the most expensive product is by Zenyum. Unlike your usual kit, this one includes a dental consultation, where your teeth will be scanned for a custom-made whitening tray.
The cost of teeth whitening at an aesthetic salon in Singapore
Beauty salon
Address
Price
Kosmé Aesthetics
277 Orchard Road, Orchard Gateway, #03-08/09, Singapore 238858
$180 for the first session
Simply Aesthetics
13 Stamford Road, Capitol Piazza, #B1-28, Singapore 178905
$192.60 per session
Wellaholic
Islandwide (6 outlets)
$109 per session, or $259 for unlimited sessions in a month
Lush Aesthetics
176 Orchard Road, The Centrepoint, #03-33, Singapore 238843
311 New Upper Changi Road, Bedok Mall, #B2-37, Singapore 467360
1 Maritime Square, Harbourfront Centre, #02-65, Singapore 099253
$160.50 per session
Mirage Aesthetics
1 Tanglin Road, Orchard Rendezvous Hotel, #04-08, Singapore 247905
3 Gateway Drive, Westgate, #03-20, Singapore 608532
6 Scotts Road, Scotts Square, #03-03, Singapore 228209
$180 per session
Queen’s Market
81B Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088502
$69.90 per session
Head to a beauty salon for a teeth whitening treatment, and you will find that most outlets follow the procedure of applying non-peroxide gel on your choppers before using LED light to whiten them. They also tend to claim that a single session, usually lasting from 30 minutes to an hour, is capable of getting your teeth up to eight shades whiter.
As these treatments are much cheaper than those from dental clinics, with some amounting to under $100 per session, it remains a preferred choice among those looking for a simple enhancement. Still, the efficacy of beauty salon treatments isn’t necessarily guaranteed. Neither is the safety and suitability of these dental sessions, which are conducted by non-medically trained therapists and beauticians.
The cost of in-clinic teeth whitening in Singapore
Private clinic
Address
Price
Q&M Dental Group
Islandwide (67 clinics)
$963
Parkway Dental Practice
9 Scotts Road, Pacific Plaza, #12-02, Singapore 228210
$950
i.Dental
168 Robinson Road, Capital Tower, #13-04, Singapore 068912
302 Ubi Avenue 1, #01-47, Singapore 400302
1 Northpoint Drive, Northpoint City, #B1-176, Singapore 768019
168 Robinson Road, Capital Tower, #01-04, Singapore 068912
$1,057.16
Smile Focus
1 Orchard Boulevard, Camden Medical Centre, #08-02/03 and #08-07/08, Singapore 248649
$1,284
Unity Denticare
Islandwide (18 clinics)
$800
Vivid Dental
71 Seng Poh Road, #01-43, Singapore 160071
$778
Raffles Dental
Islandwide (12 dental clinics)
$950.20
Healthway Dental Group
Islandwide (6 clinics)
$1,300
Overwhelmed by the variety of teeth whitening choices available? Why not leave it to the professionals? You may have to fork out more money, but ultimately you will get what you paid for and leave the clinic with a pearly white smile. You can also trust the seasoned hands of licensed dentists to ensure you’re not exposed to any health risks while undergoing the procedure. With DIY kits, there may be a possibility of botching the job and thus having to live with an uneven look.
What’s more, the whitening gels dental clinics use are stronger and more concentrated, thus producing more dramatic and enduring results that last anywhere from a few months to two years. Teeth whitening treatments at a beauty salon, however, may not be as effective and call for multiple sessions, which may even add up to be pricier than a one-time, in-clinic treatment.
A dentist will also be able to conduct a more in-depth analysis of your oral health, making sure you’re not showing signs of dental diseases that would render a teeth whitening treatment unsuitable. Patients with cavities and dental restorations may not be the best candidates for such treatments either, and those with gum and teeth sensitivities may be prescribed pre-treatment protective gels to safeguard their oral health.
At a dental clinic, you can rest assured that the equipment, technology and chemicals used are of the highest standard. Should you develop an allergic reaction to the treatment, your dentist will know how to manage it too.
If you are uncertain of whether you should subject your teeth to whitening treatments, drop a query here and receive complimentary advice from Human’s extensive pool of medical professionals.
Alternatively, you can skip straight to a video consultation, which you can schedule through Human here and save yourself a trip to a physical clinic.
