How Much Does Professional Teeth Whitening Cost?

Whitening strips sit on the drugstore shelf next to the toothpaste, and a dentist's whitening quote is a bigger number. Search for teeth whitening cost and you get price ranges. A range only helps if you know what it includes, so the fair question is what the extra money actually buys.

At Westlake Dental Care, whitening costs $70 to $479 for both arches. That is our current fee as of October 2026, and the range covers both in-office and take-home whitening. Your exact fee is confirmed at your exam.

The rest of this post explains what sets the price, what a professional quote should cover, and what to ask before you pay. That way you can compare strips, trays and an office visit on equal terms.

Why does teeth whitening cost more at a dentist than in a store?

Every option runs on the same chemistry. The bleach is hydrogen peroxide, or carbamide peroxide, which the ADA notes releases about one-third of its content as hydrogen peroxide. The peroxide passes through the enamel into the dentin underneath. There it breaks stains into smaller pieces, which in the ADA's patient guide makes the color less concentrated and the tooth reads lighter.

With the chemistry shared, three other things set the price. They are the strength of the gel, how well it stays on your teeth, and whether anyone checks your mouth first.

In-office whitening

The office gel is the strongest. An ADA News summary of expert advice puts in-office gels at 15% to 43% hydrogen peroxide. A gel that strong should not sit on bare gums, so the dentist first protects your gums with a gel or a rubber shield. The ADA's patient guide says this approach usually requires only one office visit.

You are paying for chair time, for that protection, and for someone who can stop or adjust the treatment partway. Some systems add a light and present it as the reason the result is better. A 2014 review of light-activated bleaching concluded the light did not make bleaching work better or faster. So a light by itself is not a reason to pay more.

Custom take-home trays

A custom tray is made in the office to fit your teeth, which per the ADA minimizes contact of the gel with the gums. The ADA puts at-home tray gels at 10% to 38% carbamide peroxide, which works more slowly than the office gel. Your dentist tells you how long to wear the trays. The ADA says this kind of whitening can take a few days to a few weeks.

With trays, most of what you pay for is the fit, along with the dentist's choice of gel strength for your teeth.

Whitening strips

Strips run on peroxide too. The bleach in store products is lower in concentration than what your dentist would use, and that costs you time. In one study the ADA cites, a store method took 16 days to match a seven-day tray system or a one-day office visit. Our post on whether whitening strips are bad for your teeth compares how a strip and a tray sit on the teeth.

Is a stronger whitening gel worth paying more for?

Not automatically. A stronger gel works faster, which is why the office visit is quick, but faster is not the same as a better result.

Sensitivity is why this matters. The ADA's patient guide explains that it happens when peroxide gets through the enamel to the dentin and irritates the nerve. Mild to moderate sensitivity can occur in up to two-thirds of users early in bleaching, and it passes. A review the ADA cites found that lower hydrogen peroxide concentrations caused less sensitivity and more measured color change.

So a higher price for a stronger gel mostly buys speed. If you have an event next week, speed is worth something. If your teeth are sensitive and you have no deadline, a gentler gel over more days may suit you better.

What should a professional whitening quote cover?

Start with an exam before any gel goes on. The ADA describes a clinical exam before bleaching, with X-rays as needed, to find what is causing the discoloration. Whitening also acts on the tooth itself, not on the plaque or tartar sitting on top, so a cleaning may come first.

The quote should also tell you whether whitening is the right tool at all. In the ADA's patient guide, yellow teeth will probably bleach well. Brown teeth may not respond as well, and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all. Whitening also will not work on discoloration caused by medications or a tooth injury. Those stains may need a different treatment.

Why do crowns and veneers change the whitening plan?

Whitening changes natural teeth only, and in the ADA's words, restorations will not change color. A crown or veneer is ceramic or resin, with no dentin inside for the oxygen to reach. So if a front tooth already has one, whitening the teeth around it can leave that tooth a shade behind.

The order matters when a crown or veneer will need replacing anyway. We whiten first and wait about a week for the color to settle. Only then do we match the shade of the new crown or veneer, so it is made to fit the lighter teeth. Our post on whether dental crowns can be whitened explains why porcelain holds its shade.

What does a national average tell you about your whitening?

Only as much as it tells you what it includes. An office visit, a set of trays and a box of strips are three different purchases. An online figure compares with a quote only if both cover the same things. Check the exam, the number of visits, and trays as well as gel.

The same goes for our own range. Because $70 to $479 spans both in-office and take-home whitening, ask which method your quote is for.

What should you ask before you pay for whitening?

Ask these before you agree to a price, here or anywhere else:

• Is the exam included, and will I need a cleaning first?
• Which method is it, and how many visits or nights does it take?
• How strong is the gel, and can it be gentler if my teeth get sensitive?
• For trays, do I keep them, and what does more gel cost later?
• Will any crowns, veneers or fillings in my smile line end up a different shade?

Results also fade over time, because coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco stain teeth again, and how fast depends on your habits. So ask what a touch-up costs, not only the first round.

Does insurance pay for teeth whitening?

Coverage is your plan's call, so ask your insurer in writing before treatment whether whitening is covered. Westlake Dental Care files insurance, and guests who pay out of pocket are just as welcome. If you do not have insurance, ask whether our Membership Club, an in-house savings plan, changes what you pay.

Westlake Dental Care whitens both in the office and with take-home trays. Our teeth whitening page explains how the two compare.

Book an appointment or call (703) 444-5108, and ask which whitening option fits your teeth.