Choose in-clinic whitening ($588 before GST) if you want it done in one visit, for example before an event, or would rather not wear trays at home. Choose the take-home kit ($420 before GST) if you prefer a lower cost and do not mind daily wear at home over a couple of weeks. Both start with a dental check, and neither is Medisave or CHAS claimable.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| In-clinic whitening | Take-home kit | |
|---|---|---|
| Price at Trust Dental | $588 before GST ($640.92 with GST) | $420 before GST ($457.80 with GST) |
| Who applies the gel | Your dentist, at the clinic | You, at home, as your dentist instructs |
| Time | One visit, under 2 hours | Daily wear over a couple of weeks |
| Gel strength | Professional strength, dentist-only in Singapore | Lower strength for home use, dentist-prescribed |
| Light activation | Blue LED light, in timed rounds | None |
| Suits | An event coming up, or if you don't want to wear trays | Lower cost, whitening gradually at your own pace |
| Sensitivity | Possible, usually temporary | Possible, usually temporary; you can pause wear |
Results vary from person to person with either option. They depend on your starting shade and type of staining, so neither option can promise a set number of shades.
In-Clinic Whitening: How It Works
After a dental check, your dentist records your shade, protects your gums with a barrier, and applies a professional-strength hydrogen peroxide gel. The gel is activated with a blue LED light in timed rounds, and your dentist checks on you between rounds. The whole visit takes under 2 hours.
Good if: you have a fixed date such as a wedding, year-end party or Chinese New Year; you don't want the routine of wearing trays every day; you like having a dentist manage the whole process.
Take-Home Kit: How It Works
Your dentist checks your teeth, then provides trays custom-fitted to your teeth and a lower-strength whitening gel. You fill the trays and wear them at home as instructed, and the colour lightens gradually over the course of treatment. The trays are made just for you, and they are yours to keep for future top-ups.
Good if: you prefer a lower cost; you are comfortable with a daily routine; you like to control the pace, or pause if your teeth feel sensitive.
Not sure which to choose? Your dentist will recommend an option at your check, based on your teeth, any sensitivity, and your timeline. In-clinic whitening is $588 before GST; the take-home kit is $420 before GST.
See teeth whitening at Trust DentalCan You Combine Both?
Some patients start with in-clinic whitening and use take-home trays for occasional top-ups later. Ask your dentist whether this makes sense for you. It depends on your teeth and how quickly staining returns.
What Neither Option Can Do
- Change the colour of crowns, veneers, bonding or tooth-coloured fillings
- Fix a single tooth that has darkened after an injury or nerve damage. This needs a different approach (see discoloured tooth)
- Replace a clean. Tartar and surface stains are removed by scaling and polishing
A Note on Over-the-Counter Kits
In Singapore, products sold directly to consumers are limited to very low peroxide concentrations, and products above 6% hydrogen peroxide may only be used by a registered dentist. Over-the-counter strips and toothpastes do not involve a dental check, so problems like decay or receding gums can go unnoticed.
