Teeth Whitening Costs in the UK: Guide to Professional and Home Treatments

How much does teeth whitening cost in the UK? Prices range from £20 to £1,000 – or sometimes even a little more. This article will help to guide you through the range of teeth whitening options in the UK and their associated costs, helping you determine if you can achieve the brighter smile you desire.

We will dive into the pros and cons of:

• Laser whitening at the dentist
• LED whitening
• Professional bleaching kits
• Home whitening kits
• Treatments combining in-office and at-home whitening (e.g. Enlighten)

So you can decide what's going to be right for you.

How much is teeth whitening in the UK?

In the UK, over-the-counter home teeth whitening costs start from as little as £20 and in-office professional teeth whitening costs can be up to £1,000 and more!

The price depends entirely on what kind of treatment you are exploring. But if you want to understand teeth whitening costs in the UK, you first need to know which procedures are available.

All whitening treatments can be broken down into two categories: Dentist administered teeth whitening treatments, and at home or DIY teeth whitening products.

But first, let's look at the professional teeth whitening options available.

How much does professional teeth whitening cost in the UK?

Professional teeth whitening in the UK, which includes in-office LED and laser whitening, generally ranges from around £200 to £1000.

Dentist-performed, in-office teeth whitening treatments are typically pricier compared to at-home kits and can vary based on the chosen method like laser or light-activated whitening, custom trays, or professional gels.

The most costly yet quickest option involves a one-hour session at the dentist's office where your teeth are coated with a potent bleaching gel, often with hydrogen peroxide, and exposed to a laser or LED light for accelerated whitening.

This procedure, overseen by a trained dentist, can brighten teeth by 2-8 shades in one session. To safeguard your gums, a gum shield is used during the treatment, although some sensitivity may occur due to its intensity.

How much does laser teeth whitening cost?

The cost will vary. You'll pay between £500 and £1,000 for laser teeth whitening treatment at the dentist, depending on the system used and the number of sessions required.

Take-home custom bleaching trays

This treatment is administered by a dental professional in-office, but the whitening process itself takes place at home.

The first step is to have custom trays made to precisely fit your mouth. Then, your dentist will provide you with bleaching gel, again containing peroxide, and will show you how to use it correctly and safely.

Treatment takes around two weeks, over which time you should notice a considerable difference in the colour of your teeth. You wear the trays for 2-6 hours per day, according to your dentist's instructions.

What does take-home teeth whitening cost?

Take home whitening kits for teeth whitening are less expensive than at the dentist and cost around £200 – £400 from dentists in the UK. They are a safe way for patients to get brighter, whiter teeth from home.

Combination teeth whitening treatments

If you want instantly whiter teeth and more sustained cosmetic results, you can combine these two options. Some systems require you to complete your treatment at home first, whereas others begin with the chairside whitening session.

What does Enlighten teeth whitening cost?

Enlighten is one teeth whitening brand in the UK that offers combined in-office and take-home whitening treatment. A full course of Enlighten teeth whitening costs around £400 – £750 in the UK.

Whichever professional teeth whitening option you choose, you'll need a dental consultation before you begin. Your dentist will check that you don't have any untreated cavities which might need to be filled first.

They'll also look for signs of gum disease, which might make you a poor candidate for tooth whitening.

At-home whitening kits

So, what about teeth whitening treatment that is not overseen by a dentist? Home teeth whitening kits are widely available over-the-counter in pharmacies and online. They usually contain whitening gel, a mouth tray, and sometimes an LED activating light.

Manufacturers may not use hydrogen peroxide in over-the-counter kits in the UK (at least not in a concentration strong enough to do anything). Therefore, home kits usually contain other peroxide-based ingredients, although some are completely peroxide-free.

How much are home teeth whitening kits?

If you look online, you'll find these products cost anywhere from £20 to £400 or more. We recommend choosing one which is made in the USA or Europe, where manufacturing standards are high and cosmetic products are closely regulated.

Our top pick for home teeth whitening kits is from Snow teeth whitening.

Snow professional teeth whitening systems are produced in the USA and use hydrogen and carbamide peroxide in a formula designed to be suitable for sensitive teeth.

Rather than applying the gel using mouth trays, Snow's revolutionary system lets you paint the serum directly onto your teeth. This means it uses a lot less gel and there is no risk of it squirting out and damaging your gums.

Included in the basic Snow home whitening kit is:

Snow's Teeth Whitening Kit

• A mouthpiece with built-in LED lights
• 3 whitening wands (1 wand = 21 treatments)
• 1 extra-strength whitening wand
• Teeth whitening progress tracker

Check out our full write-up of Snow for more details, or read about the wireless kit.

Other whitening products

You can also purchase teeth whitening strips, pens, and toothpaste in the UK. These function fine as stain removers, but they don't contain the same strong ingredients that you'll find in professional teeth whitening gel, and so you shouldn't expect drastic whitening results.

Summary of teeth whitening costs

So, how much does teeth whitening cost in the UK? This table summarises the prices mentioned above:

What does NHS teeth whitening cost?

Teeth whitening on the NHS is only offered in particular circumstances where it is considered a medical need. No type of cosmetic dentistry is covered by the NHS.

For example, if your tooth nerve has died and one tooth is considerably discoloured, or you have tetracycline teeth stains, you may get treatment on the NHS. In this case, treatment would be via internal bleaching. Each case is assessed individually, so speak to your dentist to find out if you might be able to get teeth whitening on the NHS.

If you are eligible for teeth whitening on the NHS, you will probably pay the Band 3 treatment fee, which varies depending on where you live in the UK. See full NHS dental fees.

Does dental insurance cover teeth whitening costs?

Most insurance policies don't cover any kind of elective cosmetic dentistry, such as professional tooth whitening. If you are being treated as an NHS patient, however, this will be covered under your normal NHS treatment policy allowances.

Some dental payment plans, arranged directly with a local dentist or a chain of clinics, offer a fixed percentage discount off all treatments including cosmetic whitening. It's probably not worth starting a payment plan for this saving alone, but it could be a bonus if you already have this kind of plan in place. Your dentist might also agree to let you pay in instalments.

Other dental financing options are available, including dental loans. However, you should carefully consider whether it's worth taking on debt for cosmetic dental work.

Teeth whitening abroad

You may have heard about the concept of dental tourism; travelling overseas to access more affordable dental care. Well, even teeth whitening abroad can be 50-70% cheaper than in the UK.

It's probably not worth flying to Turkey or Spain to save a few hundred pounds on whitening, but if you're already there on holiday or you need other treatments like veneers or implants, you may want to consider this option.

Just be careful that you choose a reputable dental clinic to minimise the risk of travelling abroad for dental work. Using a dental tourism service like Dentaly Go will help make the process smoother and remove some of the concerns you may have.

Conclusion

So, you already know about the significant variation in the cost of teeth whitening treatment in the UK and now you have a clearer understanding of what you can expect for your investment.

Ultimately, the choice of product depends on your budget, desired level of teeth whiteness, and the speed at which you want to achieve that result.

If you have never whitened your teeth before and you are concerned about sensitivity or ending up with unnaturally white teeth, you'll probably be best with specific teeth whitening for sensitive teeth.

On the other hand, if you're hoping for instantly white teeth and you want to achieve the whitest shade possible, you should head to a dental practice offering your preferred brand.

You may want to consider veneers or other cosmetic dentistry if you want to truly transform your smile.

In any case, it's best to have a dental consultation before beginning whitening treatment, since there is a greater risk of pain and sensitivity if your teeth and gums are not in good shape.

FAQs

How much does at-home teeth whitening cost?

This depends on how white you want your teeth to be. If you choose an inexpensive teeth whitening kit, you can achieve some degree of whitening for around £20.

What is the cost of teeth whitening at the dentist?

In-office teeth whitening costs £350 – £1,000, while a take-home kit prescribed by dental professionals costs from £200 – £400 on average. Both are proven ways to get whiter teeth.

What is the cheapest way to whiten teeth?

You can buy a whitening toothpaste for a few pounds. It might remove some surface stains, but it won't make too much difference to the natural colour of your teeth.

How much is teeth whitening UK?

In the UK, over-the-counter home teeth whitening costs start from as little as £20 and in-office professional teeth whitening costs can be up to £1,000 and more!