There are three main variants. With in-office bleaching a highly concentrated gel is applied in the practice, sometimes activated with light – the result is immediately visible. With home bleaching you apply a weaker gel yourself into a custom-made tray over one to two weeks. The two methods are often combined. Drugstore and strip products usually contain much weaker agents and work more slowly.
The in-practice procedure: first the teeth are cleaned (ideally with a dental hygiene session) and the starting shade is recorded. The gums are covered with a protective barrier, then the gel is applied in two or three cycles. A session takes around 60 to 90 minutes. With home bleaching you wear the tray at night or for a few hours a day, depending on the product.
Bleaching is suitable for healthy teeth without untreated decay and with intact gums. A check-up and cleaning should be done beforehand. Caution is advised during pregnancy and breastfeeding and with exposed tooth necks. Important to know: crowns, fillings and veneers do not lighten and may need to be adjusted afterwards. Temporary tooth sensitivity is common but subsides after one or two days.
As a guide (no guarantee), in-office bleaching in Switzerland costs roughly CHF 400 to 800, and a take-home bleaching set from the practice around CHF 300 to 500. As bleaching is purely cosmetic, it is not covered by health insurance.
The result lasts around one to three years depending on lifestyle. Anyone who drinks a lot of coffee, tea or red wine or smokes will discolour again more quickly – occasional touch-ups with the tray extend the effect.