Teeth whitening has helped millions of people reclaim their smiles and confidence. But when you are using aligners and retainers, you have limited options. Not all whitening treatments are safe to use while wearing Invisalign, and you don’t want to risk harming that investment.
One solution: Invisalign Professional Whitening. Not only can you use it simultaneously with clear aligner treatment (or Vivera retainers), the system uses your aligners or retainers as your whitening trays. And it delivers results in a single session. But is it the right system for you? We have the details you need to decide!
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Invisalign Professional Whitening at a Glance
Invisalign is one of the biggest names in the world of smile science, aligning teeth since 1997 and making braces alternatives mainstream. So it comes as no surprise that they are in tune with what people want in their oral healthcare, including whitening treatments. They’ve offered a few options over the years, all at-home treatments you can purchase online. More recently, they’ve pivoted to professional whitening.
First announced in September 2021, Invisalign Professional Whitening launched in February of 2022. It’s powered by Opalescence, one of the biggest names in professional teeth whitening. Its gel is a variation of the Opalescence Boost formula (trading hydrogen peroxide for carbamide peroxide) and it uses your own Invisalign aligners or Vivera retainers as customized whitening trays.
While dentists and orthodontists have been offering professional whitening with Invisalign treatment since their aligners launched, Invisalign Professional Whitening is the only system approved for use with their aligners and retainers. Any doctor who offers Invisalign can also use their whitening treatment but not every provider offers it yet. If it interests you, ask your dentist or orthodontist if they can order the kit.
Pros and Cons of Invisalign Professional Whitening
Invisalign Professional Whitening is a pretty new system, and as a result, we don’t know all the ins and outs just yet. However, based on our research, these are the biggest benefits and drawbacks.
Pros of Invisalign Professional Whitening
- Speed: Most professional whitening treatments require some prep work and time in the chair — usually at least an hour and sometimes over two. Invisalign Professional Whitening takes just 30 minutes.
- Made for Aligners: Not all whitening treatments are safe to use with clear aligners. However, Invisalign Professional Whitening is specifically formulated to be safe with both aligners and retainers.
- Minimal Sensitivity: There are several factors that reduce the sensitivity you might experience with Invisalign Professional Whitening. First, the aligners or retainers help keep the gel off the gums. Second, carbamide peroxide is gentler than hydrogen peroxide. Finally, potassium nitrate and fluoride strengthen the enamel to protect the tubules where sensitivity develops.
Cons of Invisalign Professional Whitening
- Requires Invisalign Products: To use the system, you need to have either Invisalign aligners or their Vivera retainers. If you don’t, you need to purchase them.
- Powered by Boost but Not as Powerful: One of Invisalign Professional Whitening’s most prominent selling points is that it is powered by Opalescence Boost — a popular and highly regarded whitening product. The problem is that the formula is weaker, making it less effective.
Is Invisalign Professional Whitening Worth It?
If you want an efficient, powerful whitening treatment designed to pair perfectly with Invisalign’s clear aligners, the company’s professional whitening lets you brighten and straighten all at once.
Effectiveness
Before you spend hundreds of dollars on a professional whitening treatment, you want to know that it’s effective. While there isn’t a lot of information on Invisalign Professional Whitening just yet, we know plenty about the Opalescence formula behind it.
Invisalign Professional Whitening uses a modified Opalescence Boost formula.
The traditional Opalescence Boost formula has a 40% concentration of hydrogen peroxide while Invisalign Professional Whitening has a 45% concentration of carbamide peroxide. The bigger number might make you think that means more power, but hydrogen peroxide is more potent.
This means your Invisalign Whitening results might not reach those you’d get with Opalescence Boost’s standard formula. However, it makes it safer to use the gel with aligners and retainers. It’s up to you to decide if that trade-off is worth it.
While you’ll see results in one session, full results can take time.
According to Invisalign, it can take up to three 30-minute sessions to achieve maximum whitening. Providers offering Invisalign Professional Whitening report that results typically last around twelve months, but Invisalign suggests getting touch ups once a year to maintain your new smile.
Affordability
While effectiveness is essential for any whitening system, for most of us, cost is pretty important, too. Some professional whitening treatments cost thousands of dollars, and Invisalign’s whitening prices depend primarily on your dentist or orthodontist’s rates.
Invisalign doesn’t give a price range for their whitening treatment and there aren’t a lot of doctors advertising it yet.
As a result, we aren’t sure what you should anticipate paying for your Invisalign whitening. Looking at Opalescence Boost might give you a starting point; their treatments usually fall into the $400–$800 range. It’s likely that, since it uses their gel, Invisalign Professional Whitening will have a similar price, but there’s no guarantee.
On top of that, Opalescence Boost’s traditional formula is more powerful and requires longer sessions, so you only need one treatment to get started and one touch-up per year. Invisalign Professional Whitening requires three sessions to start plus the annual touch up. Depending on how your provider structures their pricing, more sessions could equal more money.
If you don’t already use Invisalign aligners or Vivera retainers, expect your costs to increase.
One of Invisalign Professional Whitening’s requirements is that you need to have either their aligners or retainers. If you don’t, you’ll need to purchase Vivera retainers. This might not sound too bad at first — retainers are often just a few hundred dollars — but Vivera retainers are usually sold in sets of four, so they can be a steep initial investment. A set of four Vivera retainers can cost between $400–$1,600. Basically, you’re likely to end up paying more for the retainers than for the whitening itself.
Quality of Ingredients
Whitening treatments are only as good as the ingredients that power them. Like most other professional systems, Invisalign Professional Whitening doesn’t disclose all the ingredients in their formula. However, they are clear on the active ingredient and the PF aspect of Boost’s formula.
Invisalign Professional Whitening’s active ingredient is carbamide peroxide, and the gel has a 45% concentration.
Hydrogen peroxide is more common, especially in professional whitening treatments. However, carbamide peroxide is also an effective whitening agent — it just works a little differently than hydrogen peroxide and is about one third the strength.
Brand | Peroxide concentration |
---|---|
Invisalign | 45% carbamide peroxide (the equivalent of 15% hydrogen peroxide) |
Opalescence Boost | 40% hydrogen peroxide |
KӧR | 34% hydremide peroxide, 16% carbamide peroxide |
Philips Zoom | 25% hydrogen peroxide |
Carbamide peroxide is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and urea. Like hydrogen peroxide, it oxidizes stains, but takes a little longer. Hydrogen peroxide releases its oxidizing power the most within 30–60 minutes of application, while carbamide peroxide steadily releases over the first two hours, then continues at a slower rate over the next six.
That’s why overnight whitening products and professional treatments that take longer than two hours use it more often. Invisalign Professional Whitening sessions only take 30 minutes, though your doctor could ask that you keep the whitening solution on your teeth even after leaving the office.
However, this isn’t far off from at-home treatments that also use carbamide peroxide — those kits are typically around 22%–35%. And when you compare prices, they are significantly cheaper than professional options. So unless you are in active treatment and worried about using a whitening product that is safe for your aligners, you might be better off looking at alternatives.
In addition to the active ingredient, Invisalign Professional Whitening also includes potassium nitrate and fluoride.
Both these ingredients strengthen the enamel and reduce tooth sensitivity. Essentially, they make it harder for the peroxide to enter the tubules inside the teeth, which is what causes pain after whitening.
Convenience
Professional whitening always affects your schedule. From the commute to the prep to the actual treatment, most systems will require a few hours of your time per session. But office visits are just one aspect of convenience, and Invisalign has developed a fairly streamlined whitening experience.
Invisalign Professional Whitening is one of the most time-conscious whitening treatments available.
Most professional systems need at least an hour per session. Invisalign Professional Whitening takes just 30 minutes. It doesn’t require gingival isolation since the aligners or retainers keep the gel on your teeth and away from your gums, so the prep work is minimal. And if your doctor feels like the gel should stay on longer, they can just send you home with instructions on how and when to wash it off.
But while your session times are shorter, it can take up to three to achieve maximum results. Some other professional treatments require just one. Basically, you could end up spending the same amount of time — or more — in the chair if you need all three sessions.
Invisalign Professional Whitening offers at-home kit as well.
You can use these kits for touch-ups or as an alternative to chairside treatment. Its peroxide concentration is lower, but you’ll wear it for 8–10 hours, giving it more time to work its magic. If you feel more comfortable whitening at home, just make an appointment to purchase this kit from your dentist.
You might struggle to find a provider offering Invisalign Professional Whitening.
Because it is so new, a lot of dentists and orthodontists aren’t advertising it — some may not even know it’s an option yet. Some Invisalign doctors will order kits at the request of their patients. If yours isn’t open to starting with a new whitening system, you can fill out a contact form on Invisalign’s website and they will find a provider for you.
Comfort
Professional teeth whitening is kind of awkward. Gel on your teeth can feel a little weird, but in-office treatments kick it up a notch since you get an audience. But if you are already used to wearing aligners or retainers, you likely won’t have much of an issue with Invisalign Professional Whitening.
Sensitivity is a major issue with tooth whitening, but the gel is formulated to prevent it.
Opalescence Boost contains potassium nitrate and fluoride. Both help reinforce the enamel and prevent peroxide from reaching the more sensitive areas of your teeth. While you could still potentially experience some sensitivity or zingers, it is less likely than with many other formulas.
Invisalign Professional Whitening only requires the gel and your aligners or retainers.
The treatment doesn’t use light, so you don’t need eye protection. And since the aligners or retainers prevent the gel from moving around, you don’t need a bite opener to keep your lips and cheeks off your teeth. You can keep your mouth closed the entire time, so chapped lips aren’t an issue either.
Is Invisalign Professional Whitening Right for You?
Since it’s designed specifically for use with Invisalign treatment, it’s a seamlessly integrated option for anyone using their clear aligners or Vivera retainers — one that can deliver impressive results with minimal dental sensitivity.
But if you don’t have Invisalign, or you just want to explore other treatments, you’ve got plenty of options. You can find some of our top in-office and remote recommendations below and explore at-home alternatives in our guide to the best at-home whitening options.
Best Alternatives to Invisalign Professional Whitening
If you aren’t sold on Invisalign Professional Whitening, don’t worry! There are many in-office and at-home alternatives to consider. Here are a few of our top choices.
KöR
Many people used to think that deep, dark stains were untreatable. Then, KöR hit the scene. It’s a hybrid treatment, combining in-office sessions with 2–8 weeks of at-home whitening. While it is time intensive, it can address even the hardest-to-treat stains. The downside? Its average cost of $1,250.
Interested in KöR? Read our KöR review to learn more.
Opalescence Boost
If you are considering Invisalign Professional Whitening, you should also look into the product that powers it: Opalescence Boost. While the formula is different, it actually is more effective. Their results aren’t as profound as KöR’s, but their formula is among the most powerful on the market.
Learn more about Opalescence Boost in our in-depth review.
Philips Zoom
Zoom is the top-requested professional whitening treatment, because it’s widely available, effective, and affordable. Sessions are just 45 minutes — so not much longer than Invisalign Professional Whitening — and Zoom claims you can see an 8 shade difference in a single session.
Interested in Philips Zoom? Read our Philips Zoom review to learn more.
GLO Brilliant
GLO Brilliant is one of our favorite home whitening kits. Although home options can’t deliver results as dramatic as in-office treatments, GLO’s comparably affordable price tag makes it a compelling alternative. Their kit uses an LED mouthpiece that combines light and heat — resulting in a faster and deeper whitening than many at-home kits can deliver.
Visit our GLO Brilliant review to learn more.
Final Thoughts
Invisalign Professional Whitening is a solid treatment option for those who already use their aligners or retainers. While you should expect to pay hundreds of dollars for the system, it is powered by Opalescence Boost — one of the best treatments on the market. Sessions take just 30 minutes and the formula helps prevent sensitivity. All in all, that makes for a great experience.
But it isn’t the perfect treatment for everyone. If you aren’t sure it’s right for you, there are plenty of other in-office and at-home treatments to consider. Once you find the perfect one for you, you’ll be smiling brightly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my teeth stained?
Teeth can become stained for a variety of reasons. While many people assume it’s because of poor oral hygiene, in many cases, it’s actually from age, medications, and things like coffee and smoking — even if you brush and floss multiple times per day.
Who should use teeth whitening?
While a white smile is not a requirement, many people prefer it. However, not everyone is a good candidate. You need to have good oral health — no active tooth decay or gum disease — and not intend to whiten any cosmetic dentistry, since teeth bleaching products don’t work on veneers, dental bonding, etc.
What are the benefits of getting my teeth whitened in-office?
The two primary benefits are speed and oversight. At-home whitening takes at least a week to achieve maximum results while in-office treatments can often accomplish it in a single visit. Oversight ensures that everything goes according to plan and also lets your dentist catch any oral health issues that could make whitening dangerous.
How do whitening systems change the color of the teeth?
They open the pores of the enamel and oxidize the stains within, breaking them up into smaller particles and lifting them out.
What’s the difference between bleaching, stain lifting, and whitening?
Bleaching, stain lifting, and whitening are terms many people use interchangeably when talking about brightening smiles. However, there are some differences. Stain lifting is exactly what it sounds like: lifting stains out of the teeth. It happens as part of both whitening and bleaching. Whitening is the process of returning teeth to their natural color and bleaching is getting the color of the teeth whiter than they once were.
How do dentists protect the gums during treatment?
It depends on the treatment you choose. Some don’t require any gum protection — either because of the formula or because they use whitening trays, aligners, or retainers. In other cases, the dentist places a gum barrier on the teeth and hardens it with a light to prevent any contact with the gingiva.
Can I whiten a dark/dead front tooth?
You can’t correct discoloration from a dead tooth. Your only option is to remove the tooth and replace it with a partial denture or implant.
Should I get a dental cleaning before or after teeth whitening?
Before. This is part of what makes in-office whitening convenient. Rather than going to the dentist and then whitening at home, you handle everything at the same time.
Are there things I can do to make my smile stay whiter for longer?
Yes. Keep up with your six-month visits to the dentist for a deep cleaning, brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss at least once, and limit staining beverages like coffee and red wine.
How long does Invisalign Professional Whitening take?
Invisalign Professional Whitening takes about thirty minutes from start to finish. Thanks to the whitening trays (your Invisalign aligners or Vivera retainers), this treatment requires less setup and cleanup than most of its professional whitening competitors.
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