Custom Whitening Trays: Everything You Need To Know

Professional teeth whitening treatments are powerful. At-home ones are convenient and affordable. But if you want the best of both worlds, you might consider custom whitening trays, which allow you to receive professional-strength whitening from the comfort of home.

Custom-crafted by your dentist, these trays are a perfect fit for your teeth and gums. And thanks to powerful whitening gel, they can brighten smiles as effectively as in-office treatments. This guide will cover everything you need to know about custom whitening trays — from design to prices, ideal candidates, and more.

How Do Custom Whitening Trays Work?

Custom whitening trays have been around for decades. They first hit the mass market in 1990, after a dentist developed special trays for his daughter that were cut around the gumline to reduce irritation.

These trays led to a teeth whitening revolution. Dentists worldwide now make custom whitening trays for their patients using his special technique, which creates a small reservoir over each tooth. This allows more gel to sit on the tooth and prevents it from spilling over the edge onto the gums. The trays’ design allows dentists to sell highly concentrated whitening gel while reducing the risk of gum irritation.

Who Should Choose Custom Whitening Trays?

If you want to whiten your teeth, but the cost of an in-office whitening session is out of your budget, custom whitening trays might be a great alternative.

They are also great for people who want to keep their smiles white after having a professional in-office whitening treatment while still indulging in coffee or red wine. The ideal candidate will have no oral health issues like cavities or gum disease, and your dentist will do a brief exam to ensure your mouth is in good shape before taking impressions to design your trays.

Just remember that teeth whitening only works on natural teeth, so if you have veneers, crowns, bridges, or bonding, they won’t get any lighter. If you need dental work, your dentist might recommend whitening your teeth first so that they can match the shade of your restorations to your new, bright smile.

Pros and Cons of Custom Whitening Trays

Like any treatment, there are pros and cons to using custom trays to whiten your teeth. Here are some key points to consider before you commit to treatment.

How Much Do Custom Whitening Trays Cost?

Custom whitening trays are an investment in yourself. Taking the time to whiten your teeth is an act of self-care, and the result of white teeth can boost your self-esteem and make you look and feel years younger. But how much will this self-care set you back?

You may be surprised at how affordable a youthful smile can be. Custom trays run between $100 and $600, making them much less expensive than in-office whitening treatments. And refill syringes — which you’ll need a few times a year — often cost $20-$50, depending on the brand and gel strength. If you don’t have a regular dentist, don’t be afraid to call around and ask how much their custom trays cost. Just remember that cheaper isn’t always better.

Does Insurance Cover It?

No, teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure and isn’t medically necessary, so it’s not considered a covered benefit.

Is Financing Available?

Many dental offices offer some form of financing, whether it’s an in-office payment plan or a third-party company like CareCredit or LendingClub. Some financing companies require a credit check, so be sure to read the fine print before you apply.

How Do I Get Custom Whitening Trays?

You can purchase custom whitening trays from your local dentist. If you don’t have one, try searching online for offices in your area. Most dentists offer teeth whitening, so finding someone shouldn’t be hard.

After a consultation (and cleaning if it’s been a while), a member of your dental team will take impressions and make plaster models of your teeth. Then, they’ll produce your plastic whitening trays by placing those models on a vacuum mold former, which sucks the whitening tray material down around the plaster molds, replicating every crevice of your teeth.

Once your new whitening trays have cooled, the dentist trims along the gumline, heats them, and presses them against your plaster molds to ensure a tight fit, which helps prevent any whitening gel from oozing out of the tray and sitting on your gums. This short video shows the process from start to finish.

When you get your new trays, your dentist will have you try them on to make sure they feel comfortable. You’ll get a few syringes of whitening gel, a case, and instructions on how to use them.

What To Expect When Using Custom Whitening Trays

Once you’re ready to whiten your teeth, follow the instructions carefully to reduce any sensitivity and ensure an effective whitening session.

Take each tray and place a very small amount of whitening gel onto each tooth. You need a lot less than you think because the trays fit so tightly, and in this case, more gel doesn’t mean whiter teeth. Putting too much gel in your tray will make it ooze over the top and can irritate your delicate gum tissue.

How Long Does Whitening Take?

Whitening gels come in different concentrations, from 10% up to 35%, and you should follow the instructions carefully to see how long you need to leave your trays in.

Depending on the gel, you might wear your trays for an hour, or you might be able to wear them overnight. If you find that your teeth are sensitive after even a brief whitening session, give your dentist a call.

Once you have finished each whitening session, rinse your mouth out with water — try room temperature to avoid sensitivity — and brush your teeth with water. Whitening opens microscopic pores in your teeth, which makes them more susceptible to staining immediately after a whitening session. Eating or drinking during this time can cause your teeth to stain faster, so avoid food and any drinks except water for at least an hour (preferably longer) after you whiten your teeth.

Side Effects

All dental procedures have some side effects, and whitening is no different. The most common are tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Fortunately, they’re both pretty easy to remedy. You can shorten the length of your sessions until you find a time that works for you. You can also call your dentist’s office and see if they carry a gentler, whitening gel or one made from PAP (phthalimido peroxy caproic acid), which doesn’t contain peroxide or cause sensitivity.

Another common side effect is that some patients develop white spots on their teeth. This is just tooth dehydration, and it usually goes away within a couple of hours.

How Long Does It Take to See Results?

Full results take about two weeks, but you could notice lighter teeth in just a few days with daily whitening sessions.

You can speed up results by using an LED lamp made for teeth whitening. This light boosts the gel’s whitening power by causing a chemical reaction that helps the gel penetrate deeper into the enamel, removing more stains per session. Check with your dentist to see if an LED lamp can help enhance your whitening experience.

How Long Will My Results Last?

The longevity of your results depends largely on your lifestyle. Do you indulge in a lot of staining foods and drinks, like tomato sauce, coffee, berries, or wine? Do you smoke? Do you brush and floss infrequently? If so, you may need to touch up your smile more often to maintain your bright smile.

How Do I Maintain My Results?

You may notice your teeth looking dull after a few weeks, or you might still be happy with your results months later. Fortunately, custom trays allow you to touch up anytime, anywhere, and you can reuse them once a week or once a month to maintain your sparkling smile.

Popping your trays in for a quick 20-30-minute whitening session every week or two will help your teeth stay bright without allowing too much stain to build up between touch-ups.

Final Thoughts

Custom whitening trays are truly the best of both teeth-whitening worlds. They’re as effective as professional whitening, even if results take a little longer, yet as convenient for on-the-go whitening as over-the-counter products.  Plus, a dentist oversees the process, and if you have questions, you can reach out to them.

In our modern, stressful world, treating yourself to custom whitening trays to boost your self-confidence could be just what the doctor ordered. And custom whitening trays are one of your most reliable options.