Teeth Whitening Cost in Kennington: A Straight Answer
Dr Nader Gavgani, GDC 75484Published 6 min read
How much does teeth whitening actually cost?
At Pure Elegant Smile, a ZOOM home whitening kit with custom-made trays is £395, and top-up syringes are £30 each once you have the trays. In-practice laser whitening is priced individually at your consultation.
That £395 covers more than a tube of gel: impressions of your teeth, trays made to fit only your mouth, professional-strength gel dispensed under a dentist's supervision, and a check that whitening is actually safe for your teeth before you start.
Home kit vs in-practice laser
A home kit lightens teeth gradually over one to two weeks, worn for a set time each day in your own trays. In-practice laser whitening gives a more noticeable change in a single visit. Both use the same category of professional-strength gel — the difference is speed and where you do it, not effectiveness.
The gel that changes the colour of a tooth is only available through a dentist. Everything else sold for whitening either polishes stain off the surface or does very little at all.
Professional whitening vs salons and home-brand kits
Search results are full of cheaper options. Here's what the price difference is actually buying — or not buying.
| Dentist-supervised whitening | Beauty salon whitening | Shop-bought whitening strips | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal in the UK? | Yes | No — only a registered dental professional may whiten teeth | Yes, but strength is capped well below professional gel |
| Checked for decay/gum disease first? | Yes, as part of the assessment | No | No |
| Changes the tooth's actual colour? | Yes | Not legally allowed to | Marginally, if at all |
| Trays custom-fitted to your teeth? | Yes | No — a generic tray, if any | No |
| Typical cost | £395 (home kit) plus £30 per top-up | Sold cheaper, but is an illegal service | £20–£50, repeated often for limited effect |
Tooth whitening is legally a dental procedure in the UK, carried out only by a registered dental professional. A salon offering it is breaking the law, and nobody there has checked your mouth first.
What makes a whitened smile last
A professional whitening result typically lasts a year or two, and how long depends far more on your habits afterwards than on the treatment itself.
- Coffee, tea, red wine and smoking are the main causes of new staining building back up.
- You keep your custom trays, so topping up later costs £30 a syringe rather than a full course again.
- Crowns, veneers and white fillings don't whiten — porcelain and composite don't change colour, so existing dental work will look darker by comparison after you whiten your natural teeth.
- Whiten before bonding or veneers, never after — any new work is matched to the shade you have on the day it's made.
Related reading
- Composite bonding vs porcelain veneers — if whitening alone isn't going to get you the smile you want.
- The Ultimate Guide to a Pure, Elegant Smile — the full range of cosmetic options in one place.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth whitening before a wedding or big event?
Plan for at least two to three weeks beforehand if you're doing a home kit, since the change happens gradually. In-practice laser whitening works to a tighter timeline if you're closer to the date — say so when you book.
Can I combine whitening with bonding or veneers?
Yes, and in that order: whitening first, then bonding or veneers matched to the new, lighter shade. Doing it the other way round leaves the new work looking darker than your whitened teeth.
Why do I keep the trays after a home kit?
So a top-up is just a £30 syringe of gel rather than a new course of trays. Most people top up once or twice a year, whenever staining starts creeping back.
Ready to find out what whitening would cost for you?
Reviewed by Dr Nader Gavgani, GDC 75484