Take-home teeth whitening at Lambton Dental
Take-home whitening uses custom trays made from an impression of your teeth, worn at home with a professional-strength gel over a series of days or weeks. The team at Lambton Dental in West Toronto reviews the plan, fits the trays and checks in on your progress.
What take-home whitening is
Take-home whitening is a gradual bleaching treatment that uses thin, flexible trays fitted to the shape of your own teeth. You wear the trays at home with a measured amount of professional-strength gel for a set period each day, over a series of days or weeks, and the shade of your teeth lifts gradually.
Unlike over-the-counter strips or one-size trays, custom trays sit closely against the teeth so the gel stays in contact with enamel and off the gums. The dentist chooses a gel strength and wear time that suits your teeth and sensitivity level, and adjusts the plan at the follow-up if needed. Whitening only affects natural enamel; existing crowns, veneers, bonding and fillings do not lighten, so we review those with you first.
When take-home whitening is the right choice
Take-home whitening may be a good option when:
- You prefer a gradual lift you can control from home rather than a single in-office session.
- You have some tooth sensitivity and would benefit from a lower-concentration gel worn for shorter periods.
- You want a set of trays you can keep for occasional short top-ups between professional cleanings.
- You are combining whitening with other treatment, such as a smile makeover, and want the natural teeth at their final shade before restorations are placed.
If you have very heavy staining, front-tooth restorations that will not lighten, or an event on a short timeline, we may recommend in-office whitening, a combination approach, or a longer-term option such as porcelain veneers. The dentist will explain the trade-offs before you decide.
What to expect with take-home whitening
Exam and shade review
The dentist examines your teeth, gums and any existing restorations, records your starting shade in good light and confirms in writing that take-home whitening is suitable.
Impressions and tray fabrication
Impressions of your upper and lower teeth are taken so a dental laboratory can make custom trays that fit closely against your enamel; this usually takes about a week.
Fitting appointment
You come back to try in the trays, check the fit and go over how to place a measured amount of gel, how long to wear the trays and how to care for them.
Home wear phase
You wear the trays at home for the schedule the dentist recommends — commonly 30 to 60 minutes a day, or overnight for some kits — over a period of one to several weeks.
Progress check
A short review visit lets us compare shade against the starting guide, adjust the gel or wear time if needed and decide whether extra gel is worthwhile.
Nitrous oxide, oral sedation and IV sedation are available for anxious patients who need dental work alongside whitening; the dentist reviews your health history first. See our sedation options page for more.
Looking after your trays and your smile
Mild tooth or gum sensitivity during a whitening series is common and usually settles by skipping a day or reducing wear time; a sensitivity toothpaste can also help. The dentist reviews any sensitivity at the check-in visit and adjusts the plan if needed.
Trays should be rinsed and gently brushed after each use, dried and stored in the case we provide. Kept properly, trays typically last a few years, so most patients use them again for short top-ups between cleanings. Avoiding strongly staining foods and drinks — coffee, tea, red wine, curry, berries, tobacco — during the whitening series helps the result take, and rinsing with water after those foods and drinks between series helps it last. Regular professional cleanings keep the polish and the shade looking fresh.
Cost, insurance, and CDCP / IFHP coverage
The cost of take-home whitening depends on whether custom trays are being made for the first time, how much gel is included in the kit and whether a top-up supply is added later. We provide a written estimate before impressions are taken, so the total is clear from the start.
Take-home whitening is generally considered a cosmetic service, so most private insurance plans, the Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP) and the Interim Federal Health Program (IFHP) do not cover it. Where a related service is included (for example, a cleaning done at the same visit), we direct-bill the eligible portion. Our payment options page explains billing openly for anyone paying out of pocket.
For anyone combining take-home whitening with other treatment (for example, cosmetic bonding or a smile makeover), we lay out the whitening step separately in the written plan so it can be paused or skipped without affecting the rest.
For larger treatment plans, monthly payment plans through a third-party financing partner are available on approved credit — ask at your consultation or see our payment options.
Why patients choose Lambton Dental for take-home whitening
- Trays are custom-made from impressions taken at the practice so gel stays on enamel and off the gums.
- The dentist chooses a gel strength and wear schedule that suits your teeth and sensitivity level, and adjusts at the follow-up if needed.
- Written quotes are provided before impressions are taken, with top-up gel priced openly.
- We direct-bill CDCP, IFHP and major insurance carriers wherever your plan allows, even when whitening itself is not covered.
- Evening and weekend appointments make it easier to book impressions and the fitting visit around your work schedule.
- Our team serves patients in English, French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Ukrainian, Mandarin and Cantonese.
Related services
Frequently asked questions about take-home whitening
How long does a take-home whitening series take?
Most patients see a noticeable change over one to three weeks of daily wear. The exact length depends on the gel strength, your starting shade and how well the trays fit against your enamel. If your starting shade is naturally darker or if you have some existing staining from coffee or tea, the series may take a little longer, and we adjust the plan at the follow-up visit if needed.
How often should I wear the trays each day?
The dentist writes a schedule for you at the fitting visit — commonly 30 to 60 minutes a day, or overnight for some lower-strength kits. We start conservatively and adjust based on your comfort at the check-in visit. We start conservatively so any sensitivity is caught early, and the schedule can always be stretched or shortened at the check-in visit once we see how your teeth respond.
Are custom trays better than boil-and-bite or strips?
Custom trays are made from an impression of your teeth so they sit closely against enamel, which keeps gel in contact with the teeth and off the gums. This usually gives a more even result with less gum irritation than one-size-fits-all trays or strips.
Can I whiten only my top or bottom teeth?
Yes. Some patients whiten only the arch that shows most when smiling, or start with the upper teeth and add the lower arch later. We discuss what would look natural given your smile line. We plan around your final shade goal so upper and lower arches match at the end, and we can always add the second arch later if you decide to.
Will the result last, and can I use my trays again later?
The result typically lasts many months to a couple of years depending on habits such as coffee, tea, red wine and tobacco. Trays kept properly usually last a few years, so most patients use them again for short top-up sessions between cleanings. We top up your gel supply as needed and check the fit of the trays at each recall visit so short refresher series remain straightforward.
Book a whitening consultation
Book online or call (416) 666-3700 to arrange a short whitening assessment. The dentist will examine your teeth, review any restorations and provide a written estimate before impressions are taken.
CDCP welcome
We welcome patients covered under the Canadian Dental Care Plan and can help you understand what's covered.
Learn about CDCP →IFHP welcome
We are registered to treat patients under the Interim Federal Health Program and bill Medavie Blue Cross directly.
Learn about IFHP →Direct billing
We bill all major Canadian dental insurance carriers directly, so you pay only what your plan does not cover.
How direct billing works →