Teeth Whitening at the Spa

[MaryJ]

My DD is interested in getting her teeth whitened. The cost at the spa is actually less than what our dentist charges, but I want to know what you actually get for the money. Is it just basically the same as an at-home kit with a jacked up price, or is it comparable to what you might get from a dentist? Has anyone out there looked into this at all? Any information would be appreciated!

 

[MouseGrandma]

I was wondering about that, too. It is half the price (and takes half the time) as the dentist. Is it the same type treatment as the dentist?

 

[3Down1Up]

DH looked into this on our cruise. The product they use was GoSmile, which is what some dentists use, and it was $200 for 45 minutes. He did some quick research, and in his unprofessional opinion, it seemed like there were better products out there, so he opted against it. Just one person's opinion!

 

[Tooth Fairy]

I am a dental hygienist and most independent product reviews rate Crest Whitestrips at the top. Of course, you have to follow the directions strictly.
It is considerably less expensive and a great way to avoid spending money you don't need too. Again I stress that patient compliance and patience are a BIG part of the success rate. It is a commitment of time to get the light shade most people desire. That in part is why in office procedures "work". Instant results for the impatient.

 

[CraftyMouse]

There have been several reports from DISers who have had this procedure. They are almost unanimous in saying that it isn't worth it. Most have reported seeing virtually no difference in the color of their teeth after the procedure and some reported uneven whitening (white spots here and there on the teeth). Some were told that it can take several days to see the results but, of course, they were off the ship by then.

Personally, I'd save the money and get White Strips. Either that or go all out and have the dentist do it. At least at the dentist you'll be able to go back and discuss any unsatisfactory results.

 

[dahuffy]

I'll be getting my White Strips very soon. I like to use them a couple weeks weeks before a cruise,as my teeth can feel a bit sensitive for a few days after I've used them.

 

[codenamejack]

..

 

[2disneycruzrs]

I agree with Jack above. I wasted the money on ship and also left my teeth sensitive with little to no improvement. They tried to really do the sales pitch with the liquid you were supposed to apply daily following the treatment. One of my co-workers gave me an extra bottle he had and still didn't make a difference. My dentist used to do a special procedure but now highly recommends the Crest Whitestrips instead.

Just remember no matter which way you go, if you're going to drink dark beverages i.e. soda, tea, coffee, you're still going to have do the whitening on a semi-regular basis to counter the staining.

 

[mostyn17]

we cruised in Feb. and they had a rep from go smile on there training the CM on a new system I had it done, and it whiten my teeth to off the chart! It was painless and didn't make my teeth sensitive at all. Hope this helps.

 

[m4travel]

We had this done on a Princess cruise - what a waste!

 

[ols386]

One thing to keep in mind if you've never had the teeth whitening process done before, is that some people have much more sensitivity to this type of process than others might. It could end up being quite painful. If I were going to have the process done, I would either do it well before the cruise, or after the cruise.

 

[outlander]

It should be noted that GoSmile is chemically different than most whitening systems. It is specifically designed to whiten without causing painful sensitivity.
As someone with extremely sensitive teeth, I can tell you that I found GoSmile to not be painful in the least. It did irritate my gums but I used it at home and I may have just been too aggressive at the gumline.
That said, because it is different (peroxide based) some people may not see the optic whiteness of other systems. This is more of a gradual, natural whitening.
I think GoSmile is a great product and it is the only way that I can even think about whitening my teeth.
However, if you are not prone to sensitivity or are looking for bright, optic white teeth, I would use Crest Whitestrips.
Either way, I'm not sure I would have it done onboard. Not because of the pain issue as others have mentioned (there is none) but because you can buy the whole GoSmile system for around $80 and have it done at home. Of course if you want to spend the extra $$ to have the spa experience with it (whatever that is!) then.....go for it!!

 

[LeCras]

We both had this done on our last cruise. We had great results and no unpleasant side effects.

Guess the results are different for everyone.

Charlotte