Tooth Whitening Demand Trails Off
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tooth whitening to our blog
Read the
tooth whitening press release
In
this survey, we asked dentists if over-the-counter bleaching products have
changed demand for in-office bleaching. Two out of three dentists said there's
less interest these days. One out of six felt there had been no change, and
another one out of six actually felt grocery store whiteners had actually
increased demand for professional tooth bleaching.
"I can't seem to give it away at 50% off!" complained a Massachusetts dentist. A Washington dentist disagreed, saying, "Over-the-counter bleaching often stimulates interest in other cosmetic treatments, especially when the patient does not get the result they want from whitening."
There's a place for over-the-counter whiteners
- "Over-the-counter methods work! :-(" (Saudi Arabia dentist)
- "OTC methods are good maintenance products for after in-office bleaching." (Illinois dentist)
- "If a patient is obviously concerned with our fee for whitening, I recommend that they try White Strips or whatever. I explain that the effectiveness of whitening depends on concentration and length of time on the teeth. I explain why our procedure is better than over-the-counter solutions. I leave it up to them to decide." (Utah dentist)
Home bleaching can actually be good for business
- "When the OTC whitening products first came out I noticed a decrease in in-office bleaching. Now the level seems to remain pretty constant. Over-the-counter bleaching often stimulates interest in other cosmetic treatments, especially when the patient does not get the result they want from whitening." (Washington dentist)
- "This is good! Bleaching was an income-neutral purchase, and patients who want whiter teeth or a prettier smile are ready for veneers. Many patients move to ceramic restorations after being disappointed with bleaching. Less wasted consults for more net income." (Illinois dentist)
Consumers like whiter teeth
- "Our in-office whitening business continues to increase, even in the face of a recession. We find people would rather come for a whitening than a cleaning. We've done specials offering free cleanings with whitening to boost interest. It's been very successful." (New York cosmetic dentist)
- "Patients who have interest in whitening talk about it, creating more interest in the procedure. Ultimately, we dentists are asked about whitening." (Texas dentist)
Demand has tanked
- "Can't seem to give it away at 50% off!" (Massachusetts dentist)
Crest White Strips... and their representatives
- "Crest White Strips are good for some people and not for others! The bottom line is that the company should never have any reps coming to dental offices to promote any future bleaching products!" (Florida dentist)
- "I have avoided Crest products in my office for several years now." (Wisconsin dentist)
- "I remember when the first wave of Crest White Strips representatives came to my office offering me an incentive for a 3 day cruise to nowhere!"
Note: Survey sample included 77 respondents.
