What Are Custom-Fit Teeth Whitening Trays? (2024)

A custom-fit teeth whitening tray is specially designed to perfectly fit your mouth, providing the safest and most effective home teeth whitening results.

Creating custom-fit whitening trays is a two-step process. Firstly, an impression (or imprint) of your mouth is made to ensure the tray fits well and protects your gums. Next, a mould of your top and bottom teeth is required to create an exact replica of your teeth and gums. Your dentist usually completes this for you or if you can’t make it to an appointment, you can take your own impressions in the comfort of your own home by using our custom-fit tray service. We offer one of Australia’s most comprehensive ranges of custom teeth whitening trays.

A dental model is created from your impressions (usually plaster). These dental models are then used to create your perfectly fitting custom-made whitening trays. The creation of your dental models and custom-fit trays are completed in a dental lab using special tools and equipment.

Custom-fit whitening trays are made from a thin, flexible plastic that holds the teeth whitening gel perfectly against your teeth and limits gel leakage onto your gums. They are more flexible than orthodontic retainers and aligners as they are designed to hold the gel in prefect position against your teeth.

Dental practitioners believe custom-fit whitening trays are the gold standard in providing the safest and most effective home teeth whitening treatments. They can be use with any teeth whitening gel, and although custom whitening trays initially cost more than over-the-counter alternatives, they are typically a one-time purchase that will last you for many years.

Snug Fit

Custom whitening trays are different from other trays; they are created to fit your mouth perfectly. This can only be achieved by using a direct replica of your teeth and gums in the form of an imprint or dental impression. Although many whitening trays are available, custom-fit whitening trays are the only tray that can provide this level of fit and customisation.

All in all, the fit of any tray used for whitening should be snug and tight and not loose around the teeth or gums. The tray should stay on your teeth without assistance or needing to hold it with your fingers or through biting. A great fitting whitening tray should clearly show the shape of your teeth and gums.

Most over the counter trays (trays that can be purchased online or through chemists, supermarkets etc) are often bulky, hard to shape to your teeth (if at all) and can be uncomfortable to wear. In addition, these trays cannot provide the tight, snug fit a custom whitening tray does.

For trays which require warming and shaping to your mouth, it’s easy to make a mistake during this process, this can result in whitening gel leaking out of these trays and into your mouth during treatments. Depending on the whitening gel used this can lead to gum irritation, tooth sensitivity, mouth ulcers or chemical burns.

Best Results

When choosing and buying tooth whitening trays you want to ensure it provides the best possible results. There are variety of factors that affect how well your teeth whiten.

From a whitening tray point of view, ultimately, the fit of the tray and the whitening gel used will determine how well your teeth whiten. You can read more about selecting the correct type of whitening gel.

A well-fitted teeth whitening tray is essential as it determines how well the gel sits in place and against the teeth. An appropriately fitting tray will hold the whitening gel close to the tooth surface and allow it to cover the entire surface without unnecessarily leaking onto the gums. In turn, this ultimately provides the best whitening results as the gel remains evenly in contact with the whole tooth surface and for the correct amount of time. This also assists in conserving whitening gel, prevents leakage into your mouth and reduces the likelihood of gum irritation.

Better Value For Money

Custom-fit trays tend to cost more initially than other trays. This is mainly due to the two-step process involved in fabricating them. As this process is precise and intricate, it takes time. Although the upfront cost is usually higher, this is a once-off investment, and your trays often last many years.

Although over the counter trays are usually cheaper, they typically do not last anywhere near as long, meaning you will be regularly purchasing a new tray and needing to shape/fit these to your teeth with each new set – this can stack up in the long run.

Custom-fit trays also allow you to better control the usage of whitening gel i.e placing the gel precisely on each tooth and only about 1-2 drops of gel per tooth is required. In the long run, you won’t need to purchase whitening refills as regularly. In comparison, for a full upper and lower whitening treatment, custom-fit whitening trays use about 1/5 or 1/6 of a tooth whitening gel syringe when compared to an over-the-counter tray which would require 1/3 to ½ a syringe to complete the same treatment. Again, in the long run, this stacks up, mainly if you are a regular teeth whitener.

Better Safety

Safety is crucial and often overlooked with teeth whitening. Teeth whitening gel is designed to be used on your teeth and your teeth alone. The risks are relatively small if you ingest whitening gel or if it comes in contact with your gums. However, frequent ingestion or leakage onto your gums or soft tissues can cause significant irritation issues to your gums, mouth, and digestive system.

To best limit this risk, you should only use tight, snug-fitting custom-fit whitening trays. This applies no matter what whitening gel is used and is particularly important when using stronger whitening gels, usually dispensed only by a dental practitioner.

To further help, custom-fit trays are usually designed to contain tooth reservoirs that assist in correctly placing whitening gel onto each tooth. However, other whitening tray options do not include reservoirs meaning the gel is simply ‘squirted’ into the tray with limited control.

Although custom-fit whitening trays are more expensive than other tray options, understanding their benefits is essential. We believe custom-fit trays are an excellent long-term investment in your smile and health – they provide safer results and help maintain the longevity of your bright white smile.

The Australian Dental Association believes custom whitening trays are the safer option when whitening teeth. They are effective at keeping the bleaching product exactly where it needs to be: on the patient’s teeth.

Custom-fit whitening trays usually involve a higher upfront cost than other alternatives as they are traditionally hand crafted or fabricated using specialist dental equipment and by dental professionals. Dental practices often provide options that include packages with custom-fit trays and gel for anywhere between $300-$600.

The House of Mouth offers an innovative custom-fit tray service allowing you to take your own tooth impressions, send them back to us and we fabricate your trays in our dental lab, just as your dentist would. This avoids attending appointments and is a super simple three-step process. We have options starting at just $229.

So, is it even worth it?

Choosing take-home Custom Fit trays, are the best, professional teeth whitening choice for permanently whiter teeth. The fast, long-lasting results and increased comfortability make the higher cost worth it.