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  • Posted: 2 Oct 2021 | Authored by: Dr. Tan Wee Han | Reviewed by: Dr. Arlene Khaw Bee Hong

Teeth whitening is now the most commonly requested cosmetic dental procedure1.  With greater demand for cheaper and more convenient teeth whitening products, many have resorted to buying teeth whitening products online as well as trying numerous do-it-yourself (DIY) methods using natural ingredients like strawberry puree, etc.

There are 4 options for teeth whitening:

  1. In-office whitening
  2. Take-home whitening
  3. Over-the-counter (OTC)
  4. Non-dental options
1. In-office whitening

In-office teeth whitening is done by the dentist in the clinic and this involves the application of a hydrogen peroxide bleaching gel. These whitening agents penetrate your teeth to break down the discoloured molecules deep down in your teeth and whitening your smile.

2. Take-home whitening kit

Take-home whitening kits are used at home. The home whitening kit can be used on its own or in combination with in-office whitening, to maintain or improve whitening results. This usually involves taking impressions of your upper and lower teeth to fabricate custom bleaching trays. At home, you will fill each tray with a whitening gel (usually carbamide peroxide) your dentist provides. You will wear the trays for several hours every day, according to your dentist’s advice. Carbamide peroxide gel will break down into hydrogen peroxide which whitens the teeth.

3. Over-the-counter (OTC)

Over-the-counter (OTC) whitening products include gels, rinses, chewing gums, toothpastes, paint-on films and strips, which are readily available at pharmacies and your local supermarket. The problem with these products is that they do not offer any protection to the gums during bleaching and therefore causes more discomfort.

Whitening strips

4. Non-dental options

The latest teeth whitening trend is the availability of whitening treatments or kits in non-dental retail settings, such as mall kiosks, salons, spas and, more recently, aboard passenger cruise ships. Non-dental whitening venues have come under scrutiny because the involved personnel are not educated in the use of disease screening or diagnostic tests (such as radiographs), and are not licensed or qualified to provide dental examinations. Additionally, their level of education and training in infection control is unknown (infectious diseases such as COVID-19 can spread via contact with saliva).

Teeth whitening at salon 

Comparison of different teeth whitening techniques2

In-office whitening Take-home whitening Over-the-counter (OTC) Non-dental
Active ingredient HP HP or CP HP, natural ingredients HP
Concentration ≤ 40% HP 7-35% CP ≤ 12% HP ?
Activator Chemical, LED, laser Chemical Chemical, light Chemical, light
Effectiveness Very good Very good Moderate Questionable
Safety Safe Safe Moderate Questionable
Cost $$$ $$ $ $$
Treatment time ~1 hour A few weeks A few weeks 1 hour or more

*HP – hydrogen peroxide, *CP – carbamide peroxide

So, what’s the best option among the 4 choices of teeth whitening?

The safest and most effective teeth whitening methods are still in-office and take-home whitening. Both work equally well. However, in-office whitening produces the fastest results.

Here at Tan Dental Surgery, we offer both options for teeth whitening:

  • 1. In-office teeth whitening (using Opalescence™ Boost™; made in USA)
  • 2. Take-home whitening kit (using Opalescence™ PF Whitening; made in USA)

Most patients would opt for a combination treatment, whereby after a session of in-office teeth whitening, they will get a take-home whitening kit to whiten the teeth further or for maintenance.

Is it safe to buy whitening products online? They are so cheap!

The most effective whitening agent is still hydrogen peroxide. However, only dentists can prescribe hydrogen peroxide-based products for teeth whitening.

Most of the teeth whitening products sold online do not contain hydrogen peroxide. For products which contain hydrogen peroxide, the concentration and safety as well as effectiveness of the products are unknown.

So, the bottom line is that it is best to avoid online teeth whitening products. They might cause more harm than good. We are very excited to help brighten your smile. Don’t hesitate to contact us for a teeth whitening session.

Interested in other options to improve your smile? You can check out our braces related posts by clicking here.  Feel free to contact us for a no obligation braces consultation.

Reference:
1. Higher-order needs drive new growth in mature consumer markets (Journal of Business Strategy)
2. Tooth Whitening – An Evidence-Based Perspective (Springer)

Updated: 2 Oct 2021

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Teeth whitening

We are happy to give you a quote Just send us a message on WhatsApp

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  • Posted: 5 May 2021 | Authored by: Dr. Tan Wee Han | Reviewed by: Dr. Arlene Khaw Bee Hong

Now that you have decided to take the plunge and have braces, the next step is to determine where to get the braces done.

The decision depends on many factors:

1. Convenient location and opening hours

This is a very important point to consider because the entire treatment might take at least 1 year and you would need to see the dentist/Orthodontist every 4-6 weeks. Do make sure you are able to travel to the clinic every month for check-up. In fact, if you are travelling from another state/country (e.g. Singapore) for your braces check-up, it is usually advisable to book your appointment 2-3 months ahead. That way, you are almost assured of an appointment slot.

2. Cost and payment plan

Your choice of clinic is also dependent on the cost of braces and payment plan offered. Is the treatment affordable given your current expenditure and lifestyle? If not, there is no harm (for most cases) in delaying treatment until you have saved up enough money.

3. Availability of specialist (Orthodontist) at the clinic

Both dentists and Orthodontists can provide braces treatment. However, some may choose to see an Orthodontist for a more specialised care as they are better trained to handle a wider range of orthodontic problems.

4. Types of braces offered

Your choice of braces (e.g. metal braces, clear braces, lingual braces or clear aligners) would also determine where you choose to have braces done. For example, most government dental clinics only offer metal braces whereas private dental clinics usually have more options.

5. Rapport with the dentist/Orthodontist

It is a good idea to have consultation with a few dentists/Orthodontists to find someone you are comfortable with. After all, you will be seeing the same person every month for the next year or so (Hint: find a dentist/Orthodontist who is willing to explain the procedures and answer all questions patiently).

6. Recommendation from others

With so many dental clinics to choose from, it can be a little overwhelming to decide on one. The easiest way would be to ask family members and friends for personal recommendation. Get their feedback and ask them about the entire braces experience and what they like or don’t like about the clinic. You could also look up online reviews of the clinics.

Most private and some government dental clinics offer braces treatment. We have compiled a list of government, military and university dental clinics in Malaysia offering braces treatment.

Types of Dental Clinics State Location
Government – Northern Region Perlis Klinik Pergigian Pakar Ortodontik Kampung Gial 02500 Mata Ayer, Perlis
Kedah Klinik Pakar Pergigian Kota Setar Lot 894, Lebuhraya Darul Aman 05100 Alor Setar Unit Ortodontik Klinik Pergigian Changlun 06010 Changlun
Unit Ortodontik Klinik Pergigian Kulim Jalan Hospital Lama 09000 Kulim Klinik Pergigian Sungai Petani Jalan Kapal Terbang 08000 Sungai Petani
Penang Klinik Pergigian Jalan Perak 11600 Pulau Pinang Klinik Pergigian Bukit Minyak Klinik Kesihatan Bukit Minyak 14000 Bukit Mertajam
Klinik Pergigian Mak Mandin Poliklinik Komuniti Mak Mandin 13400 Butterworth Klinik Pergigian Kepala Batas Lot 1466, Mukim 6, Kepala Batas 13200 Seberang Perai Utara
Pusat Pergigian Kanak-Kanak & Kolej Latihan Pergigian Malaysia No. 3, Jalan Sepoy Lines 10450 Pulau Pinang Klinik Pergigian Bayan Lepas Jalan Dato' Ismail Hashim 11900 Bayan Lepas Pulau Pinang
Perak Klinik Pergigian Ipoh Jalan Panglima Bukit Gantang Wahab 30590 Ipoh Klinik Pergigian Buntong Taman Desa Rishah 30100 Ipoh
Klinik Pergigian Taiping Jalan Tupai 34000 Taiping Klinik Pergigian Seri Manjung Jalan Lumut 32000 Sitiawan
Klinik Pergigian Parit Buntar Jalan Sempadan 34200 Parit Buntar Klinik Pakar Pergigian Jalan Putra 36000 Teluk Intan
Government – Central Region Kuala Lumpur Klinik Pergigian Cahaya Suria, Tingkat 1 Bangunan Pudu Sentral,Jalan Pudu 55100 Kuala Lumpur Klinik Pergigian Setapak Jalan 9/23A, Medan Makmur Off Jalan Usahawan 53200 Setapak
Klinik Pergigian Bangsar Jalan Bangsar 59200 Kuala Lumpur Klinik Kesihatan Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Temerloh, Taman Tasik Titiwangsa, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
Putrajaya Klinik Pergigian Putrajaya Presint 18 Jalan P18C1, Presint 18 62602 Putrajaya
Selangor Klinik Pergigian Shah Alam Seksyen 19, Jalan Gelora 19/46 40300 Shah Alam Klinik Pergigian Seri Kembangan 1, Jalan Besar 43300 Seri Kembangan
Klinik Pergigian Sungai Chua Kawasan Perindustrian Sungai Chua 43000 Kajang Klinik Pergigian Bandar Botanik Blok A, Jalan Langat, Bandar Botanic 41200 Klang
Klinik Pergigian Rawang Jalan Bukit Kelab 48000 Rawang Klinik Pergigian Tanjung Karang 45500 Tanjung Karang
Klinik Pergigian Besar Jalan Tengku Kelana 41000 Klang
Government – Southern Region Melaka Klinik Pergigian Besar Jalan Tun Sri Lanang 75100 Melaka Klinik Pergigian Alor Gajah Jalan Hospital Lama 78000 Alor Gajah
Klinik Pergigian Batu Berendam Batu Berendam 75350 Melaka
Negeri Sembilan Pusat Pakar Pergigian Seremban Jalan Zaaba 70100 Seremban Klinik Pergigian Senawang Persiaran Senawang 2 70450 Senawang
Klinik Pakar Ortodontik Tampin Jalan Cantik 73000 Tampin Klinik Pergigian Besar Kuala Pilah 72000 Kuala Pilah
Klinik Pergigian Seremban 2 Jalan S2A2 70300 Seremban Klinik Pergigian Port Dickson 71000 Port Dickson
Johor Klinik Pergigian Besar Muar Jalan Meriam 84000 Muar Klinik Pergigian Besar Jalan Abdul Samad 80100 Johor Bahru
Klinik Pergigian Taman University Jalan Kebudayaan 28, Taman University Skudai 81300 Johor Bahru Klinik Pergigian Pekan Nenas Jalan Sawah 81500 Pekan Nenas, Pontian
Klinik Pergigian Senggarang Klinik Kesihatan Senggarang 83000 Batu Pahat Klinik Pergigian Kluang Hospital Kluang 86000 Kluang
Klinik Pergigian Besar Segamat Jalan Muar 85000 Segamat
Government – East Coast Region Pahang Klinik Pergigian Jalan Gambut 25000 Kuantan Klinik Pakar Pergigian Klinik Kesihatan Bandar Mentakab 28400 Mentakab
Klinik Pergigian Indera Mahkota Jalan IM4 Bandar Indera Mahkota 25582 Kuantan Klinik Pergigian Raub 27600 Raub
Klinik Pergigian Pekan 26600 Pekan
Terengganu Klinik Pergigian Jalan Sultan Mahmud 20400 Kuala Terengganu Klinik Pergigian Batu 2 ½ Jalan Air Putih, Chukai 24000, Kemaman
Klinik Pergigian Kuala Berang Jalan Kuala Berang 21700 Hulu Terengganu
Kelantan Klinik Pergigian Kota Bharu Jalan Mahmood, 15200 Kota Bharu Klinik Pergigian Kuala Krai 18000 Kuala Krai
Klinik Pergigian Meranti 17010 Meranti, Pasir Mas Klinik Pergigian Pasir Puteh 16800 Pasir Puteh
Klinik Pergigian Hospital Machang 18500 Machang, Kelantan
Government – East Malaysia Sabah Klinik Pergigian Sandakan KM 3.2 Jalan Labuk 90500 Sandakan Hospital Queen Elizabeth II Aras 8, Jalan Damai 88200 Kota Kinabalu
Klinik Pakar Ortodontik Hospital Keningau Peti Surat 11 89007 Keningau, Sabah Unit Ortondontik Klinik Pergigian Klinik Kesihatan Jenis 2 Jalan Chong Thien Vun 91000 Tawau, Sabah
Sarawak Klinik Pergigian Petra Jaya Off Jln Siol Kanan, Petra Jaya 93050 Kuching Klinik Pergigian Tanah Puteh Jalan Kwong Lee Bank 93450 Kuching
Klinik Pergigian Tudan Jalan Tudan Permyjaya 98100 Lutong, Miri Klinik Pergigian Lanang Jalan Lanang 96000 Sibu
Military (Hospital Angkatan Tentera) Melaka Hospital Angkatan Tentera Kem Terendak 76200 Sungai Udang
Perak Hospital Angkatan Tentera Pangkalan TLDM Lumut 32200 Lumut
Kuala Lumpur Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan 3, Jalan 4/27a, Seksyen 2 Wangsa Maju, 53300 Kuala Lumpur
Negeri Sembilan Hospital Tentera Darat Kem Syed Sirajuddin Gemas 73400 Gemas
Sabah Hospital Angkatan Tentera Wilayah Kota Kinabalu Jalan Universiti, 89200 Kota Kinabalu
Public University Kuala Lumpur Universiti Malaya (UM) Jalan Universiti, 50603 Kuala Lumpur
Selangor Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) 43600 Bangi Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) 47000 Sungai Buloh
Negeri Sembilan Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 Nilai
Pahang Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA), Bandar Indera Mahkota, 25200 Kuantan
Kelantan Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) 16150 Kubang Kerian
Private University Melaka Melaka-Manipal Medical College (MMMC) Jalan Padang Jambu, 75150 Bukit Baru
Kedah AIMST University Batu 3 1/2, Bukit Air Nasi, Jalan Bedong—Semeling 08100 Bedong
Penang Penang International Dental College (PIDC) Level 19 -21, NB Tower, 5050, Jalan Bagan Luar, 12000, Butterworth
Kuala Lumpur International Medical University (IMU) No.126, Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, 57000 Bukit Jalil
Selangor MAHSA University College 2, Jalan SP 4/4, Bandar Saujana Putra, 42610 Jenjarom SEGi University Taman Sains Selangor, 47810 Petaling Jaya
Lincoln University College Block A, Mayang Plaza, 1, Jalan SS 26/2, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya

It can be seen that there are many options for getting braces in Malaysia. Of course having too many options to choose from can be overwhelming so do take your time to decide.

If you have any questions, we at Tan Dental Surgery are more than happy to answer them. You can even send in your enquiries via WhatsApp if you prefer. In the meantime, do check out our other posts on braces by clicking here.

Updated: 11 Jul 2021

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We are happy to give you a quote Just send us a message on WhatsApp

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  • Posted: 20 April 2021 | Authored by: Dr. Tan Wee Han | Reviewed by: Dr. Arlene Khaw Bee Hong

Having braces done can be a big financial commitment. We understand that it can be quite daunting finding a clinic which fits your budget. Don’t worry, we have compiled and compared the braces fee between private, government, military and university dental clinics in Malaysia for your reference.

The tables below should serve as a good starting point for you to decide where to have braces and also for you to plan your budget for braces. It can be seen that the braces fee ranges from RM700 all the way to RM20000+. This means that there are options to suit all budgets.

Even though the cost of braces in private dental clinics are higher, most dental clinics offer an interest-free instalment payment plan. Do check with the clinic regarding the payment plan and whether there are any additional miscellaneous costs involved.

10 things to ask your dentist/Orthodontist about braces cost:

  1. What is the estimated total fee for braces?
  2. Is the braces fee fixed or is it pay as you go? (e.g. fixed amount regardless of treatment duration or continuous monthly payment until completion of treatment)
  3. What is included in the fee?
  4. What is not included in the fee?
  5. How much is the initial deposit upon signing up for braces? Is the deposit refundable if you change your mind?
  6. How much is the monthly payment? Is it interest-free?
  7. What is the accepted mode of payment (e.g. cash, credit card, online transfer, eWallet)?
  8. Is there discount for full upfront payment? Is there family/group discount?
  9. Are there additional fees for broken braces?
  10. What happens if midway through treatment, you decide to continue braces elsewhere?

The table below compares the braces fee between private, government, military and university dental clinics. Here are a few things to take note regarding the fees:

  • Metal braces are offered at all dental clinics. However, only private dental clinics and certain university dental clinics offer ceramic braces and clear aligners
  • The cost of X-rays, as well as other dental treatment you may need is usually not included in the braces fee (e.g. scaling, tooth extractions, treatment of existing gum disease)

    • Types of Dental Clinics Metal Braces Retainers
    Private RM4000-RM8000+

    (metal braces)

    		RM500-RM1000+
    . RM8000- RM10000

    (ceramic braces)

    RM12000-RM20000

    (clear aligners)

    Government RM1000

    (free for children of civil servants)

    		RM200
    Military Hospital
    (Hospital Angkatan Tentera)     		RM700 RM200
    Public University Universiti Malaya (UM) RM3700 RM400
    Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) RM2000-RM3000

    (treatment by postgraduate student)

    		RM400
    RM5000-RM6000

    (treatment by Orthodontist)

    		RM400
    Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) RM1500 RM400
    Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) RM2000-RM3000 RM400
    Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIA) RM4630

    (only for those aged 17 years and below)

         		Included
    Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) RM3000 RM400
    Private University AIMST University RM2000+ RM100-RM200
    Penang International Dental College (PIDC) RM4000 RM225
    MAHSA University College RM5000 RM500
    International Medical University (IMU) RM7000-RM10000 Included(?)
    Melaka-Manipal Medical College (MMMC) RM5300

    (metal braces)

    		Included
    RM8000

    (self-ligating metal braces)

    RM10000

    (ceramic braces)

    SEGi University RM4500 RM200
    Lincoln University College RM4000 ?

    #unless otherwise stated
    * The above information was obtained through the respective dental clinic reception. The accuracy has not been verified and serves as a general guide only.
    * In compliance with the Malaysian Dental Council’s “Guidelines and Provisions for Public Information 2014”, we are unable to publish our fees online.

    Well there you have it. A general comparison of the braces cost in private and government clinics.

    Apart from cost, you may also want to consider the waiting time for braces. As the cost of treatment is lower in government and university dental clinics, waiting time can range from a few weeks up to several years.

    Do check out our other braces related posts by clicking here. Feel free to contact us for a no obligation braces consultation.

    Updated: 12 Oct 2021

    RELATED BLOGS

    Braces cost in Malaysia – Top 5 things to know

    Comparison between vacuum-formed, acrylic and fixed retainers

    RELATED SERVICES

    Orthodontics (Braces)

    We are happy to give you a quote Just send us a message on WhatsApp

    WhatsApp for quote

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