I just read that U.S. News World Report's findings that nowadays, a do-it-yourself approach may be cheaper and ultimately, just as effective as going to your dentist. In studies, they have found that at-home treatments outperform all tested in-office products.
My two cents is that at-home products cost a ton less than what the dentist wants to charge you. I was recently quoted over $500 for getting my teeth whitened. That's crazy!