I’ve been staring at the whitestrips in 3D for so long, I feel like I’m seeing double. Or triple. Or make that … you get the idea.

Crest is about to introduce its 3D White tooth whitening system, including 3D White Whitestrips (Vivid $27.99, or Advance Seal $54.99 at drugstore.com).  According to the company, the Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Seal product is an alternative to a “$500 in-office whitening treatment,” and you’ll see results after 3 days.  After a 14-day treatment, your pearlies will shine up to a year.

The whitestrips “use the same whitening ingredient dentists use” and contain: Polyvinylpyrrolidone  (PVP), PEG 8, water, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, acrylates copolymer and sodium saccharin.  Directions say that the product will be even more effective when used with 3D White Vivid toothpaste, 3D White Whitening Effects Rinse and Oral-B 3D White Advanced Vivid toothbrush.  What a surprise.

But now, according to Crest, by using its Premium Advanced Seal Whitestrips (34.99 at drugstore.com), you’ll see results after 3 days and the results of a 14-day treatment will last up to a year.  These whitestrips use “the same enamel-safe whitening ingredient dentists use” and contain guess what: Water, PVP, PEG, acrylates copolymer, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hydroxide, and sodium saccharin.

Feeling the déjà vu?  Throw in Crest’s Classic Whitestrips, Pro Effects Whitestrips, and Premium Whitestrips, and well, 3D takes on a whole new meaning and they all start sounding the same.  They even look pretty similar on the handy comparison chart the company put out.

The differences are formulation, of course. The new 3D will have a little more hydrogen peroxide than the Premium; the advanced seal products adhere better than the others. All that, in turn, affects the price.

Whitestrips are going to work for everyone to some degree. Is the 3D version $20 better than the Premium? Or is Advanced Seal $27 better than Vivid?  Those answers are in the wallets (and teeth) of the consumers.

Our answer is simply don’t bite off more than you can chew … or in this case, afford.