Why a Tooth Whitening System?
Tooth whitening systems provide a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from economical whitening strips on the low end to costly but usually effective skilled dental whitening services. Why do teeth become yellowed? This is due to the fact that people consume caffeine-containing drinks, smoke, become exposed to antibiotics, and just plain age. Teeth whitening is an effective path to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of persons going through the approach do show some improvement. There is a large amount of of tooth whitening systems to be had currently.
Three Primary Approaches to Tooth Whitening
Notwithstanding the bewildering array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are in point of fact just three (3) approaches to whitening one’s teeth:
- Dental in-office bleaching
- Self-applied night-time bleaching using a custom-fitted tray or a polyethylene strip
- Individual directed whitening using OTC bleaching products
The key to the finest outcomes in tooth whitening is the whitening agent delivery procedure. In all the tooth whitening methods, the tooth bleaching gel is kept in place by a method of delivery. This is with out a doubt fundamental to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth. There's nothing intrinsically superior or bad about any of these three basic techniques - each system can yield nice results. You clearly can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a good delivery method and presume it to work.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance
The ADA guideline for a whitener requires that it not become harmful to the soft tissues of the mouth or the teeth, and that a whitener can effectively whiten teeth. What a person must know about the ADA seal of acceptance is that no OTC product has as of yet earned this coveted designation. Only certain tray-based dentist-dispensed products have the ADA Seal. In all the at-home tooth whiteners which have obtained the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. There are varying degrees of worth to all these whitening systems. This is an area that the U.S. FDA does not become involved. Nonetheless, the American Dental Association (ADA) does set guidelines for tooth whitening products.
Tooth Whitening Toothpaste
The most basic tooth whitening technique is tooth whitening toothpaste (which is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda). If you simply require some simple maintenance of prior tooth whitening, then this is the direction to go. Yet, if the situation is more deep rooted, then other tooth whitening systems ought to be looked into.
Take Home Tray Whitening
With a take home tooth whitening tray method, which the patient can perform at home, the dentist makes an impression for a model of the patient’s teeth. Subsequently, a perfect fitting bleach tray is fitted from this impression. Finally, a bleaching gel is prescribed by the dentist. At home, the bleaching gel is placed in the bleaching tray by the patient and the tray is then worn for one to two hours at home at a convenient time by the tooth whitening patient. As the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this allows the bleaching gel to keep in contact with the teeth surface. In fact, this is the most pivotal aspect of the bleaching process and is the rationale why tray based bleaching systems have been so successful. This is probably the most cost effective method of tooth whitening right now out there.
An OTC kit is similar to the take home whitening tray fitted at the dentist’s office, but in this case, you are totally on your own. You must closely follow all the instructions. This method has been successful, but you must be careful. This technique is not recommended by the ADA.
Dentist-supervised laser tooth whitening
Compared to OTC products, dentists usually use a higher concentration of bleaching compound with a laser tooth whitening system like Britesmile® or Zoom® tooth whitening. With a laser whitening process, the exactly defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces remarkably amplified whitening effects. With a procedure similar to Zoom® tooth whitening, a special bright laser light is shone on the teeth whitening gel for an hour. Laser light energy creates energy which initiates chemical reactions that lead to the tooth whitening. A large number of people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months.
A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening
The following table will give the reader a thorough understanding of the differing strengths of peroxides utilized in the diverse whitening systems.
| Application |
Agent |
Professional/OTC |
Concentration |
| In Office "power bleaching" |
hydrogen peroxide
carbamide peroxide |
dentist
dentist |
15%-38%
35% |
| Night-time tray bleaching |
carbamide peroxide
hydrogen peroxide |
dentist
dentist |
10%-22%
6-9.5% |
| whitening strips |
hydrogen peroxide
hydrogen peroxide |
OTC
dentist |
5.3%-10%
6.5%-14%
|
| paint on gels |
carbamide peroxide
hydrogen peroxide |
OTC
OTC
|
18%
19% |
A comparison of all the tooth whitening systems
In the following table, we try to summarize the relative effectiveness, costs, and benefits of the different tooth whitening systems.
| Method |
Effectiveness |
Length of results |
Treatment Duration |
Side Effects |
Tooth Type |
Cost |
| Whitening strips |
Whitens teeth slightly, might leave "lines" |
1 year |
7-14 days |
Minimally sensitive teeth/gums |
Slightly yellow teeth |
$15 |
| Brush on whitening gels |
Somewhat better than regular toothpaste |
Several weeks |
7-14 days |
Bad breath |
Slightly yellow teeth |
$3-$5 |
| OTC gels |
Improves with higher peroxide levels |
1 year |
1-3 weeks |
Sensitive teeth/gums |
Moderately yellow to dark teeth |
$10 |
| Bleaching done in dentist's office |
Great for yellow teeth |
3 yrs |
1-2 mos. |
Sensitive teeth/gums |
Extremely dark teeth, which require professional evaluation |
$300-$1000 |
| Dentist supervised gel application |
Great for yellow teeth |
3 years |
3-6 wks |
Sensitive teeth/gums |
Dark teeth, which needs a dentist-supervised evaluation |
$300-$500 |
| Crowns |
Very effective for one tooth |
10-15 years |
1 month |
feeling of tightness |
Single tooth is decayed or broken |
$600-$3000 |
| Veneers |
Very effective for just one tooth |
10-15 years |
3-4 weeks |
feeling of tightness |
Single tooth needs straightening |
$500-$1200 |
| Bonding |
Very effective for just one tooth |
5-10 years |
1-2 weeks |
Rare allergies |
Single tooth needs minor reshaping |
$300-$700 |
Whitening Strip Method
The next simplest tooth whitening method is the whitening strip system. You place tooth bleaching tape on your front teeth. This tape is flexible, and contains the gel which bleaches the teeth. This is the most comfortable, least costly, and easiest to utilize tooth whitening approach. This explains the popularity of this approach. But then, frequently the outcomes aren't as superb as those results seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems. Whitening strips can accomplish a nice job of whitening the exterior tooth surfaces, but achieve a poor job of bleaching the teeth divisions and cracks. A dark division between whitened teeth could look like a bad cavity. If you don't employ a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the chance of dealing with irregular or spotty consequences.
OTC tooth whitening products should in principle come up with the identical tooth whitening effect as a visit to a dentist office, but with a lowered concentration of the peroxide (5% - 10%), and over a longer period of time. This is partially true, but omits the reality that dentists utilize a laser tooth whitening system as well as bleach, something unavailable with OTC products.
Conclusion
Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow closely all instructions. Review your circumstances. Providing you are looking for a little whitening of your teeth, then contemplate an OTC tooth whitening system. If you truly want a superb bright white smile, at that time your sole choice is a cosmetic dentist.
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening methods, you may also want to look into
cosmetic teeth whitening or in addition
withening.
