Why a Tooth Whitening System?
There is a great deal of tooth whitening systems accessible currently. Tooth whitening systems offer a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from low-priced whitening strips on the low end to expensive but generally effective expert dental whitening services. Why do teeth become yellowed? This is due to the fact that individuals consume caffeine-containing drinks, smoke, get exposed to antibiotics, and just plain age. Teeth whitening is an effective course to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of those experiencing the system do show some improvement.
Whitening Strip Method
Whitening strips are able to accomplish a nice job of whitening the exterior tooth surfaces, but do a poor job of bleaching the teeth divisions and cracks. A dark division between whitened teeth could look like a bad cavity. If you do not employ a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the chance of possessing irregular or spotty possible results. The next simplest tooth whitening approach is the whitening strip approach. 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 technique. This explains the popularity of this system. However, frequently the outcomes aren't as good as those outcomes seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems.
OTC tooth whitening products should in principle provide the identical tooth whitening effect as a visit to a dentist office, however with a lowered concentration of the peroxide (5% - 10%), and over a longer period of time. This is partially true, but omits the fact that dentists employ a laser tooth whitening system as well as bleach, something unavailable with OTC products.
The ADA Seal of Acceptance
The ADA guideline for a whitener requires that it not turn out to be adverse to the soft tissues of the mouth or the teeth, and that a whitener can effectively whiten teeth. What a person should know in regards to the ADA seal of acceptance is that no OTC product has as of yet attained this coveted designation. There are varying degrees of value to all these whitening systems. This is an area that the U.S. FDA doesn't become involved. Nevertheless, the American Dental Association (ADA) does set rules for tooth whitening products. Only particular tray-based dentist-dispensed products have the ADA Seal. In all the at-home tooth whiteners that have received the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution.
Tooth Whitening Toothpaste
The most basic tooth whitening approach is tooth whitening toothpaste (which is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda). If you merely want some uncomplicated maintenance of prior tooth whitening, then this is the way to go. Yet, if the problem is more deep rooted, then more tooth whitening systems might be looked into.
Take Home Tray Whitening
Due to the fact that the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this permits the bleaching gel to stay in contact with the teeth surface. In fact, this is the most critical aspect of the bleaching process and is the rationale why tray based bleaching systems have been so successful. This is perhaps the most cost effective method of tooth whitening right now out there. Through 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. Later, 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.
An OTC kit is similar to the take home whitening tray fitted at the dentist’s office, but in this case, you are utterly on your own. You must closely follow all the instructions. This technique has been successful, but you should be cautious. This technique is not recommended by the ADA.
Dentist-supervised laser tooth whitening
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 causes chemical reactions that cause the tooth whitening. A good number of people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months. Judged against to OTC products, dentists mostly use a higher concentration of bleaching compound with a laser tooth whitening system like Britesmile® or Zoom® tooth whitening. With a laser whitening procedure, the precisely defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces remarkably enhanced whitening effects.
A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening
The following table will give the reader a broad understanding of the differing strengths of peroxides used in the different 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 attempt to summarize the relative effectiveness, expense, and advantages of the diverse 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 |
Three Main Approaches to Tooth Whitening
In the face of the confusing array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are in point of fact simply three (3) approaches to whitening one’s teeth:
- Dental in-office bleaching
- Self-applied night-time bleaching using a tailored tray or a polyethylene strip
- Individual administered whitening using OTC bleaching products
There's nothing intrinsically superior or bad regarding any of these three basic techniques - each method could yield top notch outcomes. The key to the highest quality outcomes in tooth whitening is the whitening agent delivery technique. In all the tooth whitening methods, the tooth bleaching gel is kept in place by a method of delivery. This is definitely fundamental to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth. You simply can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a good delivery system and expect it to work.
Conclusion
Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow closely all instructions. Take a look at your situation. Only if you are looking for a bit of whitening of your teeth, then consider an OTC tooth whitening system. If you particularly seek a fantastic 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
white brite.
