Why a Tooth Whitening System?
Tooth whitening systems offer a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from inexpensive whitening strips on the low end to expensive but generally effective specialized dental whitening services. Why do teeth darken? This is due to the fact that individuals consume caffeine-containing drinks, smoke, get exposed to antibiotics, and just plain get older. Teeth whitening is an effective technique to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of those undergoing the process do verify some improvement. There is a large amount of of tooth whitening systems obtainable currently.
Whitening Strip Method
The next simplest tooth whitening technique is the whitening strip technique. You place tooth bleaching tape on your front teeth. This tape is flexible, and contains the gel that bleaches the teeth. This is the most comfortable, least expensive, and easiest to employ tooth whitening procedure. This explains the popularity of this system. However, often the possible results aren't as nice as those results seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems. Whitening strips are able to accomplish a good 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 seem like a bad cavity. If you do not utilize a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the risk of possessing irregular or spotty possible results.
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 time period. 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.
Three Main Approaches to Tooth Whitening
In the face of the bewildering array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are essentially only 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 administered whitening using OTC bleaching products
The key to the highest quality results in tooth whitening is the whitening agent delivery method. In all the tooth whitening methods, the tooth bleaching gel is kept in place by a procedure of delivery. This is definitely fundamental to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth. You clearly can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a fine delivery system and presume it to work. There's not anything intrinsically superior or deficient regarding any of these three basic techniques - each approach can yield top notch outcomes.
Take Home Tray Whitening
As the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this permits the bleaching gel to keep in contact with the teeth surface. Truly, this is the most important 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 technique, 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 subsequently 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 totally on your own. You must closely follow all the instructions. This method has been successful, but you must be careful. This approach is not recommended by the ADA.
Dentist-supervised laser tooth whitening
With a procedure such as Zoom® tooth whitening, a special bright laser light is shone on the teeth whitening gel for an hour. Laser light energy creates energy which leads to chemical reactions that trigger the tooth whitening. A good number of people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months. Compared to OTC products, dentists for the most part use a higher concentration of bleaching compound with a laser tooth whitening system like Britesmile® or Zoom® tooth whitening. With a laser whitening technique, the precisely defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces remarkably amplified whitening effects.
A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening
The following table will give the reader a thorough understanding of the differing strengths of peroxides used 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 make an attempt to summarize the relative effectiveness, costs, and benefits 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 |
The ADA Seal of Acceptance
The ADA guideline for a whitener requires that it not be harmful to the soft tissues of the mouth or the teeth, and that a whitener can effectively whiten teeth. What one ought to know in regards to the ADA seal of acceptance is that no OTC product has as of yet received this coveted designation. Only a small amount of tray-based dentist-dispensed products have the ADA Seal. In all the at-home tooth whiteners that have obtained the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. There are differing levels of value to all these whitening systems. This is an area that the U.S. FDA doesn't get involved. Nonetheless, the American Dental Association (ADA) does set rules for tooth whitening products.
Tooth Whitening Toothpaste
The most uncomplicated tooth whitening method is tooth whitening toothpaste (which is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda). If you simply want some simple maintenance of prior tooth whitening, then this is the direction to go. However, if the problem is more deep rooted, then further tooth whitening systems ought to be looked into.
Conclusion
Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow closely all instructions. Evaluate your situation. Providing you are looking for a bit of whitening of your teeth, then contemplate an OTC tooth whitening system. If you really want a superb bright white smile, at that time your only option is a cosmetic dentist.
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening methods, you may also want to look into
compare teeth whitening or in addition
mouth wash.
