Why a Tooth Whitening System?
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 get older. Teeth whitening is an effective path to reverse this process, and is so successful that 95% of those going through the system do show some improvement. There is a great deal of tooth whitening systems accessible currently. Tooth whitening systems offer a wide spectrum of alternatives, ranging from economical whitening strips on the low end to costly but mostly effective professional dental whitening services.
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 earned 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 earned the ADA Seal, the active ingredient is a 10% carbamide peroxide solution. 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 guidelines for tooth whitening products.
Tooth Whitening Toothpaste
The most uncomplicated tooth whitening approach is tooth whitening toothpaste (which is a mix of hydrogen peroxide and baking soda). If you merely require some uncomplicated maintenance of prior tooth whitening, then this is the direction to go. Yet, if the difficulty is more deep rooted, then additional tooth whitening systems might be looked into.
Three Primary Approaches to Tooth Whitening
In spite of the perplexing array of dentist and over the counter (OTC) products, there are essentially 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 directed whitening using OTC bleaching products
There is nothing intrinsically superior or deficient about any of these three basic techniques - each approach can yield good results. You simply can’t put a bleaching agent on your teeth without a fine delivery method and expect it to work. The secret to the best 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 system of delivery. This is unquestionably crucial to keep the gel in contact with the surface of the tooth.
Whitening Strip Method
Whitening strips can do 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 appear similar to a bad cavity. If you don't use a tray-based tooth whitening system, you run the possibility of having irregular or spotty possible results. The next simplest tooth whitening approach is the whitening strip method. 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 system. This explains the popularity of this system. Yet, often the results aren't as nice as those results seen with the tray-based methods or in-office laser tooth whitening systems.
OTC tooth whitening products can in principle provide the identical tooth whitening effect as a visit to a dentist office, however with a decreased concentration of the peroxide (5% - 10%), and over a longer time period. This is partially true, but omits the reality that dentists use a laser tooth whitening system as well as bleach, something unavailable with OTC products.
Take Home Tray Whitening
Because the bleaching tray is so custom fitted, this permits the bleaching gel to keep in contact with the teeth surface. Actually, this is the most significant aspect of the bleaching process and is the rationale why tray based bleaching systems have been so successful. This is maybe the most cost effective method of tooth whitening now on hand. 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. Later, a perfect fitting bleach tray is fitted from this impression. Lastly, 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 completely on your own. You must carefully follow all the instructions. This procedure has been successful, but you should be cautious. This approach 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 leads to chemical reactions that trigger the tooth whitening. The majority of people do a Zoom® tooth whitening once every six months. Judged against 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 exactly defined light frequency combined with a proprietary bleaching chemical produces especially amplified whitening effects.
A comparison of peroxide concentrations in tooth whitening
The following table will provide the reader a broad understanding of the differing strengths of peroxides utilized in the various 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 ensuing table, we make an attempt to summarize the relative effectiveness, costs, and advantages of the several 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 |
Conclusion
Whatever tooth whitening system you prefer, always seek the advice of your dentist and follow in detail all instructions. Evaluate your condition. Only if you are looking for a little whitening of your teeth, then contemplate an OTC tooth whitening system. Provided that you particularly desire an excellent bright white smile, then your sole option is a cosmetic dentist.
If you have a further interest in tooth whitening methods, you may also want to look into
bright smile or in addition
tooth whitening systems.
