The Truth About
Over The Counter (OTC)
Whitening Products
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There are basically 2 types of whitening available; In office laser whitening and Take home whitening...
Take-Home Whitening:
This process involves mixing your own whitening solution and wearing a custom-made whitening tray that looks like a thin, transparent night guard. You would fill the tray with a milder version of the office whitening gel and then wear the gel filled tray for a specific period of time each day. Your dentist will instruct you what is best for your teeth. You would need to repeat this procedure nightly over a period of weeks, typically 1-4 weeks will give optimum results depending on the take home system you choose. I recommend the zoom take home kit for affordable whitening in one weekend.
You should have check ups with your dentist during this time to ensure your whitening is progressing typically without problems. The advantages of take-home whitening include convenience and reduced cost (as much as 50% less). Take home whitening kits prescribed by your doctor are stronger than OTC kits that you can buy in a store.
The biggest disadvantage of using Take home whitening kits is the inconvenience of wearing the whitening tray for hours every night for 1-4 weeks. Also, since your results will depend on your consistent use of the tray it is difficult to determine how effective it will be at reaching the level of whitening you desire. In theory the same whitening results can be achieved using at home whitening kits, but considerably more effort and dedication will be needed for this to happen. If you skip nights you may lose the efficacy of the full treatment as the food you eat daily work to thwart your whitening efforts. Read more about what foods to avoid during this time.
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There are 3 different types of ‘take home' whitening treatments available:
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Brush-on whitening- Brush-on whitening in principal is a great concept - just brush on the formula and allow it to dry on your teeth and remain there overnight. This formula only works if you can get the solution to dry on your teeth, if you get the formula wet you won't get an even whitening result! It might turn out patchy or blotchy. Unfortunately it is very difficult to keep from licking your teeth or from simply moving your mouth. The whitening formula will then easily rub off parts of your teeth, making for an uneven whitening finish.
‘Brush on' formulas typically contain alcohol. In most cases this is to aid in a swift drying process so that it will stay on your teeth at night. Another common ingredient is glycerin - glycerin and alcohol literally suck the moisture out from the enamel of your teeth and it's the primary cause of most tooth sensitivity from whitening.
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Whitening Strips- Another great idea in principal. Developed for the convenience market it is both practical and cost effective. Whitening strips are extremely convenient, they are easy to use, easy to apply and no preparation is necessary. Typically you would place one strip on each of your upper and lower sets of teeth. To achieve optimum results, the strip would need to lay flat against your teeth. But teeth are not typically flat so the whitening results tend to be uneven. The whiter the teeth become the more pronounced the uneven effect will look.
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Trays with bleaching gels- Over-the-counter (OTC) bleaching systems are ‘take home kits' which you can buy at the local store, they are relatively inexpensive costing from $30 - $150. You would apply a bleaching agent to a mouth tray and insert the tray into the mouth for 1-4 hours. Treatment last between 2-4 weeks. I personally do not recommend these kits for two reasons:
First, many of these kits contain a standard mouth tray, they tend to not fit snugly which can allow the whitening solution to seep into your mouth and throat or irritate your gum tissue.
Second and most important, since you purchase it in a store a dentist does not get to check your teeth and gums when you use these systems to determine if the bleaching process is proceeding safely and to ensure that you are not injuring your teeth or gums.
Your dentist can recommend a whitening kit and custom fit you for a mouth tray that will provide better results. It is recommended you buy a kit from your dentist as opposed to one out of a box. In my office I offer the Zoom! whitening kit. It's now possible (in almost all cases) to achieve "dental office" quality teeth whitening, from the comfort of your own home with the ZOOM! take home kit.
In-Office Laser Whitening:
This process is usually done in one office visit, but may require two or more visits depending on how your teeth respond to the treatment or what other issues need to be addressed to complete the procedure. The Zoom whitening procedure typically takes between one and one & one-half hours.
The whitening solution used in the office is 5x stronger than OTC and take home whitening solutions. Because of the solution's strength, either a resin or a rubber shield must protect your gums. Once the gums are protected, the whitening gel is applied to the tooth surface. Following that a special high intensity light will be used to further activate the gel.
The advantage of Laser Whitening over at home whitening is time. Not only do we do the work for you to ensure a flawless finish, but you would spend less time overall whitening your teeth. There would be no solutions to mix, No trays to wear over your teeth and no risk of doing it wrong or harming yourself.
There are many factors that can affect the outcome of a whitening system and for some patients with bonding, veneers, root canals, crowns or other even severe discoloration from medication, I recommend professional whitening to at home whitening achieve the flawless finish and sparkling smile you desire.
I discuss the laser whitening procedure extensively in the FAQ's section and on the laser whitening information page.
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** This information is provided by the nylaserwhitening and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.
Take the 1st step to a brighter smile.
Please call my office today to set up an appointment and get a FREE smile evaluation. (In office visit only) Imagine feeling good, looking great and making a stronger first impression with just one short procedure.
I look forward to speaking with you and taking the next step with you towards a brighter more beautiful smile with Zoom!, In-Office Whitening.