Understanding Teeth Whitening

Understanding Teeth Whitening
What You Need To Know Before You Whiten Your Teeth
Compare The 6 Most
Common Options
From Toothpaste To
Laser Whitening
Find Out Which One
Is Right For YOU...
DeerValleyDentalCare.com
What Options Are Available?
Over the last several years, people have become very interested in whiter teeth. Let’s face
it, first impressions are vastly important in this day and age. In fact, research into
human behavior reveals that we judge the physical, mental and emotional reserves of a
person based on our instinctual first impressions. When we first meet someone, their face
makes a huge impression on us. A radiant smile automatically registers feelings of trust.
Few people still remember the commercial jingle of years ago, “You wonder where the
yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent.” Toothpaste used to be promoted to
whiten teeth. Then for years, toothpaste companies focused their advertising on preventing
cavities. When you asked people what toothpaste they could use to get their teeth whiter,
only a very few toothpastes like Pearl Drops, Topol, and maybe Ultrabrite came to mind.
These only whitened by “sanding” the tooth surface with gritty abrasives. Yet today when
you look at the toothpaste shelves in your local grocery or drug store, it seems everyone
has a whitening toothpaste.
As more and more of our patients were becoming confused about whitening their teeth and
asking us what works best, we felt we needed to put together a comprehensive look at the
choices.
The following is a compilation of personal opinions and may not reflect the opinions of
major product manufacturers.
Whitening Toothpastes:
The Same Old Toothpaste In A Fancy New Box?
First, let’s look at whitening toothpaste. When examining most toothpaste’s lists of
ingredients, you will find that there is little difference. You would think that if you bought a
product labeled as a whitening toothpaste, the active ingredient would be a tooth-whitening
chemical. Yet even in more costly toothpastes like Rembrandt, the only ingredient the FDA
is allowing to be listed as active is the fluoride compound, which has nothing to do with
whitening teeth. Everything else is listed as inactive ingredients. Many toothpastes with
whitening claims on the box are no different than before. They are just in a new box.
So what is in there that is whitening teeth? For many it is sand which sounds better to be
called silica or even better when called hydrated silica (wet sand). This common abrasive
has been around for years. Some toothpastes also use alumina and/or titanium dioxide.
However, Dentists have said for years that high abrasiveness is not good because you do not
want to slowly sand away your teeth!
The new whitening ingredient is frequently a type of sodium phosphate. The thought in
whitening is usually based on the idea of removing a protein coating that the saliva naturally
places on your teeth. It is called the pellicle and is the main reason for the natural “slimy”
feeling teeth have. Most food stains do not initially stick to the tooth but stick in this protein
coating. So if you brush it away before the stain actually absorbs into the tooth, it brushes
away the trapped stain, and therefore removes the stain. The pellicle reforms on the tooth in
just a few hours and so no damage is done to the tooth.
There is no doubt that keeping food stains off of your teeth is very important in keeping your
teeth white. However, at best, these toothpastes are not making your teeth any whiter than
a hygienist could by polishing your teeth. In reality since these ingredients do not remove
tartar, a cleaning at your Dentist’s office is going to be much more effective at making your
teeth look better. Also, it is important to remember that tartar control toothpastes do not
remove tartar, they just slow down how fast it builds up so they do not whiten your teeth
at all.
The important message with whitening
toothpastes is that while they may be helpful in
maintaining white teeth, they are not going to
make much difference in the color of your
teeth once stained. So what can you do?
Over-The-Counter Whitening Systems
Beware Your Tooth Enamel & Gums!
These “systems” are basically toothpastes with a small amount of peroxide and possibly a weak
acid like phosphoric acid, acetic acid, or citric acid. Long-term exposure of your teeth to these
acids does dissolve little bits of enamel from your teeth. The concentration of peroxide in these
products is only about 1 to 3 percent, so is no more effective than rinsing with hydrogen peroxide
that you can buy in the store (usually 3 percent). Long term rinsing with peroxides may be harmful
to your gums.
Teeth Whitneing Gels
There are a number of different choices with gels, they are all over-the-counter and none are
Dentist administered. While these will whiten teeth a couple of shades they have many drawbacks.
Because whitening only occurs when the solution is in contact with the tooth surface, gels work
better than strips for crooked teeth or between teeth. The gel is however hard to administer due to
the fact that saliva, food or drinks wash the product off the tooth surface.
You must let the gel dry on the tooth to be effective, which is very difficult. The other concern for
most people is that they will typically only whiten the front couple of teeth on top and bottom
because it is difficult to paint and dry the back teeth. Gels are typically used because of the low cost
and the results are quite limited. Very minor results are expected for straight, in between teeth or
crooked teeth. Caution is also recommended as gum irritation can occur if application is not exact.
It is the opinion of most Dentists that we have read or talked with that these products are a waste
of money if you hope to have noticeable results.
Teeth Whitneing Strips
Strips you buy over-the-counter are mildly effective over the long run, but do not provide
comparable results to Dentist administered whitening. In order to obtain the level of whitening
provided by professional whitening, you will probably need to use four to six boxes of over-thecounter whitening strips. Again, because whitening only occurs where the bleach is in contact
with the tooth surface the strips do not work well for crooked teeth or between teeth. The other
concern for most people is that, due to their size, strips only whiten the front 4 teeth on top and
bottom. Many people who have used whitening strips then purchase a tray whitening system to
significantly whiten their teeth or correct any uniformity issues created by whitening strips.
Dentist Administered Whitening Tray Systems:
The Only Effective Whitening Tray Systems Available
Now we are getting into something that can make a difference for many people without costing you
an arm and a leg. In the mid 1980’s carbamide peroxide, which had been used for years for minor
gum irritations was found to whiten teeth if it stayed in contact with teeth long enough. Peroxide
is the product an estimated 99% of Dentists use today to whiten teeth in one product or another.
Tray systems are available in 2 major groups, one is a customized take home tray system and the
other utilizes in-office whitening plus customized take home trays for
the deepest, most long lasting whitening. Both processes will generally
provide whitening in 2 weeks or less.
Most people with typical stains can get impressive results with these
products. The average fee for these products ranges from $350 to $750.
Both of these systems provide quick results without an extremely high
cost.
Although instructions on bleaching with these products vary, essentially
what happens is a Dentist makes an impression of your teeth, which
allows a plaster duplicate, or model, of your teeth to be made. Your Dentist then takes the copy of
your teeth ,creates reservoirs for the bleach, and with special equipment, warms and then vacuums
a plastic-like sheet over the model of your teeth. You now have what is essentially a very thin
mouthguard, which is custom made just for your teeth, this is used as a tray to hold the bleaching
gel against your teeth. Your Dentist can adjust these after wearing to ensure a comfortable fit.
You wear the trays at night while you sleep. For those who stay committed to completion of this
process, most will see significant difference in the color of their teeth. Most people get excellent
results from this bleaching process. However, for some people, the reality is they get tired of wearing
the trays and never complete the bleaching process so they never get the results they could. For
these people in-office bleaching by itself is an option,however, the results are just not as good as
Custom Tray Bleaching or Power Bleaching (custom tray bleaching plus in-office bleaching). You
have to ask yourself, ‘Do I want “fast” or do I want “white”?’
The other reason for less than expected results is that some trays are uncomfortable to wear and
people don’t realize they can have them adjusted, included
in the original cost.
Dentist Administered Whitening Tray Systems:
The Only Effective Whitening Tray Systems Available
Our goal is to help you achieve the results you are looking for. We have
chosen to use a combination of carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide
in our office. If you want to see whitening for the lowest cost, the peroxide
type bleaches are your best option. Dentists have a choice of several
companies to purchase this material from. The most common names are
Rembrandt, Nite White, Day White, Opalescence, Contrast, White and
Brite, Zoom and Pola. We have chosen Day White, Night White and Zoom
due to their advanced desensitizing agents, and faster results which in turn
means shorter office visits.
Another Over-The-Counter Warning!
It is interesting to note that this same bleach (carbamide peroxide) can be purchased by you overthe-counter. The over the counter versions sell in most places (and infomercials) for about $25 to
$50. But do not be fooled into thinking that you get the same thing. For one thing, the bleach is
about a one-third concentration of what the Dentist uses and it is runny which means it does not
stay in the tray long so you have to apply it more often. Applying it often means most people have
to purchase a second or third bottle to be able to complete their bleaching.
Perhaps the worst part of these bleaches is the tray. To hold the bleach against your teeth, these
companies give you a ‘boil and bite’ athletic mouthguard. This is a simple way for you to make a
bleaching tray at home, the problem is it is about 5 times the mass of a Dentist made bleaching tray.
This large mouthguard is just too bulky for most people to wear 2
to 3 hours a day, or especially for overnight use.
By biting into it you do not create the proper reservoir
for the bleach so when you place the mouthguard in
your mouth with bleach in it, almost all of the bleach
is just pressed out when you bite into it. If you do not
keep biting into it, the lower teeth open slightly so
they do not get bleached well. If you do bite into it,
your jaw muscles can get sore and can create pain or
headaches for many. This is especially a problem if
you have TMJ (jaw joint) problems. It also rubs on
the gums causing gum irritation. Most people just
are not willing to put up with the discomfort 2 to
3 hours a day for 4 to 6 weeks for minimal results.
Laser Whitening:
If You Are In A Hurry This May Be For You
The newest and fastest type of whitening is laser
bleaching. This process was approved by the FDA in
February of 1996, so it is relatively new. Many thousands
of people have had their teeth bleached with this process.
Even though there are several chemical components to
this system, the main bleach in this product is hydrogen
peroxide, which has been used for over 29 years to
safely bleach teeth. The difference is rather than a 1
to 3 percent solution as in over the counter hydrogen
peroxide bleaches, this procedure uses up to 50%
hydrogen peroxide.
Bleach this strong is very irritating to skin. So a major
concern in being able to use bleach of this strength is
way to protect the gums, cheek, lips, and tongue. This is
done by covering and protecting everything pink in your mouth with special waxes and gels. Even
with these precautions you may still get irritation from the bleach and lasers. Vitamin E is usually
used following treatment in areas where the bleach or the laser is thought to have irritated the tissue.
How The Laser Whitening Process Works
Laser bleaching uses catalysts and light from two lasers (Argon and CO2), or halogen as the energy
source to activate the hydrogen peroxide to allow it to bleach deeper and faster. The lasers are
specially chosen to allow the energy they produce to be absorbed by the stain while being reflected
by the nerves of teeth. Just like a black car in the sun will get hotter than a white car even though
they are exposed to the same light
One of the advantages of laser bleaching is being able to selectively activate the bleach in the
stained areas while keeping most of the energy away from the nerves allows the Dentist to bleach
more stain out and bleach deeper into the tooth.
The fee for the laser bleaching procedure may vary some depending on the number of visits needed.
Other alternatives to whiten teeth this much, bonding or caps, would cost $5,000 to $10,000 for
the same number of teeth.
All Of Our Procedures Are Customized To YOUR Situation
We have refined and improved the standard bleaching procedures by using our 20 years of
bleaching experience. We have chosen bleaching programs that we feel represent the best value
to our patients. We selected from and combined options to take advantage of what each product
does best. This means that the bleaching process will vary from person to person as we consider
each of our patient’s needs. During your complete whitening process a Dentist will be monitoring
your progress to assure your teeth and gums remain healthy and that you will get the results you
are looking for.
Deer Valley Dental Care
The Dental Smile Centre - Our Experience Will Get You Results
Our goal is to help you understand the whitening
process, answer any questions you may have, help
you feel as comfortable as possible on the day of your
bleaching and assist you throughout the process.
If your teeth have not been cleaned recently we
recommend that you have them cleaned first to remove
any tartar buildup as your teeth will not bleach under
the tartar. We also suggest a full x-ray of your teeth that
is less than six months old before starting any bleaching
program to ensure maximum results. If your Dentist has
taken these x-rays for you in the last six months, you
may be able to get them from your present Dentist.
So, How White Can You Make My Teeth?
The big question on everyone’s mind
when considering teeth whitening is
“will the results be worth the time and
cost?”We have invested thousands of
dollars and 20 years of experience to
make sure the answer is a resounding
“YES!” We also have hundreds of success
stories that back up our claims. Our top
priority is to be certain that you are very
happy with your results. While results
vary from person to person, everyone can
benefit from this procedure…. Most with
Astounding results. The goal of bleaching
is to give you the whitest possible teeth
as quickly, easily, and inexpensively as
possible. The next page is an explanation
of how to estimate your results.
Understanding Teeth Whitening
Understanding Teeth Color:
Judge Ahead Of Time The Results YOU Can Expect
This will depend on your teeth - everyone’s teeth are different. If your teeth are heavily stained from
coffee or smoking, you will probably see a big change. If your teeth are not heavily stained, the
change will not be as great. Changes up to 12 shades lighter are possible. Dentist measure teeth
color by using a shade guide. This is essentially 9 - 12 tooth shaped colors of porcelain arranged
from brightest to darkest. We will use this guide to measure the change that takes place. If your teeth
are fairly white to begin with, they may achieve a whiter color than the whitest on the guide in one
bleaching series but may not have changes
as dramatic as someone with darker teeth.
If your teeth are moderately dark, they
may require two sessions to get the teeth
as white as you want them. Very dark teeth
especially gray colors and tetracycline
stains may require three to four sessions.
Each time you bleach there will be a
change but after four sessions, the amount
of change starts to dramatically reduce.
The darker the teeth are before they are
bleached, the more chance that the teeth
will have some color variation remaining.
Darkly colored teeth have major variations
in the amount of calcium per cubic
millimeter. These teeth may not totally
blend to be a solid color, thus you will still have color variations. The best way to estimate your
results is by examing photographs of stains similiar
to yours.
Custom Tray Bleaching is a good option for most people. Generally, teeth can be whitened from
3 to 5 shades with this option, and sometimes more. Completion of this bleaching process as
prescribed is satisfactory to many of our patients.
You now have a shade that is whiter than most people’s teeth.
Deer Valley Dental Care
If your teeth are dark, don’t get discouraged. We are here to help you and we have achieved
some fantastic results. Just be prepared for us both to work a little harder and longer to get to
where you want to be. Your dentist will always be the best judge of what methods will work best
with your teeth, in fact, bleaching is not the only way to get the white teeth you’ve always
wanted. Custom veneers and/or crowns are another option that some people will wish to
consider.
Understanding Teeth Whitening
TEETH WHITENING OPTION CHART
Method
Whitening
Toothpaste
COST
LENGTH OF GUARANTEE
TREATMENT
$3 to $15
Continuously
None
Paint On Gels $5 to $15
6 to 8 weeks
None
Over the
Counter Tape
Strips
$50 to $75
6 to 8 weeks
None
Custom Tray
Whitening
$300
Up to 2 weeks
Yes
Power
Whitening
$750 to $850
Generally 2
Yes
weeks
Can take 6 to 8
weeks in extreme
cases
Laser
Whitening
$700 to $1200 Usually 2 hours
Yes
EXPECTED RESULTS
• Very limited little or no whitening.
• May prevent tartar buildup
• Some may actually cause tooth and gum
damage if used over long periods.
• Some whitening expected - difficult to administer
(saliva washes off product).
• Caution suggested as gum irritation can occur if
application is not exact.
• May whiten teeth up to 7 shades.
• Does not work well for crooked teeth.
• Will not whiten between teeth. Only for front
4 teeth on top and bottom.
• Trays fit teeth perfectly allowing for even
distribution of whitening gel.
• Can customize solution strength.
• In most dental offices this is the most economical
treatment that gets good results.
• Excellent results expected.
• Custom Tray Whitening with either 1 or 2 in-office
bleaching visits depending one the severity of the
color/staining.
• Custom strength solution depending on how well
your teeth bleach and sensitivity.
• May take 2 sittings for severe staining.
• Uses special dental light to activate whitening
solution.
• May cause temporary burning of gums, which is
usually resolved by Vitamin E application.
• Includes custom take home trays for touch ups.
• Initial color change due to dehydration, which may
cause sensitivity.
Deer Valley Dental Care
Permanent Whitening
All bleaching results will fade over time and need to retouched up to keep them bright. Many
people would like to have more dramatic changes than just whitening or would like teeth that
stay white without the touch ups. Veneers are a great solution for these people, they also make
teeth more uniform and proportionate to your other teeth and mouth size. Crowns are also a way
to get those perfect teeth you’ve always wanted. These and other cosmetic solutions may be a
viable choice for those of you that may have teeth that cannot be bleached. Only your dentist can
give you the information you need to make the correct choice for you.
What To Do Now…
The next step is to either call our office for more information, or to schedule a FREE consultation
to let the Dentist evaluate your situation. This evaluation will give you a good idea what you can
expect.
Call Deer Valley Dental Care Now!
At403-271-6300
www.DeerValleyDentalCare.com
Free Consultations Must Be Scheduled In Advance.
Please Call For Availability.
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