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Does Tooth Whitening Work?
Yes, it works very well. We’ve been using at home tooth-whitening
systems for many years. It is a relatively simple, inexpensive treatment
that is very reliable. Almost everyone we have treated has seen some improvement
in the whiteness of his or her teeth. Sometimes it’s a little; sometimes
it’s a lot. We have seen some dramatic improvements. It is difficult
to predict in advance, how much change an individual can expect, but everyone
can expect to see some improvement.
There are three basic techniques used to whiten teeth.
- Over the counter systems
- Professional at home tray systems
- In office whitening systems
They all work the same basic way; an oxidizing solution is placed on
the teeth for a period of time, which acts to break down the stain lying
within the surface layers of the tooth enamel. The difference is in the
nature of the solution used, the manner in which it is applied to the
teeth, and the use of an activating agent such as light energy to accelerate
the process.
Over the counter systems are not regulated, can contain solutions of
a low pH, meaning they are acidic, and can have a bad reaction with fillings,
crowns, or tooth enamel. They also lack a customized tray, which holds
the solution in close contact with the teeth.
Professional at home tray systems use formulations with proven effectiveness
and safety. The custom made tray, which fits precisely over the teeth
to be treated, is what makes this system work so well. The solution is
held to the teeth where it works without being diluted with saliva or
running out into the mouth. The trays are worn one or two hours daily
for 2-3 weeks, or longer for particularly stubborn teeth. We have used
this system for many years with consistently good results.
The in office system we are currently using is called BriteSmile. There
have been many attempts to create a technique to perform tooth whitening
in a shorter period of time than the at home system. Various methods were
used to activate the solution such as light, heat or lasers. BriteSmile
developed a special high intensity plasma arc light was made to work with
a specially designed whitening gel. The light has a mouthpiece that brings
the light energy very close to all the teeth being treated. In this way
the gel is activated most effectively without creating any heat or other
sensation.
BriteSmile
You may have heard the commercials, seen the ads or the stories on the
news – whiter, brighter teeth are all the craze. When it comes to
teeth whitening, there are a number of choices including whitening toothpastes,
traditional home bleaching kits, and cosmetic dentistry services offered
in a dentist’s office.
The newest innovation in professional teeth whitening is BriteSmile –
a technique that uses a special light to activate a proprietary gel to
whiten teeth. The entire process takes about an hour. Before and after
photos of those who have had the procedure certainly demonstrate dramatic
results.
But not just marketing claims. In addition to the amazing results I see
in my patients everyday, BriteSmile recently released a comprehensive
analysis of 1000 individual whitening cases, which verified the effectiveness
of this innovative procedure. The analysis found an average of eight shades
of improvement (on a 16 shade scale) across the general population and,
significantly, an even greater improvement in cases with darker pre-procedure
shades. In many cases, even those with the darkest teeth were moved off
the whitening charts.
They say a smile is worth a thousand words, and that is certainly true
in this business. When patients come in and we show them the before and
after photos, a lot of them say “but what will it do for me?”.
Now we have the data and the proof that BriteSmile safely, effectively
and consistently delivers great results – for everyone.
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