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Dental bleaching/whitening
Tooth whitening has been a raising trend for cosmetic purposes such as the use of laser(light accelerated bleaching) and in office hydrogen peroxide bleaching method. Which type of beaching/whitening method is most effective? There are studies that shown that use of light during bleaching increases the risk of tooth sensitivity and may not be any more effective than bleaching without light when high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide are used.
What is your opinion?
4 answers
Lawrence..."Don't look into the light",
The UV light is all show and no go. There is no good clinical proof that a UV light used in home or by a dentist (during in-office whitening) speeds up the process of whitening or does a better job at whitening your teeth. In fact, it may increase sensitivity, harm the tooth and can damage your eyes, lips, and gums with UV rays. The reality is the peroxide in the gel is doing the work and the UV lights are a marketing ploy. The gels you apply by strip, pen or tray contain an active whitening ingredient (either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide) that penetrates your enamel to get to discolored molecules. Oxygen molecules from the whitening agents react with the discolored molecules in your teeth, breaking the bonds that hold them together. At-home systems contain from 3% to 20% peroxide (carbamide or hydrogen peroxides). In-office systems contain from 15% to 43% peroxide. Generally, the longer you keep a stronger solution on your teeth, the whiter your teeth become. However, the higher the percentage of peroxide in the whitening solution, the shorter it should be applied to the teeth. Keeping the gel on too long will dehydrate the tooth and increase tooth sensitivity. The best solution we have found to increase whitening and avoiding tooth sensitivity is a combination of a good quality toothpaste (skip the activated charcoal and ask your dentist) and great tools like a sonicbrush with a whitening and polish mode, flossing and oral pH and microbiome balancing mints. An occasional bleaching with strips or by your dentist is a good reset especially it you are a big tea, coffee or red wine drinker.
ADA statements on teeth whitening.
"Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful"
MICHAEL and Dr. B. DDS @ GLINT oral care
Whiter teeth is the current dental cosmetic trend where many are visiting their dentist office for such treatment. However, it could be quite pricey and the cost is generally not cover by medical health care insurance! In office whitening treatment uses a more potent bleaching agent that home bleaching kit. This results in a significant differences in the whitening/bleaching effects. Just as @Michael Evans mentioned above, the laser light act as a accelerator agent and there are studies that shown that the result are not significantly different from those with normal in office bleaching technique.
The best form of light-activated teeth whitening is usually a combination of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide with lights or lasers of various wavelengths. The light is thought to act as a catalyst, quickening the breakdown of the peroxide to create free radicals and accelerating the whitening process.