Teeth Whitening: What dental professionals think about your pursuit of whiter teeth

Take-home whitening kits

Dr. Joshua Austin is the editor of “Pearls for Your Practice” column, which appears in Dental Economics magazine. On Dec. 19, 2016, he wrote:

“Take-home whitening, in my opinion, is the best option for everyone involved—with less rebound, fewer side effects, less chair time, and lower overhead. Not all hygienists are comfortable taking alginate impressions, and the hygiene schedule doesn't always allow adequate time for them.”

On-the-go whitening

Karen Davis, RDH, is a columnist for RDH magazine. On Dec. 13, 2016, she published an article about “whitening pens,” which are compact, on-the-go devices (think of “highlighter” pens for a similarity). She wrote:

“No time in the dental office is required to whiten your teeth. No trays are necessary. You have a pen loaded with whitening gel at home, at the beach, at the office, or anywhere, and you click the pen to expel gel onto the tip. Then you simply ‘brush’ or ‘paint’ the front surfaces of the teeth with gel while smiling to ensure all teeth in the smile line are included. That's it.”

Davis added:

“Whitening pens can be highly effective as a "touch-up" to in-office whitening or when used prior to special occasions as a boost to lighten teeth … Depending upon the pen and the agent used, patients can expect whitening by three to four shades at the end of a two-week regimen of daily whitening.”

Whitening is easy, but …

Dr. Paul Feuerstein is a technology writer for several dental publications. On Nov. 30, 2016, wrote about the challenge to dental offices in providing whitening services:

“There have been frustrations with both in-office and home bleaching products. In the office, a chair and staff member is necessary for the duration of the process, which can be as long as an hour. There is a lot of prep, including covering the soft tissue with gels, creams, or light-cured masks. Sometimes elaborate vacuum, retraction, and isolation systems are necessary ... Due to the time and process, the fees are in the hundreds of dollars, and in some procedures the cost can be more than $1,000. These systems all work well, and offices have to determine which are the best fit. The home products that are directly applied to the teeth, although easy to place, are often difficult to keep in contact with the teeth for the required time. The rinses and pastes require an especially longer number of days or weeks, as the active material does not stay in contact with the teeth for an extended time. The trays and strips seem to hold the active ingredients in a better intimacy with the enamel, but some are more difficult to keep in place than others.”

It’s not about vanity

Dr. Richard Nagelberg is a general dentist in Philadelphia. In the Oct. 26, 2016, issue of Dental Economics, he wrote about why patients seek teeth whitening options:

“Sixty-five percent of patients who have tried over-the-counter whitening products are dissatisfied and would not recommend them. For many, whiter, brighter smiles are about self-confidence rather than vanity. This desire goes hand in hand with hair coloring and skin care, among other appearance concerns.”

Benefits of whitening strips

Dr. Mary Jablow is a proponent of patients wearing whitening strips with a carbamide peroxide formulation. On Oct. 4, 2016, he wrote an article for DentistryIQ.com that detailed the benefits of a specific dental product. In doing so, he highlighted disadvantages of other whitening systems:

“Unfortunately, the drugstore products and do-it-yourself mall kiosks have relegated teeth whitening to a commodity in many cases. The in-office tooth bleaching procedure can be time intensive: place the rubber dam, apply the bleaching gel, and possibly activate a light. Then the patient sits and waits for removal of the trays. The patient often receives a custom tray with more bleaching gel. This becomes a large expense to the practice in both time and money.”

But in-office systems are not always ‘slow’

Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, is a California-based dental hygienist, and she is a former president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. On August 15, 2016, Perno Goldie wrote about a particular system that is available in many dental offices. The whitening system can “help to satisfy patients' desires to have brighter smiles in record time with little or no sensitivity.” In her DentistryIQ.com article, she wrote:

“The process involves very little chair time to whiten by up to four shades in 10 minutes. The best results are seen after a prophylaxis on yellow- or brown-stained teeth (versus gray- or tetracycline-stained teeth). A 20% hydrogen peroxide whitening varnish is applied, followed by a sealant layer that dries in seconds and locks the varnish in place. In 30 minutes, the patient wipes or brushes off the thin film to reveal a brighter smile. It is suggested that the patient be at least 18 years of age and in good general and dental health. Pregnant or lactating women and patients with serious health conditions should consult their physicians prior to a whitening procedure.”

Whitening is just part of the new, pretty picture

Dr. Stacey Simmons has a dental practice in Montana. In January 2017, she wrote an article for Dental Economics where she urged her peers to help consumers not to be swayed about advertising for whitening products. She even admitted that dentists are often seen as “the bad guys,” overcharging dental patients for “something simple.” She believes dentists should reinforce the overall health value of dental offices, writing:

“The most important point to get across to our patients and the public in general is that a white, beautiful smile is reflective of a healthy mouth. Whether directly or indirectly, we [dentists] need to and should be a part of the whitening equation. We promote and emphasize the benefits of professional involvement with regard to bleaching because we want our patients to realize this: The benefits of comprehensive care are many, not least of which is to accentuate and maximize their whitening investment.”

Remember, regardless of what whitening option you choose, practice thorough oral health at home too.