Dental Questions: Do whitening strips work?

Tooth whitening is the most commonly requested cosmetic procedure at dental offices nation wide. Lightening the shade of dental enamel can create a dramatic change that draws attention to your smile. As such, you have probably seen products like Crest WhiteStrips at your local pharmacy and wondered if they were worth the investment. Why would someone choose these over a professional bleaching treatment performed at a dental office? For these answers and more, read on!

Any tooth whitening product that works (from a scientific perspective) will have some concentration of a peroxide compound. Peroxide works by oxidizing the pigments that have leached into your teeth and removing their colors. Typically, dental products contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide suspended in some type of gel. 

The main difference between a whitening strip, a bleach tray and an in-office bleaching session is the concentration of peroxide. Since these compounds are slightly caustic, high levels of peroxide can cause gum irritation or discoloration. For an in-office whitening session, the gums can be safely guarded and isolated, allowing us to use a higher level of peroxide. As a result, you will see an almost instantaneous change in the shade of your dental enamel. With a product like WhiteStrips, the plastic tray is not custom molded to your teeth and is bound to contact your gums or become leaky out the sides. Hence, a lower concentration of peroxide must be used, with noticeable results taking longer to appear. 

Which type of whitening is best? That can only be answered on a patient-by-patient basis. For those looking for a cost effective change without a deadline, over-the-counter whitening strips are a great option. If you're looking for a single treatment that brings almost instant results, in-office bleaching might be better. It really depends on what you hope to accomplish and how much time you can devote to your treatment. If you would like to know more about tooth whitening, dental bleaching or other cosmetic procedures, please give our office a call!

Case Presentation: ZOOM Whitening

Take a look at the dramatic change we achieved in this patient using the ZOOM Whitening products. Can you believe this transformation only took a single office visit?

At a typical ZOOM appointment, we start by quickly polishing the teeth to remove any surface staining. Then, a special material is applied to the gums surrounding the teeth to protect them from the bleaching gel. The actual "bleach" is a special formulation of peroxide that is activated using the ZOOM light. The entire session takes about an hour and a half where you can relax, listen to Pandora music, watch cable TV or catch up on your favorite Netflix series! If you would like to know more about your bleaching options or to schedule a ZOOM appointment for yourself, please call or email our office.

Dental Questions: What's the difference between Zoom whitening and bleach trays?

A whitening procedure performed at our office in addition to Invisalign invisible braces. 

You have probably heard of two main types of bleaching systems offered at dental offices: "ZOOM" whitening and bleach trays. While they both achieve the same results, there are some differences between the two procedures that you should take note of:

ZOOM Whitening is the name brand for Phillip's in-office bleaching system. Here, the entire "whitening" procedure is performed in our exam rooms. We use a blocking material to shield your gums and apply several layers of concentrated peroxide gel to your teeth. A special light is utilized to speed up the chemical reaction by activating the gel. Overall, ZOOM takes about an hour and twenty minutes from being seated in a chair to leaving our office. In the meantime, you will be set up with Pandora music, cable TV or Netflix movies. While this is the fastest way to whiter teeth, it is also the most likely to cause temporary sensitivity issues afterwards. 

Bleach Trays are a home whitening system that is administered and monitored by a dentist. You will need an initial appointment for a consultation and impressions of your teeth. Later that day or the following day, your new bleach trays will be ready. You then perform the actual "whitening" at home using a peroxide gel (similar to ZOOM, but lower in concentration). Typically, patients are instructed to whiten for one hour once a day for 14 days, followed by once a month as needed. This type of whitening does work slower, but usually causes less sensitivity issues and can be adjusted to your personal comfort level. 

Overall, you can see the similarities and differences between ZOOM and bleach trays. Some of our patients even combine the two procedures- that is, have one ZOOM session and bleach trays made for maintenance (done in the same visit). Since both services rely on the same peroxide gel, they can be used together for additive action. If you have any further questions on bleaching, bleach trays or other cosmetic procedures, please give our office a call!

Home Whitening- Frequently Asked Questions

With so many whitening options, which one is best for me?

If you spend enough time watching tv or browsing the internet, you are bound to see some sort of advertisement for teeth bleaching. With such a huge demand and emphasis on facial esthetics, many companies and organizations are trying to win your business with the promise of a whiter smile. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we wanted to take a moment to inform you on the hows and whys of whitening so that you can make the best decision for your personal needs. Take a look at our home whitening frequently asked questions:

1. How does whitening work?

Whitening, whether done at a dental office or in your own home with over the counter products, is all based on the oxidation powers of hydrogen peroxide (or a peroxide derivative). Deep tooth stains penetrate past the outer enamel into an inner layer called the dentin. This is the part of the tooth that locks in stains and becomes discolored. During whitening, the peroxide is conducted to the dentin via tubules in the teeth and reaches the stained tissue. The peroxide then removes color by oxidizing the pigments, which effectively removes their ability to absorb light. This reaction is a function of peroxide concentration and time. The longer you can keep a higher concentration of peroxide on the teeth, the more drastic and enduring your results will be.

Whitening adresses pigmentation in the tooth dentin. This layer is situated between the outer enamel and the inner pulp chamber. 

2. Do all whitening procedures work this way?

Any whitening procedure that addresses the root cause of deep staining will rely on some sort of peroxide therapy. The dental profession does not recognize an other/better way to remove discoloration from tooth dentin.

3. My toothpaste/floss/mouthwash says “whitening” on it, but does not have any peroxide content. What does this mean?

Many products marketed by mainstream dental companies promise a whiter, brighter smile with their use. Again, if the product does not contain a form of hydrogen peroxide it will not be able to remove deep stains within the teeth. On the backs of many of these products, the “whitening” properties are clarified: the scope of their effectiveness is limited to surface stains. This makes sense too; the abrasive properties of these products would make them excellent candidates for removing pigmentation at the outermost layer of the teeth. However, they will not address staining in the same fashion as a peroxide based treatment.

4. Are there any “all natural” whitening techniques that work as good as commercial products (i.e. strawberries and baking soda)?

The internet is full of articles on whitening your teeth via strawberries and baking soda or other “natural” techniques. Unfortunately, modern scientific research does not confirm any of these treatments and actually provides good reasons to avoid them. Strawberries, while delicious and full of great nutrients, are highly pigmented, acidic and sugary. This combination makes them horrible candidates for brushing with/leaving on your teeth. While the color may lead to further staining, the sugar and acid can actually lead to tooth decay. However, fear not!

Hydrogen peroxide is a perfectly healthy and safe way to whiten your smile and will not cause damage to your teeth.

5. How do home whitening solutions differ from those provided at Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry.

The only difference between a whitening service you would receive at our office and one you would purchase at a store is concentration of peroxide. The higher the peroxide concentration, the quicker the results. However, more peroxide necessitates more precise methods of delivery. This is done to prevent excess material from coming into contact with your gums/tongue and bleaching or irritating them.  When performing in office Zoom! treatments, we take about 20 minutes to block out all of your gum tissue with a special material to avoid any extra bleaching. With this level of precision, we can use a 35% bleach. Trays can be provided with a concentration up to 20%, as they “lock in” the peroxide around the tooth. Whitening strips and other take home products can only be sold with about 10% peroxide, as they are not custom made and are almost guaranteed to touch the gum tissue.

6. How long does whitening last?

The great news about whitening is that once you achieve a tooth shade you are happy with, it will remain stable for quite some time. We recommend you follow the manufacturer’s instructions until you reach your desired shade. Beyond that, you can use the product once a month (usually, varies product to product) as a means of “touching up” your smile. You can keep the whitening product in your fridge for longer shelf life, and remove it an hour before application.

7. Will my teeth be sensitive?

Peroxide causes sensitivity as it has to open tubules within the teeth to enter the inner dentin. Once these tubules are open, they are more sensitive to movement, air and cold temperatures. It is hard to predict sensitivity in patients who have never whitened before. However, many over the counter pain medicines are great at minimizing whitening pain. If you have questions about whitening sensitivity and how to minimize it, feel free to call our office.

We hope this information will help you better choose a whitening system that is best for your unique circumstances. If you want any more information on home whitening or would like to know about the whitening services offered at our office, please give us a call. We are always happy and eager to inform our patients on the best products and services available!

Teeth Whitening

Teeth bleaching is one of the most common and sought out dental treatments nationwide. There are numerous options and products offering whiter teeth, from toothpastes to bleaching “strips” and even professional procedures. At Thousand Oaks Family Dentistry, we offer two forms of whitening procedures: in-office bleaching and take home trays.

Firstly, it is important to understand how teeth whitening works. In actuality, there is no bleach (sodium hypochlorite) in any whitening products. The active ingredient in almost all whiteners is hydrogen peroxide. Peroxide works by oxidizing the molecules that cause staining, which in-turn prevents them from dying the teeth. These staining compounds reside in the layer of the teeth known as the dentin. This zone sits between the tooth enamel and nerve chamber and is composed by  thousands of tiny ducts known as tubules. Whitening sensitivity usually arises from these tubules opening, allowing the peroxide to penetrate and “bleach” the teeth.

Take home bleach trays combine flexibility and enduring results of whitening strips with the speed of professional strength bleach. After you decide to whiten using trays, we will take impressions of your teeth and turn those into plaster study models. We then vacuum form plastic to your model, making a perfect relief of your teeth. After trimming the plastic, your trays are ready to be picked up and used. The entire process can be completed in as little as two days (if necessary).

(From left to right)- We start by taking impressions which are turned into stone models. These models are used to make your custom trays. We then send you home with a supply of professional strength peroxide bleach.

We will send you home with a peroxide intensity appropriate to your comfort level and desired results. Many first time bleachers will opt into a lower peroxide percentage until they understand their personal level of sensitivity. Trays are typically used for one hour a day for two weeks, followed by one hour a day, once a month. This schedule allows for deep dentin bleaching and an enduring white smile. Patients who use this method typically reach a very stable tooth shade that lasts for many years.

In-office bleaching is a great whitening solution for those who want immediate results or cannot devote the time to slower bleaching methods. We start by retracting your lips and blocking out your gum tissue and mucosa. Once we have created an effective barrier between your teeth and other mouth structures (peroxide will remove color from any tissue it contacts), we apply a 40% peroxide bleach to the facial side of your teeth. We typically leave the peroxide on for two 20 minute sessions. In the meantime, you can enjoy netflix, pandora internet radio or cable tv on our in-operatory TVs.

Top left- Blockout material used to protect your gums. Bottom left- In-office bleach, before activation. Right- Cheek retractors commonly used in our whitening procedures.

Feel free to enjoy one of our many entertainment options during your whitening procedure. 

If you have any further questions on teeth bleaching or would like to schedule an appointment, feel free to call our office. We have helped hundreds of patients achieve healthy and beautiful smiles and can accommodate all of your esthetic needs and desires.