One Eyed Willy
There are currently two alternatives when it comes to gel-based teeth whiting systems. The treatment options are mainly based on the potency of the teeth whitening gel. You can choose between a whitening treatment that has a high concentration of bleaching agent, or one with a lower concentration of bleaching agent. The highly potent whitening treatment procedure can only be available in-office. These treatment options are only performed by certified cosmetic dentists.
At-home whitening kits generally come with lower concentrations of the bleaching agent. This main distinction directly impacts on the kind of results obtained, as well as the duration of the treatment. Logically, there is also a significant difference in the costs of these teeth whitening options.
A third option, which is emerging as a practical alternative, may also be considered. This teeth whitening option can be defined as some sort of a middle ground between the 2 main teeth whitening treatments mentioned above. This whitening system involves the use of at-home teeth whitening kits that contain higher concentrations of whitening compound. This class of teeth whiteners include those that contain high concentrations of carbamide peroxide and are applied with the close supervision of dentists. The main advantage of this whitening procedure is that it is a cheaper alternative to in-office teeth whitening procedures.
These home whitening kits use an oxidizing ingredient such as carbamide peroxide and are applied to the stained teeth using mouth guards or dental bleaching trays. The application normally lasts for a short period of time and can be performed at home. The effectiveness of the smile teeth whitening procedure largely depends on how the whitening tray or mouth guard is properly fitted. This is to ensure that the bleaching agent makes a complete contact with the teeth. It is also important that the mold is properly fitted to ensure that the gums and other soft tissues are not exposed to the bleaching gel. In-office teeth whitening procedures normally make use of (a second) protective gel to prevent the occurrence of chemical burns.
Teeth whiteners that contain low concentrations of the bleaching agent don’t provide results that are comparable to those obtained from in-office and dentist-supervised teeth whitening kits. However, there are new teeth whitening products on the market today that contain stronger bleaching agents and require shorter time of application.
These whitening products contain about 10% of hydrogen peroxide which is the same active ingredient found in professional teeth whitening systems. These hydrogen peroxide-based whitening systems have high safety margins and cases of gum injuries are seldom, as long as proper care is observed in the use of these teeth whitening products.
The laser-based tooth whitening system is the most effective but also the most expensive among all teeth whitening solutions. Laser technology is harnessed in order to speed up the whitening process. This procedure delivers the most dramatic results at the shortest time period. In fact, you will see noticeable improvement in the shade of your teeth immediately after the initial session with your dentist. However, the higher cost is the major limiting factor and you need to seriously assess your condition, as well as the alternative teeth whiteners before you can finally decide to go through with this type of teeth whiting procedure.
