Life-Like News
Newsletter • 1st Quarter, 2002
2002 Professional At-Home Whitening Reference
Whitening has come a long way in the last decade. Here are some guidelines and tips to help you and your patients receive the benefit of the state-of-art of whitening for 2002.
30% Carbamide Peroxide - There has been a steady progression from 10% carbamide peroxide to higher concentrations. Thirty percent has now been available for over two years and has proven itself - safe, fast, low sensitivity, and excellent patient compliance. Key clinicians such as William Strupp, DDS have embraced it as the only whitener they deploy. It is also the best way to distinguish your professional whitening far above new OTC whitening products.
Low Sensitivity with No KN03 - Short wear time, not chemicals such as potassium nitrate, are the best way to reduce sensitivity. Using 30% carbamide peroxide with its 20-30 minute treatments prevents dehydration and allows rapid rehydration. Potasium nitrate in whitening gel does not have time to take meaningful effect. Instead, use 30% carbamide peroxide to prevent sensitivity through short wear time and faster results.
Dual Arch Whitening - Wearing two stents on the upper and lower arch at once for more than 30 minutes invites TMJ issues. Using 30% carbamide peroxide keeps the treatments under 30 minutes, avoids TMJ problems, and allows the patient to whiten in half the time.
Patient Compliance - The longer the treatments and total number of days to whiten, the great decline in patient compliance. The short wear time and fast whitening with low sensitivity using 30% is the way to achieve successful whitening cases and happier patients.
Routine Whitening - Another key to patient compliance is the ability to make whitening as routine as possible. Encourage patients to whiten while in the shower every morning. Short wear time is again the key.
At-Home Cleaning & Debriding - Carbamide peroxide has been used as a periodontal anticeptic longer than it has been used to whiten teeth. Eighty percent of all adults have some form of gum disease. Using 8% Carbamide Peroxide gel (Life-Like PerioFormula) with a tray that overlaps the gum line is an effective way to reduce this shocking statistic.
No Reservoirs - Reservoirs defeat van der Waal’s Forces and allow bleach to leave the tray. They are ineffective and take unnecessary lab time. In short, they waste busy time, have no benefit, and can cause problems - so skip them.
Trim Tray Off Soft Tissue - Properly trimmed trays are a must with high concentrations. The trays should not overlap the gingival when whitening. Pay close attention to the trim and keep the edges smooth and off the soft tissue.
Patient Instruction - The patient should be shown how to load the tray with the proper dosage. Demonstrate how small the beads of bleach should be in each tooth indentation, and show the patient how the plunger should only move a total of 1/4cc. Let patients know what to expect. Inform the patient that uneven whitening is common, to stick with it, and that it will whiten and even out quickly.
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