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 whitening.
30% Carbamide Peroxide – There’s been a steady progression from 10% carbamide peroxide to higher concentrations. Thirty percent has now been available for more than 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 position the speed and quality of your professional whitening as far as above new non-dentist-supervised OTC whitening products.
Low Sensitivity with No KNO₃ – Short wear time (not chemicals such as potassium nitrate) is the best way to reduce sensitivity. Using 30% water based carbamide peroxide, with its 20-30 minute treatments, prevents dehydration and allows rapid rehydration. Potassium nitrate in whitening gel has arguable potential downsides. Instead, to prevent sensitivity, use 30% carbamide peroxide (as shorter wear time allows minimum dehydration and faster rehydration).
Dual Arch Whitening – Wearing two stents (upper and lower arch at once) for more than 30 minutes could invite TMJ issues. But 30% carbamide peroxide keeps 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 greater the decline in patient compliance. Prescribing short wear time and fast whitening with slow 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 aspossible. Using 30% allows you to 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 antiseptic 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. Reservoirs are ineffective and take unnecessary lab time. In short, they waste busy time, have no benefit, and can cause problems. We recommend that you simply skip them.
Trim Tray Off Soft Tissue – Properly trimmed trays are a must with high concentrations. The trays should never overlap the gingival when whitening. Pay close attention to the trim and keep the edges smooth and off the soft tissue.
Patient Instructions – 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. Simply stick with it! The whitening will eventually even out.
Full Website Support – Any questions that you or your patients might have about the tooth whitening process in general, or about the speed and convenience of faster-modality gels, just check this web address… www.life-like.com/athome
Life-Like 30% Patient Instructions
Instructions:
1) Twist the top of the seal-syringe applicator to align the tip with the black O-ring.
2) Extrude a small drop of the Life-Like gel into each tooth indentation of your mouth tray. See photo at right. You need just 1/4cc of material to properly load the tray. If the material is too difficult to get out of the applicator, trim back the tip with scissors.
3) Place the tray in your mouth. Using 1/4cc should leave no significant excess material.
4) Wear the tray for two treatments per day each from 20 to 30 minutes, as prescribed by your dentist.
5) Rinse or brush out your tray to remove excess material after each treatment.
6) Repeat this procedure for 7 to 10 days. Monitor your results until you have achieved the whiteness you want.
Note: Refrigerate material when not in use.
Suggestions: Refrain from eating, drinking, or smoking for 30 minutes after wearing the gel. Also avoid citrus to minimize possible discomfort.
If sensitivity occurs, wait 24 hours before resuming treatments. If sensitivity persists, call your dentist.
Happy Whitening! 1/4cc per treatment
About Life-Like: Life-Like Cosmetic Solutions, the original teeth whitening specialists, provides practical and effective tooth bleaching products for dental professionals as well as teeth bleaching kits for at-home use. Since its founding in 1990, thousands of dental professionals from around the world have come to rely on Life-Like for support of their teeth whitener services. Dental professionals can purchase their professional whitening kits from a wholesaler or an exclusive source, such as the Life-Like website. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 800-543-3545 for more information.