I was at my dentist a while back - I want to get my teeth whitened. I can't decide the best way, looking for some feedback. I had whitening trays I got about 6 years ago. I still have them and they fit fine. I dont mind the gel stuff but it is kind of a pain in the neck, although it did get my teeth pretty darn white. The dentist told me about a new laser method he has where they apply gel and put some sort of light in your mouth that activates the bleach. Any comments on which is better? I never had a problem with sensitivity after bleaching, but my two considerations are how white I can get and how long it takes. I'll put the time in with the bleach if I will end up with a whiter result, but if the laser does a better job and is quicker then I'm gonna go that way. My dentist didn't offer up much beyond the cop-out "they both work just different costs" answer and I figured one HAD to produce whiter results than the other, no? Finally, my dentist in Cali (where I lived back then) suggested the trays and said most folks only bleach the first 3 or 4 teeth on each side, but he made the trays cover all the teeth. I bleached all the way back and I think it looks much nicer when you get a real wide smile and its still white. Nothing's worse than white in front yellow on sides. My dentist now who does the laser feels its unecessary. Is there a compelling reason NOT to go as far back with the bleach as I want or is it a cost/time issue? Hoping to make the appointment this week to either get more bleach gel or the last, so any feedback is appreciated. Oh while I'm at it - for the bleach gel, any brand that is best (for whitest results)???
Business in front, party in the back! I've heard that the lights will get 14 shades and gel has sometimes listed 8-10 shades, and I've heard the opposite. Lotsa dentists here probably know the inside scoop!
First it is actually not a laser but a simple UV light similar to a tan bed light. I provide both whitening options and I also agree with everything both dentists have told you. One is quicker but as you were told it will only affect the front 8 teeth or so, depending. The trays will get everything in there but takes longer. I will say that the trays will do a better job in the long run. The extent that teeth will lighten is, basically, based on three factors, bleach concentration, time in contact with the teeth and the permeability of the teeth. That's why trays will do a better job over the long haul - because you can do it as many times as you want. My experience with Zoom (and Rembrant which I do not care for) is mixed. They work but the results are all over the board. You never really know how white they will get. Really dark yellow teeth will either lighten amazingly well or not change much at all. The latter is a better off with the trays because the patient can pound away at it as much as they want at home. Confused yet? If you REALLY want to put a high beam in your mouth the thing to do is both. Have your dentist make you a set of trays and bleach a few days at home, then go in under the light. Now that will pretty much bleach anyone and you get to keep the trays to touch things up now and then. The Zoom kits that we dentists use actually comes with tray material and a little sample at-home gel so it is easy to do both if you want. The difference is simply time. At-home trays can take 2-3 weeks. This combo deal uses trays at home too but for only 2 or 3 days, not weeks. The trick here is you need to be bleaching right up until the day you Zoom them. You cannot use the trays and then wait 3 months to go see your dentist. The trays are conditioning the teeth so they really soak up the Zoom peroxide and light. They have to be done one right after the other to get that big WOW result. However, if you want to save money and don't mind the effort, just do the trays. You will eventually get lighter than doing just a 1 hour Zoom session and ALL the teeth will whiten up just fine. It's the old gold standard and always works.
