At-home teeth whitening - Carbamide peroxide / tray-based teeth bleaching systems.

While you probably already know that there are a number of different types of systems that can be used to whiten teeth, you may not be aware of the fact that since the early 1990's more dentists have chosen to utilize tray-based teeth whitening products with their patients than any other bleaching approach.

The typical dentist-dispensed tray-based teeth whitening system involves the use of a plastic tray (termed a "custom tray) that has been fabricated and adjusted so it fits comfortably over the patient's teeth. This bleaching tray is then sent home with the patient along with a quantity of carbamide peroxide gel (10% concentration) and instructions describing how to use them.

In general, the idea is that the patient needs to place dabs of the whitener into the bleaching tray and then seat the tray over their teeth. The tray is worn for multiple hours per day (or else overnight), over a series of days or weeks (per the dentist's and manufacturer's instructions), as the effects of the whitening process are allowed to take place.

Use this link for a much more detailed description of the steps involved with tray technique and whitener that is used.

Is an at-home tooth whitening system the best choice?

Using at-home tray teeth whitening products can be an excellent way for a person to safely and effectively bleach their teeth. It is, however, extremely important for anyone choosing to utilize this type of system to realize that essentially all of their whitening treatments will be performed on their own with absolutely no direct supervision by a dental professional. Because of this, anyone bleaching their teeth must be certain that the specific whitener they are using is safe and that they know how to use this product in an appropriate manner. Failure to meet either one of these conditions might result in damage or harm.

About at-home teeth whitening products: Know what you're buying. There's a wide variety of tooth bleaching products that are available to you as a consumer, both from your dentist and also over-the-counter (i.e., drug stores). You might assume that any product which is available has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") but this is not the case. The FDA does not categorize tooth whiteners as drugs and therefore it does not regulate them. As one of its functions the American Dental Association (the "ADA") has chosen to set guidelines for dental products. These guidelines dictate standards for both safety and product effectiveness. In the case of at-home tooth whiteners, the ADA's guidelines state that a product (when used as directed) must not be harmful to either teeth or the soft tissues of the mouth, and that it can effectively whiten teeth. A manufacturer can, at their own effort and expense, submit to the ADA data from their research and clinical trials. If the ADA finds that their guidelines have been met by this data they will issue to the manufacturer, for that specific product, the ADA's "Seal of Acceptance." Since earning the ADA's seal is an expensive and time-consuming venture for a manufacturer, not to mention completely optional, earning this seal clearly demonstrates a company's commitment toward creating a quality product. Those manufacturers who have earned the ADA's seal will usually display it prominently on their product's packaging. You may discover that the gel that your dentist has chosen for your use with your bleaching tray has not been granted the ADA's seal. There can be good reasons for this: As we all know, many products are manufactured as "generic equivalents." It is very possible that your dentist has reviewed the literature detailing the properties of the product they have dispensed to you and are satisfied that it is appropriate. As you might expect with a generically equivalent product, its manufacturer might not seek the ADA's seal as a way of minimizing the expense of bringing the product to market. The product you have may contain a level of carbamide peroxide that is greater than 10%. Drawing from impressions formulated from their clinical experience and a review of dental literature, your dentist may feel that a whitener containing a concentration of carbamide peroxide that is in excess of 10% is indicated and appropriate for your use. In this case however, you should always feel free to quiz your dentist so they can relate their specific thoughts and rationale to you. Facts you should know about "at-home" tooth bleaching products: The only at-home tooth whiteners (peroxided based) that have earned the ADA's "Seal of Acceptance" are tray-based dentist-dispensed products. No over-the-counter products (such as those sold in your local store) have earned the ADA's seal. The active ingredient contained in all of the at-home teeth whiteners that have earned the ADA's seal, and the whitener that has been the subject of evaluation in the vast majority of at-home tray-based bleaching studies, is carbamide peroxide at a concentration of 10%. The ADA has announced that it plans to discontinue the "Seal of Acceptance" program for products utilized by dental professionals by December 2007.