Calculating the makeup of a safe, effective bleaching gel can be hard – it’s important to know what to look for.
This decision is even more important, when you have a patient who suffers with sensitive teeth.
Sensitivity of the teeth can be very off-putting for those looking for a brighter, whiter smile, with people who experience discomfort often choosing to avoid the treatment all together.
Whitening does not have to be a challenge for those who suffer with sensitivity. With the right product, dramatic whitening is achievable.
This clinical case looks at how White Dental Beauty with its unique ingredient NOVON®; tackles bleach- related tooth sensitivity, delivering superior whitening results.
Dr Angie Segatto: Testing At-Home Whitening Kits
Dr Angie Segatto is a passionate dentist, who specialises in restorative and aesthetic dentistry
Currently completing her PHD studies at the Doctorate School at the University of Szeged, Hungary, Dr Segatto also lectures on dentistry to share her experience and knowledge with upcoming dentists. Her commitment is to the art of dentistry, and her mission is to inspire this same passion within her students.
"It is a great challenge to restore things originally created perfectly by nature but damaged by external forces."
Patient desire for the brightest and whitest smile has been growing for a while and is often a priority over alignment and symmetry.
And with new technologies and technical advancements readily available, dentists are now able to transform the natural colour of patients’ teeth using non-invasive, chemical techniques. This is one of the many reasons why tooth whitening has grown in popularity for both patients and dentists.
One of the major improvements to tooth whitening - benefitting both the dentist and the patient - is the growth of at-home whitening kits. As well as making tooth whitening a more accessible and convenient treatment for patients, at-home whitening kits also reduce the time spent in the chair.
Another key benefit of these kits is the added comfort for the patient…
Naturally, peroxides can cause irritation or sensitivity. This is because peroxide solutions cause a rapid fluid movement inside the dentinal tubules which then stimulates mechanoreceptors at the pulp periphery. It is this process which manifests as a feeling of pain.
By offering treatments that can be used from as little as 30 minutes a day to deliver the desired results, the exposure to peroxide is minimised and the effects reduced.
And giving patients a choice in peroxide strength and different treatment options means even patients with the most sensitive of teeth can whiten with confidence.
To understand how the latest advancements in tooth whitening are benefiting patients, Dr Angie Segatto put them to the test. Here, you can check out the cases for each one…
Testing with White Dental Beauty
All four patients undergoing tooth whitening had already experienced in-office tooth whitening more than 5 years ago. This initial treatment used a whitening system that contained a sensitivity assuasive effect material (35% H2 O2 ) which each patient reported as causing either acute sensitivity or tolerable pain.
To compare the results and comfort of in-office tooth whitening with modern, at-home techniques, each patient whitened their teeth again.
Patients who complained of acute sensitivity first time round were treated with 5% Carbamide Peroxide - a mild solution designed by White Dental Beauty. With lower levels of peroxide, this whitening system has been created for people with sensitive teeth and promises results as effective as 10% Carbamide Peroxide.
The remaining patients were treated with White Dental Beauty’s 6% Hydrogen Peroxide whitening gel. This solution is the equivalent to 18% Carbamide Peroxide, making it the strongest at-home whitening solution allowed. Due to it’s unique chemistry, enhanced results can be achieved from a wear time as little as 30 minutes a day.
Both of these products showcase the latest advancements in at-home whitening, due to their unique patented technology - NOVON®. This novel science generates a significant pH jump from 6.5 in its neutral state to over 8.2 when activated by saliva.
It is this jump that encourages the release of perhydroxyl ions, enabling a more effective whitening result in less wear time.
Taking impression with a special high-brim impression tray makes it possible to pour the impression without bases. In order to remove the baseless model without any damage we need to use extra strong white dental plaster for pouring. Preparing a foil with the in-office vacuum forming machine removes the need for a dental technician and shortens the period between the decision and starting the treatment.
The base-free model makes it possible to fabricate a more precise custom tray, with the in-office vacuum machine. The gingival margin that is distinctly visible, allows positioning of the margins of the foil on the tooth surface, helping to reduce irritation.
Patient 1
The first patient whitened her teeth for 12 days using White Dental Beauty’s 6% Hydrogen Peroxide whitening gels.
The initial colour of the teeth was Vita Shade A2, which significantly improved to 0M1 Vita Bleached guide 3D Master.
When asked to score the sensitivity on a scale of 0 - 10 (0 being low and 10 being high), the patient recorded a score of 0.
Patient 2
The second patient was treated using White Dental Beauty’s 6% Hydrogen Peroxide solution for 10 days.
In line with the Vita Shade Guide, the patient’s teeth started as Vita Shade C3. Following the treatment, teeth improved to Vita Shade B2.
When asked to score the sensitivity on a scale of 0 - 10 (0 being low and 10 being high), the patient recorded a score of 0.
Patient 3
This patient whitened their teeth using White Dental Beauty’s 6% Hydrogen whitening gel, for a total of 12 days.
The resulting changes was a transformation from Vita Shade A3 to B1.
When asked to score the sensitivity on a scale of 0 - 10 (0 being low and 10 being high), the patient recorded a score of 0.
Patient 4
Patient four was treated using White Dental Beauty’s 5% Carbamide Peroxide solution for 10 days.
The patient’s teeth were transformed from Vita Shade D2 to Vita Shade A1.
When asked to score the sensitivity on a scale of 0 - 10 (0 being low and 10 being high), the patient recorded a score of 0.
Test Results
On average, the patients wore their whitening gels for 32 minutes a day for around 10 days. This resulted in an average colour transformation of 5 shades.
Most significantly, the amount of sensitivity considerably reduced both during the treatment period and the days that followed.
Two conclusions can be deduced from these cases...
- Whitening the teeth ahead of restorative treatments ensures there is effective aesthetic integration across the mouth.
- 5% Carbamide Peroxide is an effective solution for patients who want to achieve impressive results with minimal sensitivity.
White Dental Beauty Gels are specifically formulated, packaged and delivered with your patients in mind, ensuring you have everything you need to offer them a successful whitening treatment.
White Dental Beauty's whitening products are available worldwide from your local distributor including Optident for the UK. To order in the UK visit the White Dental Beauty manufacturer page or call +44 (0) 1943 60 50 50.