Tooth Whitening: Which Option is Best For You?

HARRISBURG, Pa., Jan. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Custom-fitted trays, white
strips, plasma arc lights and lasers. These are just a few of the
choices patients face when deciding to whiten their teeth. Sound
confusing?

The Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) offers the following advice
to help you decide which option is best for you.

Dr. David Larson, a Pennsylvania Dental Association (PDA) member
dentist from Harrisburg, estimated that only about 30 percent of his
patients are fully educated about their options before a whitening
consultation.

"Most have a general idea of the outcome but don't really know the
process," Dr. Larson said. "They mostly have seen the TV makeover
shows and ads."

They usually have questions - Will it hurt? How long does it last?
What procedure can I afford? For some, the price of a brighter smile
can be surprisingly inexpensive, while for others it may be
significant.

For the average person, a quick trip to the drug store for an
over-the-counter whitening agent usually yields a very subtle
lightening of the teeth. But keep in mind, the American Dental
Association (ADA) only approves dentist-dispensed home-use whitening
products assuring proper application and follow-up.

If you're looking for a more consistent and safe approach, a
dentist-dispensed prescription bleaching kit may be your solution. The
kit consists of higher carbamide or hydrogen peroxide concentrations
than its non-prescription counterparts. Patients apply a gel that is
worn in a custom-made mouth tray during the day or night. This
procedure works well with yellowish stains and costs between
$300-$400.

"These routinely achieve a high level of success," Dr. Larson said.

Brown or grayish-hued teeth may not bleach well at all. Whitener will
not affect tooth bonding, tooth-colored filings, crowns or veneers,
either. Patients with these prior treatments should consider new
lighter color porcelain veneers, crowns or dental bonding. Although
invasive and expensive, these procedures usually yield the most
dramatic and predictable results.

With bonding, a direct application of composite (tooth-colored filling
material) is added to the natural tooth by hand. This can change both
the shape and color of teeth and close unwanted gaps. The result can
last eight years and the cost is $250-$500 per tooth.

Veneers allow a tremendous level of shape/color alteration to be
achieved. Typically, a patient will wear temporary veneers for two to
three weeks while the lab creates the custom porcelain laminates. They
are then bonded to the teeth. Expect to pay $600-$900 per tooth with
results lasting 12-15 years, according to Dr. Larson.

A less-costly and non-invasive procedure, known as power whitening or
Zoom type whitening, has helped patients with moderate or heavily
stained teeth. This procedure is done in the office and involves a
high concentration of hydrogen peroxide gel paired with a
high-intensity light.

What might be most appealing is the process time, which takes only one
hour and claims to whiten teeth up to 10 shades brighter. The cost is
around $600 and results last for about three years.

Another treatment - laser whitening - has been known to eliminate dark
stains, including deep gray. Unlike power bleaching, laser whitening
does not use a whitening gel.

The price of this treatment can total well over $2,500. In addition,
the ADA currently does not approve any laser whitening procedure due
to potential long-term side effects of laser interactions with hard
tissue in the mouth and lack of controlled clinical studies.

Lastly, nothing lasts forever. Teeth will slowly return back to their
prior color over several years. Depending upon your personal habits
(tea, coffee, smoking, berry jam) frequent touch-ups may be needed.

Patients may even need a mixture of options to complete their own
smile makeover. If money is an issue, some dentists will offer payment
plans to their patients or accept credit cards.

The best route when choosing a whitening option is to talk to your PDA
member dentist. He or she will have the ability to provide a
professional evaluation of your teeth's discoloration - advice that
could save you from ineffective and time-consuming over-the-counter
alternatives.

Said Dr. Larson, "Almost all my patients were extremely happy with
their whitening procedure and wonder why they did not do it before."

For more information on whitening and other oral health topics, visit
PDA's website at http://www.padental.org. SOURCE Pennsylvania Dental
Association