Over the Counter (OTC)

Pro:

1. Inexpensive way to give whitening your teeth a try.
2. No impressions are necessary (for the strips).

Con:

1. Results will be limited on darker teeth, and may need multiple boxes to reach the shade you want .
2. These products aren’t always approved by the FDA or the ADA as being safe and effective.
3. The strips are safe, and will produce nice results, but at non-prescription strength, it takes several kits to make most people satisfied.  After buying 3 or 4 kits, it ends up costing more $ than the OTC alternatives using prescription strength whitening gels.
4. The strips only whiten the front teeth from premolar to premolar.

 

TresWhite....Our OTC Alternative

Pro:

1. Does the job of 3 kits of OTC strips at less cost.  Ave. price is from $80--$100 in our area.
2. Unlike OTC products, these products are dispensed by your dentist and professionally supervised.
3. FDA and ADA approval means they’re safe and effective.
4. No impressions are necessary.

Con:

1. Like OTC strips, they only whiten the front teeth from premolar to premolar.

 

Customized Trays using Opalescence whitening gel

Pro:

1. For over a decade, this has been the “gold standard” upon which all others are judged by.  It has been proven both safe and effective.
2. All teeth are whitened from front to back.
3. You can save your trays for touching up in later years.  Refill syringes of bleaching gel are very inexpensive.
4. Provides the best long term results.

Con:

1. A little bit more expensive than OTC Alternatives.  Ave. price is from $300--$500 in this area.

 

In-Office Power Bleaching

Pro:

1. Speeds up the bleaching process.
2. Best for tough stains such as those caused by Tetracycline.
3. Our Deep Bleaching system does not use a light, and does not dehydrate your teeth.
4. Our Deep Bleaching system comes with a special desensitizer that you take home to swab onto your teeth with a Q-tip that reduces potential sensitivity to virtually nothing.

Con:

1. Most expensive option.
2. Most possibility for sensitivity compared to the others, especially if it is a system that utilizes a light.  Light assisted power bleaching systems achieve most of the initial whitening via dehydrating the tooth, which causes quite a bit of pain.  It is the customized trays you have to wear for an additional two weeks that produces most of the whitening.
3. Rebound (relapse) occurs relatively quickly unless you wear customized trays for at least two weeks after treatment.

  

For ALL whitening methods:

1. It is important to have an examination before beginning to make sure you have no open cavities.  Open cavities greatly increase your chances for pain/sensitivity.
2. Sensitivity is “possible” with ANY of these whitening systems….with the probability increasing as the strength of the whitening gel increases.
3. Sensitivity can almost always be managed (reduced or eliminated) by your dentist when it occurs.
4. Starting—stopping—beginning all over again will give you POOR results no matter the system you use.  The BEST results are achieved when you use your whitening system for the recommended number of consecutive days.  When you start/stop repeatedly it makes it so that you’re starting from scratch all over again each time.  This is the number one reason for a poor result.
5. You cannot whiten porcelain crowns with these systems.
6. Since teeth whiten from the inside out…you can whiten the teeth beneath porcelain veneers, which might improve the shade of older veneers that seem to have darkened in some cases.
7. You should avoid carbonated soft drinks, citrus fruits/juices, wine, coffee, and tea while whitening.  Anything acidic or that has stain potential. 
8. Smokers will see less of a result and require more time to lighten their teeth.

 

Daniel T. Quevedo, DDS - Cosmetic Dentist Serving Longwood, Alaqua, Heathrow, Lake Mary, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Winter Park, Maitland, Casselberry, Winter Springs, and the Greater Orlando area.
Sweetwater Smiles, 505 Wekiva Springs Rd., Suite 100, Longwood, FL  32779

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