Brite Smile is all the rage in dental whitening but is it worth the hefty cost?

Brite Smile is the latest trend in in-office teeth bleaching. This system uses blue-light technology with 15% hydrogen peroxide whitening gel to lighten teeth up to 8 shades lighter instantly. Since there is no laser or heat, Brite Smile claims their bleaching system is the most comfortable method of whitening that can be achieved in only 1 hour.

In addition to their in-office treatment, Brite Smile makes “To Go Pens” which are a portable brush-tip applicator of whitening gel for on-the-go bleaching “touch ups.”

After the in-office bleaching, some patients may report discomfort of some type, including sudden sharp pains or a dull to moderate ache as well as “burning gums & lips.” With the Brite Smile procedure costing around $300 or more per session, it’s fairly pricey compared to other treatments. There are many teeth whitening options available, including in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments. Each teeth whitening treatment has its pros and cons, so talk to your dental professional or browse DoctorBase.com to find dentists in your area that offer Brite Smile.

Everyone wants a dazzling white smile- it’s a sign of health and beauty. But which is the best way to achieve that? There are many modalities to achieve a whiter smile. One may not be better than another but the question of time and money are the biggest factors. I have had the fortune of trying all of the modalities. I can honestly say that they all achieve a whiter “bleached out” smile.

ZOOM! Teeth Whitening

The first and most expensive is ZOOM! Teeth Whitening or in office bleaching. A dental professional applies a strong amount of bleach to the teeth and a blue light activates the bleach on the teeth. It can make the teeth eight shades whiter, which can be great! It takes about 45 minutes for the bleaching time but there is extra time to safely protect the gum tissue. The best thing about ZOOM! is that it is a fast process and the teeth will stay whiter longer.

Teeth Whitening Trays

The next modality is at home teeth whitening trays. The trays are a soft plastic that fit around just the teeth. A small amount of bleach is applied to the wells of each tooth in the tray and then placed in the mouth. There are different strengths of bleach to use at home, but normally the trays are worn for only 30 minutes or 60 minutes. In about two weeks of use, the teeth can achieve a six shade improvement. The best thing about at home teeth whitening trays is that you can control the amount of use. If you happen to have sensitivity one week in, you can stop, and if you are happy with the shade, then you are done. The other great thing is that you can do touch up bleaching whenever you feel like it.

Teeth Whitening Strips

Teeth whitening strips or gel is a good way to bleach the teeth when you are low on cash. They are sold over the counter and can run between $20-$40. They are applied over the upper and lower teeth and are worn for an hour. The best thing about the teeth whitening strips is their cost. You will achieve a whiter smile but it takes some time and energy. The strips have the least amount of bleach and can get a bit messy. Most people do not like to use them because they slip around and do not stay in place for the full hour. Usually the teeth will get about 3-4 shades lighter.

Teeth Whitening Toothpaste

Finally, “whitening” toothpaste is a tricky modality. It says “whitening” but in fact it does not bleach the teeth. Instead, it has an abrasive quality that removes debris from the teeth well, which in turn can appear whiter.

Bleaching is a great way to make the teeth white. There are so many great teeth whitening options to chose from. As always, white teeth look nice, but having a healthy smile is really what’s best!

Strawberries are for eating, not whitening your teeth!

Teeth whitening has become all the rage in cosmetic dentistry. A pearly white smile embodies a healthy, youthful and attractive radiance that is vastly appealing in our society.  If your smile is lacking a little sparkle, become familiar with these products and procedures and steer clear of these teeth whitening myths to achieve your picture perfect results.

Before we discuss bleaching, let’s briefly talk about teeth stains. There are two types of discolorations that teeth can acquire: extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic are surface stains that result from food, smoking, wine, soda, coffee, tea, etc. Basically, if it could stain your white t-shirt, it can potentially stain your teeth to a yellow or brownish hue.  Nevertheless, extrinsic teeth stains can successfully be whitened. On the other hand, intrinsic stains are discolorations from within the tooth.  These types of stains are from a systemic approach such as tetracycline antibiotics or fluorosis. These bluish gray or white-spotted stains cannot be bleached.  Porcelain veneers or dental bonding are a better option to improve intrinsic staining.

There are 3 types of treatment options to remove unsightly surface stains from teeth so you can obtain a glistening white smile.

In-Office Treatment

Professionally applied teeth whitening can be achieved by your dentist in as little as one hour. The dentist will apply a bleaching agent to your teeth and a special light or laser is used to enhance the action of the whitening agent. Results are immediate and your teeth may become up to five shades lighter.

At-Home Treatment

At-home whitening treatments are dispensed by your dentist. A customized mouth tray is designed to hold the peroxide-based gel. Your dentist will give you a specific concentration of carbamide peroxide based on your needs in a 10%, 16%, or 22% strength.  The usage of at-home treatments can be prescribed twice a day or overnight for a few weeks. Your teeth may become up to 6 shades lighter after several weeks with this treatment.

Over-the-Counter Options

Countless over-the-counter teeth whitening products are available at your local drugstore or supermarket. These products are safe and effective; however, they will not give you the dramatic whiteness and instant gratification that can only be achieved dental supervised treatments. There is an array of products to try, including strips, brush-on whitening, whitening toothpastes and mouth rinses. If you stick with a product and use it according to its specific instructions in addition to maintaining your oral hygiene, you may see slight results of 1-2 shades lighter in several weeks.

What you should avoid!

There are several teeth whitening myths that should be avoided at all costs! One of which is brushing with lemon juice or strawberries- don’t do it, even if your grandma said so! These fruits are very acidic and will dangerously strip the enamel from your teeth, thus giving you temporarily whiter teeth and loss of tooth calcium. You may end up with an abundance of cavities and irreversible damage. Other home dental remedies that you should refrain from are brushing with hard wood ash (it contains potassium hydroxide but is too abrasive on teeth) and rubbing mustard oil on teeth (causes gums to sting). On the contrary, brushing with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide is safe to use occasionally, however, these products can be abrasive to enamel or irritate your gums if abused. Your best bet is to use an ADA Seal of Acceptance whitening toothpaste instead of these home remedies as they contain the correct ratio of whitening agents as well as fluoride for protection and prevention.

Overall, no bleaching method can permanently whiten teeth and may require repeated treatments.  Many bleaching mechanisms, whether it is in-office, at-home or over-the-counter can cause tooth sensitivity which is usually temporary.  It is also important to bear in mind that tooth colored dental fillings and crowns, especially those on your front teeth will never whiten with bleach.  Visit your dentist or dental hygienist at least twice a year for your cleaning and exam and they can answer any questions or address any of your specific concerns regarding tooth whitening.

Your smile is worth a million bucks...literally?

We all want perfect teeth, but at what cost? There are certain procedures that can be performed that can completely change the way your mouth looks, but it’s going to cost you!

Implants
If you have a missing tooth and want the replacement to look very natural, an implant is your best bet. Implants can be very expensive but is the most cost effective in the long run. Basically, an implant replaces the root and crown of a tooth. A post (or pin) is placed in the bone and usually made of titanium. The bone and the titanium post have to osteointegrate, which means the bone and post have to mesh together in order to be successful. Once that is complete, a crown that looks very much like a real tooth, is screwed into the post above the gum. And there you have it, a “new” tooth. The reason it is cost effective is that it only effects one tooth, as opposed to a bridge. A bridge normally involves three teeth, the tooth that is missing, and two teeth on either side of it. Studies have shown that an implant lasts much longer than a bridge. So, if you are missing a tooth and have money saved, this is for you.

Veneers
Do you envy the movie star smile? Do you wish you had straight, white teeth but don’t want to wear those metal braces? Then veneers are for you! Veneers are a shell of a crown, and affix to teeth usually in the front. They give the appearance of many different outcomes. It can make teeth look longer, wider, whiter, straighter, and all around different. But it comes at a cost. Veneers are not covered by dental insurance, because they are considered a cosmetic procedure. Again, if you have the money or can finance, veneers give a wonderful natural look to a new you.

Gum Surgery
You may not want the new you to involve gum surgery, but sometimes it is needed rather than wanted. Gum and bone disease are serious issues and need serious attention. The surgery can be expensive because it takes great skill in order to be performed properly. The down side is that once you have been diagnosed as needing gum surgery there is no getting around it. You can certainly put it off, but it is inevitable. Most people have negative comments about it, but once it’s done, you are healthy and can move on to the more “fun” procedures like bleaching!

Bleaching
Ahhh nothing like a pearly white grin to start the day! But bleach!? No, it’s not the bleach you use to get those whites white in the wash! It’s a special dental bleach that makes virgin teeth whiter. Now virgin teeth are teeth that do not have any crowns on top of them, any fillings on them or have been stained from the inside out. If you have teeth like that, particularly in the front of the mouth, then bleaching is not for you. But if you drink a lot of coffee or want to brighten that smile for a date then sign right up. There are three different ways to bleach and three different price tags. The first and most cost effective is over the counter bleaching strips. They can be messy and take up to 14 days to achieve the whiteness you desire. The second is bleaching trays from a dental office. You can have trays made especially for your mouth and you place bleach given to you by the dentist in them. The bleach concentration is a bit stronger than over the counter but can also take up to 14 days as well. The big hitter and the fastest way to a blindingly white mouth is doing an in-office bleach. It is expensive but you can have the desired whiteness done in about an hour. There are two different ways, ZOOM whitening system or BriteSmile system.

Braces
When thinking of braces, does it conjure up thoughts of horrible adolescent memories of being teased for having a metal mouth? Well, those days are long gone. Traditional braces, metal, can look pretty amazing in 2010. There are now clear braces, gold braces and you can pick any color under the sun to cover the brackets. And now the new trend is to use Invisalign. They are considered braces, just another way to straighten your teeth without the teasing. These procedures can be very expensive but so worth it in the long run. Parents want to see their children have straight teeth, but as a dental health professional I see braces as a way to stay healthy. When teeth are crowded it can make it difficult to brush them properly. If they are very crowded then flossing can seem impossible. If left crowded, over time the bone holding teeth in can be damaged and diseased. Conversely, if teeth are spaced too much, food can be jammed in between. This can be very annoying over time. Many people feel embarrassed by their spacing as well. Crowded or spaced, braces can solve the problems. Many general dentists are doing orthodontia now, so if you don’t want to go to an orthodontist, ask your dentist!

All of these dental procedures are expensive. It may seem daunting or aggravating to spend a lot on your mouth. Yet, these procedures take great knowledge and know how to be performed. Think of your mouth as a part of your overall health. Having the best person do the best job, affects your health!

-Alissa

So how does this too-good-to-be-true braces thing actually work? First, have a consultation with your orthodontist to decide if Invisalign is right for you. If you decide to move forward with it, your orthodontist will take a mold of your teeth, work up a treatment plan and send the molds and the plan off to Invisalign. The company then makes a series of clear “alignment” trays that you wear continuously except when you’re eating and brushing. Typically, you wear a new tray every two weeks until you’ve completed your treatment plan; at which time your teeth should be perfectly straight!

Now let’s talk advantages and disadvantages. The most obvious advantage is that it isn’t obvious. Because it’s clear. You also won’t get a sore mouth from metal wires sticking into your cheeks and gums. And they’re removable so you can brush and floss like you normally would, whereas with metal braces you need some sort of 007 special gadget to get the floss under the wire and between the brackets.

A disadvantage is that Invisalign’s effectiveness is limited. It can only correct your teeth so much, so if you have a serious over-bite or massive structural problems, Invisalign probably won’t do the trick. And then there’s cost. I can’t tell you what your orthodontist is going to charge you, but I can tell you that his office has to pay up front for all of the trays, which means it’s likely you’ll be required to pay a much larger down payment than you would with metal braces.

In a dentistry.com  forum, you can read about patients’ experiences with Invisalign. One popular complaint is that when the trays are removed to eat, patients just forget to put them back in. If you’re eating at home it’s not such a big deal, but if you’re stuffing your face at Mc Donald’s and you wrap the trays in a napkin for safe keeping, you can kiss them goodbye. Of course you could always try your luck at dumpster diving, but chances are you won’t find them. After all, they’re invisible.

If you’ve been thinking about trying Invisalign, visit a Doctorbase orthodontist and discuss it. Decide whether you’re going to try this new, stealthy method or kick it old school with metal.

Keep in mind there are many variables that will help determine the right teeth-whitening method for you. What color are your teeth? What is the cause of the discoloration? How much money and time are you willing to spend on whitening? Is this something you want to accomplish while watching an episode of Heroes? Or are you willing to spend a few hours in the dental chair? And last but not least, how do you know which ones really work and which ones will leave you yellow-toothed and broke.

Your best bet is to find a dentist who is knowledgeable about the latest and greatest teeth-whitening techniques. Spend some time together, give a great big smile and let the evaluation begin. Once evaluated, your dentist will make some recommendiations as well as review the pros and cons of each option. They will also be able to steer you away from the companies who promise you whiter teeth and then don’t deliver. Don’t get me wrong, your teeth will look whiter, in comparison to your beat red face at the realization you’ve just been duped. One company very popular among the complaint boards is Dazzle White. So do your research! And then get to your dentist so your pearly whites can live up to their name.