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Infinity Series Whitening Accelerator Light
- Professional whitening is best performed with light technology
- Light technology is referred to as photocatylization and was first approved by the FDA for teeth whitening in 1996
- The Infinty™ Series lights feature 8 LEDs (Light Emitting Diode) "bulbs" that emit a cool blue light with a wavelength of 480-520 nanometers, which is well within the visible light spectrum wavelengths
- The light technology system works by accelerating, or catylizing the chemical reaction, which results in the speeding up the treatment time
- During a treatment the accelerator light is placed directly in front of the customer's open mouth for 15 minutes
- The Infinity™ Series lights emit the perfect wavelength of light and are designed to accelerate the whitening process of our teeth whitening gel
Paint on Techniques & Teeth Whitening Gel
- First, the customer inserts a mouth prop between their back teeth to slightly open the mouth
- Second, the client then inserts a disposable cheek retractor in their mouth to pull the lips and cheeks open slightly and to expose the teeth
- Third, the client applies a tiny droplet of thick, sticky whitening gel to each tooth to be bleached and spreads each drop evenly over the tooth with a special brush
- Our teeth whitening gel utilizes peroxide-based chemistry
- SmileLAB's teeth whitening gel has a water base which means that the whitening gel hydrates the teeth throughout the whitening procedure
- Hydration of the teeth is important because that is what prevents sensitivity
- The client then puts on the protective eyewear, adjusts the light correctly, the light is turned on and the treatment starts
- The treatment time is in 15-20 minute intervals, and maybe repeated once per 24 hours maximum for a total of 30-40 treatment time per day
Simple, Affordable, & Safe
- Results are impressive
- SmileLABS teeth whitening treatment is considered by industry insiders to be the best
- A 15-20 minute treatment yields an improvement of between 2-4 shades, and a double typically yields a 5-8 shade improvement
- The more treatments a person does over the course of six months to a year, the whiter the teeth may get and remain white and bright
- Contact SmileLABS today at 866-361-6237 to learn more about becoming an Authorized SmileLABS™ Dealer
More about the Chemistry of SmileLABS Products
The SmileLABS™ Cosmetic Teeth Whitening System is very simple, but very effective as well. It uses technology that has been in use by dentists for over twenty years. It is a safe, pleasant, and very quick procedure to whiten your teeth in fifteen to thirty minutes, and at a price that just about anyone can afford.
Dental science has known that peroxide-based bleaching gel will break down into its working components of what are known as free oxygen radical atoms. These oxygen atoms are very reactive in this free radical state, and will cleave (break into smaller pieces) the long-chained chromophores (color containing molecules) that are abundant in stains on the outer surfaces and inside the microscopic pores of the enamel (outer-most layer) of adult teeth. When the atoms cleave these long molecules into smaller pieces, these pieces are no longer perceived as being “colored” or “stained” by our eyes and brain. The stain molecules are therefore still there, but in smaller uncolored pieces. The result is that the teeth appear whiter and brighter.
Dental research scientists also discovered that this break down of peroxide into free radicals would occur much more rapidly if the peroxide were exposed to bright intense blue-green light in the wavelength of 480-520 nanometers. So this light greatly speeds up the reaction that makes teeth whiter, allowing cosmetic teeth whitening to occur in a matter of minutes rather than many hours of exposure to the peroxide. The result is bright white teeth in 15-30 minutes.
The SmileLABS™ Cosmetic Teeth Whitening System uses exactly this science in its whitening gels and accelerator light. We find that exposure to gel and light for 15 minutes will result in an average color change of 2-4 shades whiter as measured on a dental shade guide, and 5-8 shades whiter in a double treatment of two 15-minute treatments back to back in the same appointment. So, let us take care of the science, and let your customers have whiter teeth fast using the SmileLABS™ Cosmetic Teeth Whitening System. Call 866-361-6237 now to schedule a Discovery Meeting webinar today.
Research Papers by
Dr. Zachary Hilgers, DDS
A question that is frequently asked is, “What are the causes of teeth staining or yellowing?” This page gives the answer to this question in detail. This is because we want consumers and our current and future Authorize SmileLAB™ Dealers to understand the etiology, or many reasons behind, the manner in which teeth become undesirably discolored, and which types of discoloration can SmileLABS™ treatments help eliminate or correct, and which types will not significantly change color with our cosmetic teeth whitening products and techniques.
There are basically two types of teeth stains. These are extrinsic stains and intrinsic stains. Extrinsic refers to the type of stain that is deposited or formed on the outside surfaces of teeth. Extrinsic stains are generally separate from the actual make up or structure of the teeth, and in general can be more easily removed from the teeth because the stain or color is not part of the chemical and mineral structure of the teeth.
Intrinsic color or staining means that the color of the teeth that we see comes mostly from the inside of the teeth and has become part of the internal mineral and chemical structure of the tooth. These stains or colorations are much more difficult, if not impossible, to remove from the inside of the teeth. We will now look at the various types of extrinsic and intrinsic stains and see how they can or cannot be affected by our cosmetic bleaching process.
Different types of food and drinks will cause stains to be deposited on the outside surfaces of the teeth. Some of the more obvious stain-causing beverages are coffee, tea, colas and red wines. The long-chain chromophore (color containing) molecules in these drinks will attach themselves to the outer enamel surfaces, as well as penetrate into the enamel via the tiny microscopic channels or tubules that are part of normal enamel anatomy. Certain obvious fruits and vegetables also can cause stains, like blueberries and cherries, but also some not so obvious ones such as apples and potatoes can be broken down by bacteria that leave an end-product that is quite dark, if not brown or black, that can adhere to the enamel and can penetrate the tubules and cause stain and discoloration to form.
Tobacco, in the form of smoking or chewing, also leaves extrinsic stains on or in the teeth enamel. Over the many years of tobacco abuse, truly horrible dark stains are accumulated and deposited on the teeth.
Although the example shown above should seek a good dental cleaning first, it should be noted that most mild to moderate tobacco stains and discolorations caused by foods and beverages can generally be removed or greatly reduced by cosmetic whitening. It would help if the smoker would cease smoking altogether so that new stain would not again quickly recur, but such is not always a reasonable expectation of a tobacco-addicted customer.
It should be noted that severely inadequate oral hygiene in the form of brushing and flossing, if uncorrected over a long period of time, can result in large quantities of calculus (tartar) build-up to occur. This calculus is easily stained by the foods and beverages we eat and drink.
The calculus on some some customer’s teeth might have been there for years and have actually turned black! If, as a SmileLABS™ lab owner, you ever come across someone with teeth that look like this, don’t even think of whitening their teeth! Refer them immediately to their dentist to get the tartar removed and allow the teeth and gums to become healthy again, if possible.
Certain dental restorative materials, such as amalgam, or so called “silver fillings,” can over time have stain leach out of the restorations that deposit onto the enamel and cause discolorations.
If dental decay is allowed to run rampant through a person’s mouth, the decay itself is brown or black colored.
Again, if you as a lab owner see a customer with teeth that very obviously have these conditions, an immediate referral to their dentist is the best and only thing you can do for these unfortunate individuals. Cosmetic teeth bleaching will not in any way help these people.
One of the common types of stains or colorations inside teeth can be caused by a person’s genetics. While the enamel on teeth is mostly of a pearly white color, the underlying layer of tooth structure below the enamel is the much more naturally yellow hard tissue known as the dentin. In most individuals, the outer white enamel is generally thick enough to cover completely the yellow dentin underneath. However, some people are born with a genetic disposition towards very thin or even nonexistent enamel. This leaves their teeth with a distinct yellow caste to their teeth. This condition is not treatable by cosmetic bleaching.
It should also be noted that a person’s advancing age can cause the outer layer of enamel to wear away and become much thinner, again showing more of the dentin’s yellow color to come through. Unfortunately, bleaching such teeth will not improve the overall yellow appearance of thinned enamel.
Lastly, there are two other types of intrinsic stains, with which all lab owners should become familiar. Most people that have these conditions will know they have them and will tell the lab owner so, but you should be able to recognize these two relatively common discolorations.
Both of these conditions occur very early in a customer’s life, usually before the age of 8 years, when the individual still has most of his or her primary dentition (baby teeth). These stains are incorporated into the teeth as the dental hard structure of the enamel is still forming in the as-yet unerupted permanent teeth.
The first is what are known as tetracycline-stained teeth. Tetracycline is a broad spectrum antibiotic used to treat various infections. It is still in use today, however when first introduced, its stain-producing characteristics were unknown. If the medication was given to a pregnant woman or to children under the age of eight, some of the drug was bound up into the forming permanent teeth’s enamel of the child. When the adult teeth eventually erupted, a brown or grayish type of striated or banded stain was visible within these permanent teeth. The tetracycline had become incorporated into the hydroxyapatite crystals (normal mineral structure) of the enamel.
The other common stain of this type is known as fluorosed teeth, or as fluorosis. It is also caused by the uptake of not a medication, but of fluoride into the enamel of growing permanent teeth. This condition is not caused by the very low concentration of fluoride that is commonly added to municipal water supplies. It is caused by a naturally occurring high concentration of fluoride in rural water tables in the ground, or by a young child that swallows an inordinate amount of fluoride toothpaste. Although the resulting enamel is unusually hard, its appearance is very unsightly.
Unfortunately the enamel discolorations caused by tetracycline and fluorosis cannot be corrected by cosmetic teeth bleaching. Only a dentist can help these customers by covering up the stains with either dental porcelain crowns or veneers.
Tobacco, in the form of smoking or chewing, also leaves extrinsic stains on or in the teeth enamel. Over the many years of tobacco abuse, truly horrible dark stains are accumulated and deposited on the teeth.
Although the example shown above should seek a good dental cleaning first, it should be noted that most mild to moderate tobacco stains and discolorations caused by foods and beverages can generally be removed or greatly reduced by cosmetic whitening. It would help if the smoker would cease smoking altogether so that new stain would not again quickly recur, but such is not always a reasonable expectation of a tobacco-addicted customer.
It should be noted that severely inadequate oral hygiene in the form of brushing and flossing, if uncorrected over a long period of time, can result in large quantities of calculus (tartar) build-up to occur. This calculus is easily stained by the foods and beverages we eat and drink.
The calculus on some some customer’s teeth might have been there for years and have actually turned black! If, as a SmileLABS™ lab owner, you ever come across someone with teeth that look like this, don’t even think of whitening their teeth! Refer them immediately to their dentist to get the tartar removed and allow the teeth and gums to become healthy again, if possible.
Certain dental restorative materials, such as amalgam, or so called “silver fillings,” can over time have stain leach out of the restorations that deposit onto the enamel and cause discolorations.
If dental decay is allowed to run rampant through a person’s mouth, the decay itself is brown or black colored.
Again, if you as a lab owner see a customer with teeth that very obviously have these conditions, an immediate referral to their dentist is the best and only thing you can do for these unfortunate individuals. Cosmetic teeth bleaching will not in any way help these people.
In this paper we have learned that only extrinsic stains caused by certain foods, beverages, or tobacco products can be removed by SmileLABS™ cosmetic teeth whitening products and treatments. All other types of discolorations need to be referred to the customer’s dentist, who may or may not be able to help them. It is important that every SmileLABS™ lab owner be able to understand and recognize these different types of stains and discolorations, so that he or she is able to predict for their customers the best possible results from the teeth whitening process and to also know when to refer the customer back to the dentist before any type of whitening is contemplated.
It has often been asked as to whether or not cosmetic teeth whitening procedures done by SmileLABS™ are safe or if the process “hurts the enamel.” A similar question asked is “Does this treatment hurt or effect dental fillings, veneers, or caps?” This paper reviews the scientific literature as regards the safety of using peroxide based whitening agents on dental hard and soft tissues. This is the type of bleaching material that SmileLABS™ uses.
Currently, cosmetic teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is performed, either in a dental office or by an independent entrepreneur, by placing a peroxide-based bleaching gel into direct contact with the dental hard tissues. This contact of bleach to teeth is facilitated either by painting the gel directly onto the teeth or by use of a custom made whitening tray loaded with bleaching gel that is placed into the mouth to carry the gel and keep it held in constant contact with the outer surface of the teeth. The former method is the one that SmileLABS™ uses for its chairside whitening. It has been shown that these two techniques will result in noticeable whitening of the teeth, with the finished degree of whitening being based on both the relative strength and concentration of the peroxide-based gel and the amount of time that the active gel is left in contact with the surface of the teeth. If the concentration was low, a longer amount of time of contact with the teeth bleaching gel was needed to achieve a satisfactory result. This meant that for the patient a number of successive daily treatments were needed either in the dental office or at the patient’s home for the teeth to become satisfactorily white.
Making the teeth bleach concentration stronger, on the other hand, would speed the color change, but would often lead to increasingly painful tooth sensitivity, which was a very non-desirable result for both the patient and practitioner. So, experience showed that a good result could be obtained at home if the patient used either a medium peroxide concentration of bleaching gel coupled with a regimen of spacing the treatments into an hour per day for a number days to a week, or to all-night bleaching with a low peroxide concentration gel every night for a 7-21 day course of treatment. These two variations of the teeth bleaching processes have been used for many years with a good and predictable outcome for the patient who actually correctly completes the treatment regimen.
The only downside was that results were not immediately obtained, but were gained incrementally over a number of days or weeks. Since this type of treatment was done unsupervised at home, strict compliance with treatment guidelines was many times hard, if not impossible to maintain, and results and patient satisfaction with the treatment were many times negative.
Therefore, many a practitioner hoped for a way that could combine the shortest course of treatment, coupled with the ability to be able to supervise the entire treatment to a satisfactory conclusion, that was both easy, safe, and pain free from sensitivity to the patient.
This hope resulted in what is now known as Chairside Power Bleaching, the system used by SmileLABS™. By combining a higher concentration of peroxide gel with the use of a strong, safe wavelength of light as an accelerator or catalyst to the bleaching reaction, a much shorter time of contact between gel and tooth resulted that increased the bleaching efficiency of the gel and shortened treatment time by a very large factor, while keeping the process mostly free from sensitivity and achieved the patient’s desire of whiter teeth in minutes instead of days. Also, SmileLABS™ has recently developed some new very effective take-home cosmetic teeth whitening kits for those that would rather do the procedure themselves at home. The question now is whether any of these processes are safe and do they do any damage to the teeth, gums, or even to any of the various dental restorations that a patient may already have in their teeth prior to any bleaching. The following will show that SmileLABS™ products and procedures are in fact very safe while producing the desired result of beautifully whitened teeth.
In December 2007, a group of dental scientists from China did an experiment that entailed bleaching vital teeth that were scheduled for extraction for orthodontic reasons. After the bleaching process, the treated teeth were extracted either immediately after bleaching or after seven days post-bleaching. These teeth were sectioned and mounted for slides immediately post-surgery and a microscopic examination for pathology was performed. The results indicated that there was no clinical pathology found in any of the slide specimens. All teeth in these two groups “showed normal pulp” (nerve and blood supply) and exhibited no visible pathology (disease).[i]
In a more recent study, Mielczarek et al did an in vitro study on extracted premolars and compared surface changes of the enamel after topical applications of various strengths of peroxide-type teeth bleaching gel was applied to the teeth. The hardness of the enamel was recorded (Vickers Hardness Number) prior to application, after the teeth bleaching treatment regimen was completed, and also 7 days after treatment. The results showed that there was significant lightening or reduction of yellow color and that the hardness of the enamel was unchanged, and they concluded that “the bleaching systems were demonstrated as similarly safe to enamel surfaces.”[ii]
Back in 1998, after examining the previous ten years of the then well accepted practice of both chairside and at-home teeth bleaching, Li et al were convinced that the “overall evidence supports the conclusion that the proper use of peroxide-containing…bleaching agents is safe.”[iii] In a long-term study on the effects and safety of vital bleaching, Leonard found that “since its introduction into dentistry in 1989, … vital bleaching has been proven to be a simple and safe procedure to lighten discolored teeth.” He also noted that “participants report that they are glad they went through the procedure and would recommend the procedure to a friend.”[iv]
In 1996 Curtis et al examined the effects of carbamide peroxide teeth bleaching gel on the oral soft tissue, or gum tissue. (Carbamide peroxide is the specific type of peroxide bleach that SmileLABS™ uses in their take home kit.) The researchers found that after conducting a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical investigation, the data collected did not indicate that any soft tissue damage had occurred as a result of the teeth bleaching regimen.[v]
In a scanning electron microscopy study of dental enamel surface exposed to 35% hydrogen peroxide some very interesting and undeniable results were found. 35% hydrogen peroxide is a very strong concentration of bleach, much higher than used by most teeth whitening systems or over-the-counter products available today. It was shown by examining the post-bleaching electron microscopic data that “considering the morphologic features of the tooth surface, bleaching can be considered safe for enamel.”[vi]
Lastly, I cite a study regarding the effects of bleaching with peroxide on dental restorations, such as tooth-colored composite fillings and on porcelain veneers and crowns. Polydorou et al conducted an in vitro study of teeth bleaching products on the microhardness of six restorative materials used today by dentists. Four of these were resin-based composite materials used in so-called “white fillings,” and on two types of porcelain ceramics used for veneers and crowns or caps. The authors measured the microhardness of the samples before bleaching, after 8 hours and 56 hours of bleaching, and 24 hours and one month post treatment with the bleaching agents. The statistical analysis showed that there was not any “effect on the micro-hardness of any of the restorative materials tested.” 7
Research has shown us undeniably that bleaching teeth with a peroxide-based gel, such as the gel that SmileLABS™ uses, is a safe procedure. The procedure causes no damage to the pulp, that is, the interior nerve and blood supply of the tooth. This prevents a condition known as pulpitis from occurring. Pulpitis is an inflammation of the nerve, which in the minimum causes tooth sensitivity or pain. If the pulpitis is severe enough, it can result in nerve death and necrosis, which leads to the patient having to get root canal therapy and a crown to correct the condition. Not having any pulpal damage is one of the most important indications of safety when bleaching.
The scientific literature also shows that bleaching teeth does not damage the enamel crystalline structure so that no morphological (shape) changes occur. Also, the hardness of the enamel is unaffected by cosmetic teeth whitening with peroxide gel. Enamel is the hardest structure in the human body, and not having it become weaker by bleaching is very important so that chipping and fracture problems won’t occur that would necessitate the patient to have fillings or full coverage crowns to be placed to repair the damage. This again is a very important safety feature of teeth bleaching.
Soft tissues, such as the gingiva (gums) and the buccal and labial mucosa (inner cheek and lip) tissues could also potentially be effected by teeth bleaching gel, however, studies again have shown that proper techniques and lower strength bleaching gel concentrations have resulted in no observable damage or trauma to these tissues. This is a real benefit, as it wouldn’t do to have nice white teeth at the expense of raw gum, cheek, and lip tissues. And lastly, it has been proven that peroxide-based teeth bleaching does not damage in the least any of the current anterior cosmetic restorative materials such as tooth colored composite fillings or porcelain veneers, which are becoming increasingly popular, as well as porcelain crowns (caps.) Not having to replace these restorations because of damage caused by bleaching is a definite boon to the teeth whitening procedures available today. So, a prospective client interested in having a SmileLABS™ teeth whitening procedure performed, whether in one of our Authorized Dealer’s retail locations as a chairside power bleaching (with accelerator light) or as a home whitening with one of SmileLABS™ take home kits, can rest assured that the materials and procedures used by SmileLABS™ to whiten their teeth are perfectly safe and efficacious, resulting in beautifully whitened teeth with no undesirable or potentially harmful side effects whatsoever.
[i] Zhao Q, Qang JX, Feng ZH. A pathological study of bleaching technique on vital tooth pulp. Chinese Journal of Stomatology. 2007 Dec; 42 (12): 718-19
[ii] Mielczarek A, Klukowska M, Ganowicz M, Kwiatkowska A, Kwasny M. The effects of strip, tray and office peroxide bleaching systems on enamel surfaces in vitro. Dent Mater 2008 Nov; 24 (11): 1495-500
[iii] Li Y. Tooth bleaching using peroxide-containing agents: current status of safety issues. Compend Contin Educ Dent 1998 Aug; 19 (8) 783-6, 788, 790, quiz 79
[iv] Leonard RH Jr. Long term results with nightguard vital bleaching. Compend Contin Educ Dent 2003 Apr; 24 (4A) 364-74
[v] Curtis JW, Dickinson GL, Downey MC, Russell CM, Haywood VB, Myers ML, Johnson MH. Assessing the effects of 10 percent carbamide peroxide on oral soft tissues. J Am Dent Assoc 1996 Aug; 127 (8) 1218-122
[vi] Spaulding M, Taveira LA, de Assis GF. Scanning electron microscopy study of dental enamel surface exposed to 35% hydrogen peroxide: alone, with saliva, and with 10% carbamide peroxide. J Esthet Restor Dent 2003 Mar; 15 (3) 154-64
7 Polydorou O, Hellwig E, Auschill TM. The effect of at-home bleaching on the microhardness of six esthetic restorative materials. J Am Dent Assoc 2007 July; 138 (7) 978-984
It has often been asked as to whether or not the use of our bright blue accelerator light was necessary. More simply put, “Do teeth whitening lights work?“. This paper reviews the efficacy of the use of a strong blue light source in addition to the usual procedure of vital teeth bleaching or teeth whitening with a peroxide-based gel placed in direct contact with the dental hard tissues. This is the type of system that SmileLABS™ uses. A research of the current literature and scientific papers will show whether or not the additional use of a strong source of blue light causes the treated teeth to become whiter than those bleached without a light. It will also examine any possible further benefits obtained by using the light in addition to whitening the teeth.
Currently, cosmetic teeth whitening or teeth bleaching is performed, either in a dental office or by an independent entrepreneur, by placing a peroxide-based bleaching gel into direct contact with the dental hard tissues. This contact of bleach to teeth is facilitated either by painting the gel directly onto the teeth or by use of a custom made whitening tray loaded with bleaching gel that is placed into the mouth to carry the gel and keep it held in constant contact with the outer surface of the teeth. It has been shown that these two methods will result in noticeable whitening of the teeth, with the finished degree of whitening being based on both the relative strength and concentration of the peroxide-based gel and the amount of time that the active gel is left in contact with the surface of the teeth. If the concentration was low, a longer amount of time of contact with the bleach was needed to achieve a satisfactory result. This meant that for the patient a number of daily treatments were needed either in the dental office or at the patient’s home for the teeth to become satisfactorily white.
Making the bleach concentration stronger, on the other hand, would speed the color change, but would often lead to increasingly painful tooth sensitivity, which was a very non-desirable result for both the patient and practitioner. So, experience showed that a good result could be obtained at home if the patient used either a medium peroxide concentration of bleaching gel coupled with a regimen of spacing the treatments into an hour per day for a number days to a week, or to all-night bleaching with a low peroxide concentration gel every night for a 7-21 day course of treatment. These two variations of the teeth bleaching processes have been used for many years with a good and predictable outcome for the patient who actually correctly completes the treatment regimen.
The only downside was that results were not immediately obtained, but were gained incrementally over a number of days or weeks. Since this type of treatment was done unsupervised at home, strict compliance with treatment guidelines was many times hard, if not impossible to maintain, and results and patient satisfaction with the treatment were many times negative.
Therefore, many a practitioner hoped for a way that could combine the shortest course of treatment, coupled with the ability to be able to supervise the entire treatment to a satisfactory conclusion, that was both easy and pain free from sensitivity to the patient.
This hope resulted in what is now known as Chairside Power Bleaching, the system used by SmileLABS™. By combining a higher concentration of peroxide gel with the use of a strong, safe wavelength of light as an accelerator or catalyst to the teeth bleaching reaction, a much shorter time of contact between gel and tooth resulted that increased the bleaching efficiency of the gel and shortened treatment time by a very large factor, while keeping the process mostly free from sensitivity and achieved the patient’s desire of whiter teeth in minutes instead of days. The question is now whether that combination of gel and light really works.
Making the teeth bleach concentration stronger, on the other hand, would speed the color change, but would often lead to increasingly painful tooth sensitivity, which was a very non-desirable result for both the patient and practitioner. So, experience showed that a good result could be obtained at home if the patient used either a medium peroxide concentration of bleaching gel coupled with a regimen of spacing the treatments into an hour per day for a number days to a week, or to all-night bleaching with a low peroxide concentration gel every night for a 7-21 day course of treatment. These two variations of the teeth bleaching processes have been used for many years with a good and predictable outcome for the patient who actually correctly completes the treatment regimen.
The only downside was that results were not immediately obtained, but were gained incrementally over a number of days or weeks. Since this type of treatment was done unsupervised at home, strict compliance with treatment guidelines was many times hard, if not impossible to maintain, and results and patient satisfaction with the treatment were many times negative.
Therefore, many a practitioner hoped for a way that could combine the shortest course of treatment, coupled with the ability to be able to supervise the entire treatment to a satisfactory conclusion, that was both easy, safe, and pain free from sensitivity to the patient.
This hope resulted in what is now known as Chairside Power Bleaching, the system used by SmileLABS™. By combining a higher concentration of peroxide gel with the use of a strong, safe wavelength of light as an accelerator or catalyst to the bleaching reaction, a much shorter time of contact between gel and tooth resulted that increased the bleaching efficiency of the gel and shortened treatment time by a very large factor, while keeping the process mostly free from sensitivity and achieved the patient’s desire of whiter teeth in minutes instead of days. Also, SmileLABS™ has recently developed some new very effective take-home cosmetic teeth whitening kits for those that would rather do the procedure themselves at home. The question now is whether any of these processes are safe and do they do any damage to the teeth, gums, or even to any of the various dental restorations that a patient may already have in their teeth prior to any bleaching. The following will show that SmileLABS™ products and procedures are in fact very safe while producing the desired result of beautifully whitened teeth.
In an in vitro study conducted on non-vital extracted teeth, K. Luk, L. Tam, et al showed that color changes were “significantly affected by an interaction of the bleach and light” used. In their article published by the Journal of the American Dental Association they found that the application of light greatly “improved the whitening efficacy of some bleach materials…” This study also pointed out that the wavelength of light used had a direct bearing on the increase in temperature inside the tooth, which, if it was too high, could result in increased risk for internal tooth nerve (pulp) damage which might result in pulpal inflammation or death, thus necessitating possible future root canal treatment therapy. The wavelength of light associated with the least rise in internal temperature and that speeded up the chemical bleaching reaction was at around 480 to 520 nanometers, or the color of visible light spectrum blue/green.[i]
In a more recent in vivo study published 2009 in the Journal of Dentistry, JC Ontiveros, et al., found that when using a supplementary light there were “significantly greater bleaching-dependent changes (i.e. the teeth got whiter) in color compared to treatment without light when assessed using instrumental (intraoral spectrophotometer) measurement methods. The same was determined for the visual method with Vita Bleachguide 3-D Master shade guide.[ii]
Back in 2002, when Chairside Power Bleaching first started, a comparison trial of the whitening effects of the first light-enhanced Zoom! ™ Chairside system was studied against Opalescence™ Xtra Boost, which did not use an accelerator light. The Zoom! gel was 25% peroxide and the Opalescence used 38% peroxide. At the end of the trial, both systems were shown to improve teeth shades by between 6 to 9 shades whiter. However, the light-enhanced system, even with its lower peroxide concentration, was shown to be 11 to 22 percent whiter than the higher concentrated non-light-activated gel.[iii]
In a study of wavelength specific lasers used in dentistry, DN Dederich, et al., reported in the 2004 JADA, the best wavelength of light used to facilitate power bleaching was in the 457 to 502 nanometer visible blue light spectrum because of its significant aid in bleaching the teeth while it did not produce the internal tooth heating that other wavelengths of light might cause. They definitely also were against the use of infrared wavelengths that tend to heat the tooth, such as those employed by a CO2 laser.[iv]
In the cover story to the February 2003 JADA, J Goodson, M Travares, et al showed that by using a light and a “relatively low–concentration peroxide (15 percent) for a treatment period of one hour, we were able to achieve a high level of tooth whitening that persisted for a minimum of six months with minor transient tooth sensitivity.” The light that was used was a short-arc gas plasma lamp emitting in the blue-green visible light spectrum at 400-505 nanometers.[v]
Lastly, as an interesting side note to the effects of accelerator light use during vital teeth bleaching, a study mentioned in the News section of the may 2005 issue of the JADA states that using a blue light to help whiten teeth may help fight periodontal (gum and Jawbone) disease. JADA reported that researchers at the Forsythe Institute had shown that as many as 500-600 different types of harmful bacteria found in oral plaque known as “black-pigmented bacteria” (BPB) were eliminated during teeth bleaching when a visible light spectrum blue light is used to enhance the bleaching effect. They also found that when the amount of BPB was reduced, the proportion of potentially helpful bacteria increased. This suggests that the use of bleaching lights might one day help “restore a healthy bacterial balance in the mouth.”[vi]
Recent research on the use of a bright light while performing vital tooth bleaching has shown that it improves the final desired result of whiter teeth than when one doesn’t use a light. The studies have shown that using a light in the visible blue light spectrum results in the greatest whiteness level achieved as opposed to using other visible or invisible wavelengths.
They also show that they can shorten the time needed to achieve a whiter smile by allowing the clinician to use a higher than normal concentration of peroxide in the gel during a shorter treatment time, with positive results taking place in minutes as opposed to days or weeks. Using the right light and gel combination results in fewer incidences of sensitivity, which all patients and clinicians desire as part of a positive bleaching experience and result.
So, with all these factors being considered, the SmileLABS™ Cosmetic Teeth Whitening system, which incorporates a relatively medium strength peroxide gel and a cool LED blue light in the visible spectrum with a wavelength of 490-520 nanometers, is a perfect combination to get teeth whitened very fast without sensitivity. And lastly, it appears that there is a here-to-fore unknown benefit that results in the bright blue light helping in combating gum disease, which causes many adults to lose teeth. Therefore, one might have the added benefit of helping keep their teeth longer and have them become a lot whiter when using our SmileLABS™ bright blue cold LED accelerator light while bleaching.
[i] Kuk K, Tam L, Hubert M. Effect of light energy on peroxide tooth bleaching. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004; (135): 194-201
[ii] Ontiveros JC, Paravina RD. Color change of vital teeth exposed to bleaching performed with and without supplementary light. J Dent. 2009 Nov;(37): 840-847
[iii] Gallagher A, Maggio B, Bowman J, Borden L, Mason S, Felix H. Clinical study to compare two in-office (chairside) whitening systems. J Clin Dent. 2002; 13(6):219-224
[iv] Dederich DN, Bushick RD. Lasers in dentistry: Separating science from hype. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004 Feb; (135):204-212
[v] Tavares M, Stultz J, Newman M, Smith V, Kent R, Carpino E, Goodson J. Light augments tooth whitening with peroxide. J Am Dent Assoc. 2003 Feb; (134):167-175.
[vi] No authors listed. NEWS: Blue light may fight bacteria associated with periodontitis. J Am Dent Assoc. 2005 May; (136): 584
It is often asked, “What is the difference between carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide, and which one works better for teeth whitening or tooth bleaching?” This monograph reviews the literature and research to find the answer to this oft-times perplexing question. There are many differing opinions put forth by various bleach manufacturers, suppliers, and cosmetic teeth whitening companies, but along with their claims of one type being superior to the other, they usually don’t show any scientific proof and research to back up their arguments. This will set the record straight by showing what the science is behind peroxide bleach in each of its forms. Instead of relying on hearsay and advertising hyperbole, it is this science that SmileLABS™ uses to formulate their proprietary bleaching gels.
Historically, modern cosmetic teeth whitening or teeth bleaching began in 1989 when a pioneering dentist, Dr. Van B. Haywood, invented a treatment modality for his patients that wanted whiter, brighter teeth. Using a very weak bleach, specifically 10% carbamide peroxide in a viscous gel form, he placed it in an easily made dental appliance called a nightguard (used for patients that suffered from nocturnal bruxism or teeth grinding.) His patients wore this custom-made appliance against their upper teeth for a period 10-14 days while they slept every night. Then the same treatment was done for the lower teeth. Some dentists still use this exact method as one of their treatment options for teeth bleaching.[i]
Today, two types of bleach are used to bleach or whiten teeth, the original carbamide peroxide and one that is hydrogen peroxide-based. I’ll go more into each type later in this paper. Cosmetic teeth bleaching is now performed, in various methods, either in a dental office, at home by the consumer using over-the-counter (OTC) products, or with the help of independent entrepreneurs, such as Authorized SmileLABS™ Dealers.
The actual teeth bleaching procedure is still accomplished by placing a peroxide-based (either hydrogen or carbamide) bleaching gel, via various methods, into direct contact with the teeth. This contact of bleach to teeth is made either by painting the gel directly onto the teeth or using the custom tray method. It has been shown that these two modalities will result in noticeable whitening of the teeth. The finished degree of whitening ultimately achieved is predicated on the relative type, the strength or concentration of the peroxide-based gel that is used, as well as the amount of time that the active gel is left in contact with the surface of the teeth.
If the concentration is low, a longer amount of contact time against the teeth with the active bleach is needed to achieve a satisfactory result. This meant that for the patient a number of daily treatments were needed either in the dental office or at the patient’s home for the teeth to become satisfactorily white.
Making the teeth bleaching gel concentration stronger, on the other hand, would speed the color change, but would often lead to increasingly painful tooth sensitivity, which was a very non-desirable result for both the patient and practitioner. So, experience showed that a good result could be obtained at home if the patient used either a medium peroxide concentration of bleaching gel coupled with a regimen of spacing the treatments into an hour or less per day for a number days to a week.
Alternatively, the old stand-by of all-night bleaching with a low peroxide concentration gel every night for a 10-21 day course of treatment could be still used. These two variations of the teeth bleaching processes have been done for many years with a good and predictable outcome for the patient who actually correctly completes the treatment regimen.
The only downside was that results were not immediately obtained, but were gained incrementally over a number of days or weeks. Since this type of treatment was done unsupervised at home, strict compliance with treatment guidelines was many times hard, if not impossible to maintain, and results and patient satisfaction with the treatment were many times negative.
Therefore, many a practitioner hoped for a way that could combine the shortest course of treatment, coupled with the ability to be able to supervise the entire treatment to a satisfactory conclusion, that was both easy and pain free from sensitivity to the patient.
This hope resulted in what is now known as Chairside Power Bleaching, the system used by SmileLABS™. By combining a higher concentration of peroxide gel with the use of a strong, safe wavelength of light as an accelerator or catalyst to the bleaching reaction, a much shorter time of contact between gel and tooth resulted that increased the bleaching efficiency of the gel and shortened treatment time by a very large factor, while keeping the process mostly free from sensitivity and achieved the patient’s desire of whiter teeth in minutes instead of hours or days. The only question that now remains is how does the carbamide and hydrogen peroxides differ and what is the best form of peroxide-based gel for each type of treatment?
To answer these questions, we need to understand a few things about how teeth bleaching actually works and also look at each molecule and understand the chemical reaction(s) that takes place when the bleaching occurs. Tooth bleaching today is based upon hydrogen peroxide (HP) as the active bleaching agent. Hydrogen peroxide is noted chemically as “H₂O₂”, and is a relatively unstable molecule by itself, and will quickly disassociate into highly reactive, strong oxidizing agents through the formation of three types of free radicals (hydroxyl radicals, per-hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anions)[ii], reactive oxygen molecules, and hydrogen peroxide anions.[iii]
Hydrogen Peroxide, in a gel substrate, may be applied directly to the teeth, or it can be produced in another chemical reaction from the more stable Carbamide Peroxide (CP) in the presence of water.[iv] See the numbered equations in the Table[v] below for the following text:
1.) H₂NCONH₂ • H₂O₂ → in water → H₂NCONH₂ + 2H₂O₂ 2a.) H₂O₂ → 2HO• 2b.) HO + H₂O₂ → H₂O + HO•₂ 2c.) HO•₂ ↔ H⁺ + O⁻•₂ 3.) 2H₂O₂ ↔ 2H₂O + 2{O} ↔ 2H₂O + O₂ 4.) H₂O₂ ↔ H⁺ + HOO⁻ |
Carbamide peroxide has two portions, the Carbamide portion and the Hydrogen portion. In equation 1, we see the Carbamide Peroxide molecule on the left side of the arrows, which is made up of the carbamide portion (H₂NCONH₂) bonded (•) to the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) portion of the molecule. In the presence of water (i.e. oral saliva) it disassociates into free carbamide and free hydrogen peroxide. Carbamide Peroxide must go through this initial step before any bleaching can occur because it is only the free HP that actually does the bleaching. This takes more time, but Carbamide Peroxide is much more stable than Hydrogen Peroxide and also has a much longer shelf life. Also, it should be noted that a 44% solution of Carbamide Peroxide disassociates into an approximately 12.6% concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide, which equates to an approximately 3.5:1 ratio of Carbamide Peroxide concentration to final disassociated Hydrogen Peroxide concentration.
It is in equations 2, 3, and 4 that we see the production of the different oxidizing agents that actually do the bleaching. In 2a, we see the formation of hydroxyl radicals (2HO•), in 2b, per-hydroxyl radicals (HO•₂), and in 2c, the result is super oxide anions (O⁻•₂). In Equation 3, water (2H₂O) and oxygen (O₂) molecules are formed, and lastly in equation 4, the final oxidizing agent products are hydrogen peroxide anions (HOO⁻).
In all of these free radicals, it is the highly unstable free oxygen component in each that reacts with, oxidizes, or if you will, attacks the long-chained, dark-colored chromophore molecules (atoms or groups in a molecule that cause color) in the patient’s teeth enamel. This attack splits the chromophore molecules into smaller, less colored, and more diffusible (dissolvable) molecules, which results in whitening of the teeth. It doesn’t really remove any stain, but it actually changes the nature and composition of the stains on the teeth. The final results of the bleaching treatment depends mostly on the concentration of the Hydrogen Peroxide available to produce the free radicals, on the amount of time the produced radicals are in contact with the teeth, and the ease in which the radicals can reach the chromophore molecules.5.1
The last factor involved in the Carbamide Peroxide versus Hydrogen Peroxide debate is that of using a very bright, blue light, in the visible spectrum, to accelerate the reaction. Does one form of peroxide or the other work better with an accelerator light? It has been shown that using a light can aid in the bleaching process that results in whiter teeth in less time.[vi] [vii] [viii] [ix]
Also, it is also seen in the literature, that by examining the studies of the light being used in teeth bleaching, it is always used with hydrogen peroxide instead of carbamide peroxide.[x] I think that there is a very good reason for this. It appears that the added light energy of visible light at 480-520 nanometers (visible spectrum blue light) helps increase the energy of activation of the peroxide molecule to form its free radicals. Carbamide Peroxide first has to break down into carbamide and hydrogen peroxide, so it takes longer for the chemical combination to become ready to accept the light’s extra energy input to help activate or catalyze the breakdown of the Hyrdrogen Peroxide into its bleaching-capable free radicals.
Armed with this information, one can now come to some reliable conclusions as to which form of bleach is best for whitening teeth. The answer is, they both are right for the right set of circumstances. When one is doing chairside power teeth bleaching with a light, such as how dentists do this type of treatment and how SmileLABS™ does its proprietary light bleaching, one needs a gel that is relatively strong and that gets to work, and finishes whitening the teeth, as fast as possible. Since Hydrogen Peroxide can form free radicals faster than Carbamide Peroxide and reacts to the light better, it seems that the obvious choice in this case is Hydrogen Peroxide.
On the other hand, when a fast single-treatment in one-hour-or-less is not being done, and one wants to design a take home teeth bleaching kit that is safe and very forgiving of consumer mishandling, Carbamide Peroxide is the better choice. It is much more stable and takes longer to react than Hydrogen Peroxide. It has a longer shelf life since it needs to come into contact with water before it starts to react, whereas Hydrogen Peroxide can start to react by being over-exposed to just light energy.
Also, since higher concentrations of Carbamide Peroxide actually equate to much lower concentrations of eventually formed Hyderogen Peroxide, a safer, higher concentration of Carbamide Peroxide can be utilized for take home use, where the consumer is only using it for a short time each day, i.e. 30-60 minutes per day for up to a two week daily treatment regimen.
This is exactly what SmileLABS™ uses in both of their Medium-strength and Extra-strength take home kits. Each uses a proprietary blend of Carbamide Peroxide gel. Both of SmileLABS’™ treatment modalities now available, either the chairside with a light plus Hydrogen Peroxide method, or the various take home kits with Carbamide Peroxide, work equally well. It is up to the individual to decide which is best for him/herself: either the very fast but at a higher fee ($99-$149) chairside teeth whitening system, or the lower priced ($39-$69) take home teeth whitening kits that take a longer. Either way, the consumer can always be assured that they are always receiving the right type of peroxide and the very best in Cosmetic Teeth Whitening available today.
[i] Haywood VB, Heymann HO. Nightguard vital bleaching. Quintessence Int 1989; 20:173-6
[ii] Gregus Z, Klaassen CD. 1995; Mechanisms of Toxicity. In: Cassarett and Doull’s Toxicology, the Basic Science of Poisons. Klaassen CD, editor. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies Inc., pp 35-74.
[iii] Cotton FA, Wilkinson G. 1972; Oxygen. In: Advances in Inorganic Chemistry. A Comprehensive Text. Cotton FA, Wilkinson G, editors. New York: Interscience Publisher, pp 403-420.
[iv] Budvari S, O’Neil MJ, Smith A, Heckelman PE. 1989; The Merck Index: An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals. Rahway, NJ: Merck and Co., Inc.
[v] Dahl JE, Pallesen U. Tooth Bleaching-A Critical Review of the Biological Aspects. Crit. Rev. Oral Biol. Med.; 2003; 14: 292-304.
5.1 Dahl JE, Pallesen U. Tooth Bleaching-A Critical Review of the Biological Aspects. Crit. Rev. Oral Biol. Med.; 2003; 14: 292-304.
[vi] Kuk K, Tam L, Hubert M. Effect of light energy on peroxide tooth bleaching. J Am Dent Assoc. 2004; (135): 194-201
[vii] Ontiveros JC, Paravina RD. Color change of vital teeth exposed to bleaching performed with and without supplementary light. J Dent. 2009 Nov;(37): 840-847
[viii] Gallagher A, Maggio B, Bowman J, Borden L, Mason S, Felix H. Clinical study to compare two in-office (chairside) whitening systems. J Clin Dent. 2002; 13(6): 219-224
[ix] Tavares M, Stultz J, Newman M, Smith V, Kent R, Carpino E, Goodson J. Light augments tooth whitening with peroxide. J Am Dent Assoc. 2003 Feb; (134): 167-175.
[x] Strassler HE. Vital Tooth Bleaching: An Update. Mdental Cont Ed Insert U Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. 2006; Dec.: 1-12
It is frequently asked, “What are the options available today for consumers that want to whiten their teeth safely and effectively, and how does SmileLABS™ accomplish this for their clients?” This paper reviews the literature to cite examples of currently accepted methods of teeth whitening or bleaching, and shows how SmileLABS™ uses the best of these techniques to accomplish its goal of safe, easy, and effective teeth whitening.
Today, in 2014, there are three basic options available to the consumer for cosmetic teeth bleaching. The first option is whitening that is performed by a dentist in a dental office, or by a hygienist or dental assistant at the dentist’s office under his or her supervision. There are a few variations as to how the dental office does the actual treatment, and those options will be discussed in detail.
The second choice available to health- and beauty-conscious consumers is the Over-The-Counter (OTC) option. There are a few examples of these alternatives available to today’s consumers that we will explore. Some of these appear to work and some do not, and some are downright novel in their approach to whitening.
The third and final alternative is a what many believe to be the best of both worlds method; this would be cosmetic teeth whitening or bleaching using some the same techniques and materials that the dentist would use, but without the bother and expense of having to go to the dental office to have the procedure quickly, affordably, safely, and effectively accomplished. This is how SmileLABS™ does its teeth whitening treatments.
In a landmark study some twenty-one years ago, VB Haywood and HO Heymann described what they called “Nightguard Vital Bleaching” to dentists in Quintessence International, a popular dental journal at the time.[i] It consisted of using dentist-fabricated custom bleaching trays, which were made of a material that was then used as a nightguard for people that ground their teeth. These trays were given to the patient for use at home while they slept.
The patients would usually treat their upper teeth first. The patients were instructed that before going to bed, they should brush their teeth, apply a small amount of 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel to the inside of the tray, insert the tray to cover the teeth, wipe off any excess that flowed out, and then to sleep with the tray inserted in their mouth all night long. Upon arising, they would remove the tray, rinse it and their mouths with water, and then repeat the same process every night for 14 days. Then, they would do the same thing with the tray for the lower teeth for another two weeks to complete the treatment regimen.
The results were usually very good, with shade changes reported of 5 to 8 shades whiter as measured by a dental shade guide. Today, this type of bleaching is sold to the patient for $200-$400. This method was so effective that it is still used by many dentists today. Even my own dentist still uses this technique. Other dentists have modified it somewhat by changing both the strength of the bleaching gel placed into the tray, as well as changing the amount of time the appliance is worn daily. Most dentists, however, do not use the same “nightguard” material because, unless the patient actually does also need a nightguard, they feel it is too thick, and they have opted for a thinner type of silicone tray material. This technique, done almost exclusively by dentists, is commonly known as the “Custom Take-Home Tray” method of bleaching. The safety and efficacy of this tooth-whitening method has been well documented in clinical studies.[ii]
Table of Some At-Home Bleaching Products Dispensed by Dentists:2.1
NuPro Gold | Carbamide peroxide |
Crest Whitestrips Supreme | Hydrogen Peroxide |
Colgate Platinum Overnight | Carbamide peroxide |
Colgate Visible White | Hydrogen Peroxide |
Sapphire Home Whitening | Carbamide peroxide |
Opalescence | Carbamide peroxide |
Très White | Hydrogen Peroxide |
TiON | Carbamide peroxide |
Night White ACP | Carbamide peroxide |
Day White ACP | Hydrogen Peroxide |
Vivastyle | Carbamide peroxide |
Perfecta REV | Hydrogen Peroxide |
White and Brite | Carbamide peroxide |
The other technique that dentists use to bleach vital teeth is known as “In-Office, One-Hour Whitening.”[iii] This method can be done with or without the use of an accelerator light. This treatment modality is also known as Power Bleaching. The cost to the patient is typically $500-$800 per session.
In this procedure, all of the bleaching is performed by a dentist or supervised assistant in a dental chair at the dentist’s office. The procedure usually takes one to two hours to complete. The results are generally good, similar to the take-home trays method, but are much faster but also more expensive to the patient.
Currently, the most popular systems use a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, as opposed to the mostly carbamide peroxide used in take home trays, and it is usually somewhere in the 25-35% concentration range.[iv] During a lengthy prep time of up to a half hour, the patient’s teeth are exposed using cheek retractors and the gums are isolated using a brushed-on plastic polymer that is hardened by light curing so as to prevent the gums from being exposed to the high peroxide concentration of the whitening gel. The gel is painted on the front surface of the teeth and left to work, usually for a 20-minute period. At this point an accelerator light, such as the ones in the Sapphire™, BriteSmile™, LumaArch™, or Zoom 2™ (the most popular among dentists) systems, may be employed to hasten the chemical reaction of the bleaching process.5,6,7,8
After 20 minutes, the gel is usually suctioned off the teeth using a dental vacuum. The gel is re-applied, the light, if used, is set again, and the treatment is repeated up to two more times for a total of 60 minutes of actual bleaching time. Again, the results are usually very good with a 4 shades whiter or more change occurring. One common very undesirable side effect of this in-office system is post-operative tooth or teeth sensitivity that can last up to two weeks or more. Patients using the popular Zoom 2™ often experience what are known as “Zings,” or quick, sharp, electrical-type, short duration pains that gradually subside with time.
It is my feeling that these “Zings” are due to the fact that while the isolated teeth are being bleached in the open air for an over-long time using very high bleach concentrations, they become desiccated, or dried out, and that, coupled with the oft-times high heat output of the accelerator light, causes a temporary inflammation of the inner tooth nerve, known as a pulpitis, to occur. This pulpitis manifests itself in the form of the painful “Zings.” Interestingly, SmileLABS™ Cosmetic Teeth Whitening System does not have this problem for reasons I will discuss later in this paper.
Table of some Dentists’ One-Hour Whitening Products (with accelerator lights if applicable):8.1
Sapphire Professional Whitening | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Sapphire PAC curing light with with Whitening Crystal) |
TiON | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
Zoom 2 | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Zoom 2 bleaching light) |
White Speed | Carbamide peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
Opalescence Xtra Boost | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
Opalescence Quick | Carbamide peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
LumaArch | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
Illuminé | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
BriteSmile | Hydrogen Peroxide | (Any light for activation) |
In recent years, manufacturers have developed unique tray-less methods for OTC at-home bleaching. The first of these was Crest Whitestrips™ from Proctor and Gamble. OTC strips from other manufacturers have come out as well, and the concentration of hydrogen peroxide in the strips available have increased significantly from 5% up to 14%.9 The strips are relatively inexpensive, usually costing between $25-$50 per box of strips. Even with their low cost to the consumer, the whitening results with these strips are highly variable because patient compliance is questionable in that many will not complete the treatment regimen of 30 days of daily use. Fifty dollars is not cheap at all when you don’t achieve the desired results.
There are also many other OTC products that have their manufacturers using the catchall phrase of “Whitening” to describe their products. These are not bleaching products per se, and they only minimally remove the outside stains, not the inside ones, on the teeth surfaces. There are various toothpastes, chewing gums, oral rinses, and brush-on products that their labeling claims to have “Whitening” effects. In most cases, if there is no active peroxide in the product and they are merely stain removers. In a recent study, whitening strips performed much better than a so-called “Whitening” toothpaste.10 But both the SmileLABS take home product and our signature chairside solutions are far superior.
SmileLABS Cosmetic Teeth Whitening, offers to the general public what is considered by many to be the best of all options available to the cosmetic beauty-conscious public. They offer two different systems, a light-activated chairside system, as well as over-the-counter take home products.
The flagship product of SmileLABS™ is their $99 15-20 Minute Light-Accelerated Power-Whitening System that is available from all Authorized SmileLABS™ Dealers. This system uses their proprietary Photosensitive Strength peroxide bleaching gel, their new signature SmileLABS™ Paint-On technique, and their Cold-Light L.E.D. Infinity™ Series Accelerator Lights. This treatment system achieves a 5 to 7 shades whiter result in 15-20 minutes.
The core to this method is the new Paint-On technique, which utilizes a moderate strength hydrogen peroxide gel and only a maximum of 40 minutes total treatment time with adequate rinsing about halfway through the treatment with a re-application of fresh gel. The result is that the teeth stay hydrated; they never become desiccated, and, coupled with the no-heat producing cold L.E.D. accelerator light, they typically never have an issue with pulpitis-caused tooth sensitivity found commonly with Zoom 2™ and other dentist chairside power bleaching systems. SmileLABS clients typically do not get the “Zings!”
SmileLABS™ has also recently added a line of take home whitening kits that can now be purchased from all Authorized SmileLAB Dealers, and soon will be available at many other retail outlets and stores. Two kits are available that come with InstaPression™ trays included. One utilizes an entry level Moderate Strength carbamide gel and another that has an intermediate level Extra Strength carbamide gel. The $39 (MSRP) Moderate Strength kit is used for up to one hour per day for 8 days and the added-value $69 (MSRP) Extra Strength kit can be used up to 30 minutes per day for 16 days. Most people will achieve their desired whiteness level in less than the total number of treatments provided with each kit. SmileLABS™ guarantees that both kits will visibly whiten clients’ teeth or will refund their purchase price (certain restrictions apply).
There are more teeth whitening/bleaching options available today to the public than ever before. Today’s savvy consumer needs to research all the available modalities of treatment before making a well-informed decision about cosmetic teeth whitening. The dentist option, in any of its forms, is a viable one, but comes at a high cost to the consumer, and in some cases has some quite painful issues with tooth sensitivity and “Zings.” If using dentist-made take home trays the treatment time can be a month or more. The OTC option, although reasonably priced, many times does not satisfy the consumer as to the efficacy of the treatment or its lengthy treatment time. It is my hope that this paper has helped clarify these options and has shed some light on this constantly evolving cosmetic procedure and treatment.
[i] Haywood VB, Heymann HO. Nightguard vital bleaching. Quintessence Int 1989; 20:173-6
[ii] Sarrett DC. Tooth Whitening Today. J Am Dent Assoc. 2002; Nov., 133: 1535-38.
2.1 Strassler HE. Vital Tooth Bleaching: An Update. Mdental Cont Ed Insert U Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. 2006; Dec.: 1-12
[iii] Strassler HE. Vital Tooth Bleaching: An Update. Mdental Cont Ed Insert U Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. 2006; Dec.: 1-12
[iv] Sulieman M, Addy M, MacDonal E, Rees JS. The effect of hydrogen peroxide concentration on the outcome of tooth whitening: an in vitro study. Journal of Dentistry. 2004; 32: 295-299
5,6,7,8 Li Y et al. Effect of Light Application on an In-Office Bleaching Gel. J Dent Res 82 (Special Issue, AADR Abstracts): No. 895: 2003
Luk K, Tam L, Hubert M. Effect of light energy on peroxide tooth bleaching. J Am Dent Assoc. 135(2): 194-201, 2004
De Silva Gottardi M, Bracket MG, Haywood VB. Number of in-office light activated bleaching treatments needed to achieve patient satisfaction. Quintessence Int. 37: 115-120, 2006
Tavares M, Stultz J, Newman M, Smith V, Kent R, Carpino E, Goodson JM. Light augments tooth whitening with peroxide. J Am Dent Assoc. 134: 167-175, 2003
8.1 Strassler HE. Vital Tooth Bleaching: An Update. Mdental Cont Ed Insert U Maryland Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. 2006; Dec.: 1-12
9 Garcia-Godoy F, Villata P, Garcia-Godoy C, Bowman LA, Barker ML, Gerlach RW. Clinical evaluation of 14% hydrogen peroxide strips relative to placebo. J Dent Res 85 (Special Issue A): Abstract No. 1372, 2006.
10 Gerlach RW, Barker ML. Clinical response of three direct-to-consumer whitening products: Strips, paint-on gel, and dentifrice. Compend Contin Educ Dent. 24:458-466, 2003.