Make a lasting first impression with a brighter, whiter, more beautiful smile…
The problem…Yellow, darkly stained and ageing teeth can be such an embarrassment that people will avoid smiling, lack self confidence and appear to be unhappy people.
The solution...Modern dentistry has introduced ways to whiten even intensely dark, tetracycline stained teeth.
Finding the right solution for your smile… There are so many professional teeth whitening systems and over-the-counter tooth whitening products available today that many consumers are confused as to which one they should invest in. Some of the teeth whitening options to consider are:
- Store bought whitening strips
- ZOOM or ZOOM2
- Laser teeth whitening
- Standard tray bleaching
- Kor whitening and deep bleaching systems
Over the past 18 years I have used all of these teeth whitening methods with my patients so I can tell you what I have found to be the absolute best teeth bleaching system available. When choosing which is the best system we need to consider the answers to a few commonly asked questions:
- How much does the teeth whitening system cost?
- Will the teeth bleaching option actually work?
- How much whiter can I expect my teeth to be?
- How long will the results last?
- Should I expect pain or sensitivity?
- Is teeth whitening safe?
I encourage my patients to invest in a tooth whitening system that actually works, has minimal sensitivity and has permanent results. Following these parameters we eliminate many of the available options.
How does it all work? What works is allowing the tooth whitening agent (hydrogen peroxide) to stay on the tooth structure for a duration that allows the gel to break up the large color molecules into smaller molecules that are located inside of the teeth. Repeating this procedure consistently and daily until the desired shade is reached is the best way to get permanent tooth whitening results. The procedures of delivering the hydrogen peroxide to the teeth tends to be the biggest factor in success of a tooth whitening system. Every day our bodies produce copious amounts of hydrogen peroxide naturally so we are designed to break down the hydrogen peroxide. Peroxidase, found in our saliva(spit), immediately breaks down hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is safe for this reason and the teeth are not harmed in the bleaching process. But because of this fact, it is very important to have a system that does not allow saliva to reach the whitening gel. Ultimately it is best to use a precisely fabricated tray system made from high definition polyvinylsiloxane impressions of the teeth that serve as suction cups on the teeth sealing out the saliva and also sealing in the hydrogen peroxide gel. This type of tray is made with the Kor deep bleaching system. Standard tray bleaching systems are not fabricated with these materials so saliva commonly fills the trays and bleaching agent tends to flow into the mouth. Of course the over the counter strips have no tray to protect the breakdown of the peroxide.
How long is it going to take? Teeth bleaching is like weight loss. If you go on a crash diet, you don’t eat much for a week and drink a ton of water then you can lose 10 pounds fast…BUT you are going to feel lousy and you are going to put the weight back on quickly once you stop the radical dieting. Laser teeth whitening procedures or procedures like ZOOM or ZOOM2 that use a light are similar to a crash diet. Sure you can have whiter teeth in one hour but what is really going on is the teeth are being severely dehydrated within that hour so they usually are extremely sensitive during the procedure and hurt for around 24 hours. Within a week or so of the procedure, most of the teeth will rehydrate and become darker again.
Kor deep bleaching relies on wearing custom, precisely fitting trays consistently every night for an average of two weeks to reach ideal tooth shade. Consistency, not skipping even one day is another key to optimal results…just like a diet and exercise plan when trying to lose weight. The Kor system has two components to minimize sensitivity: a hydrogen peroxide gel that is aqueous based to prevent dehydration of the teeth and a desensitizer that is applied to the teeth during the procedures that seals off the tubules in the teeth that allow sensitivity to occur. In patients that are more difficult to bleach Kor recommends wearing the trays for additional weeks and/or using an in-office highly concentrated gel procedure. Kor results are permanent if maintained as directed for your particular case. Most of the time this means wearing Kor trays for one night each month. Whitening strips and standard tray bleaching system usually cause tooth sensitivity and burning gums which prevent people from wearing these on a consistent, daily basis.
Are you a good candidate for teeth whitening?
The best candidates for tooth whitening procedures are patients with healthy teeth that have unwanted yellow or brown coloring or staining. White spots do not tend to change color but sometimes blend better after whitening procedures. Translucency in teeth, blue to gray shade usually on the biting edges of the front teeth, does not whiten. These areas are see-through like glass and you can imagine that you can not whiten glass. Kor deep bleaching does have a specific system for patients with dark, banded tetracyline stained teeth. I have used this system on several patients and when used properly they have reached the lightest shade on the standard shade guide. It really is amazing and has transformed the lives of many people who have always been told that tooth bleaching could not help them.
Pricing…Invest in a product that delivers value for money!
The costs of these tooth bleaching options varies and professional whitening can vary widely depending on the quality of the materials that are used and the area that you live. Over-the-counter white strips can range from around $30-$60 dollars per box but many times several boxes are needed to reach a desired shade. Standard tray bleaching normally ranges between $200-$500. You could expect to pay between $500-$1200 for ZOOM or ZOOM2. The average patient normally invests $500-$800 for Kor deep bleaching. Kor Max Ultra deep bleaching transforms our extreme tetracycline stained patients for $1200. In our office, we offer Kor whitening procedures for as little as $50 per month for qualified applicants.
My overall recommendation…And the winner is…..
Kor Deep Bleaching System has been the best teeth whitening system that I have used in my 18 years of practice. I have seen some dramatic improvements in shade and as a result in the overall personality and self esteem of my patients. Kor deep bleaching is the most cost effective form of professional tooth whitening because of the facts that it is permanent, minimizes discomfort and provides the whitest shades possible.
Feel free to call our office at 859.543.9000 with any questions or if you would like to schedule an appointment for a brighter, more beautiful smile!
