![]() It also has been shown that no one technique is more effective at bleaching than any other. It has been shown that no one technique delivers a more profound bleach than any other. The active bleaching ingredient in all current bleach concepts is hydrogen peroxide, delivered in many forms. ![]() Under supervision of a dentist, the patient is able to monitor the degree of bleaching, the tooth sensitivity that occurs, the changes in color of teeth relative to restorations, and the various other side effects that occur with any bleaching procedure. As a result, my productivity in clinical dentistry has increased significantly. No longer do I have to devote an operatory to bleaching. The at-home technique allows patients to share in the responsibility for the procedure. I was very pleased when the at-home bleaching method was introduced. My beliefs are based on both research and clinical practice. I was bleaching vital teeth long before the concept became popular, and the techniques I have used have varied across all of the currently available techniques, as well as a few that have been abandoned. Which product and which method for tooth bleaching will provide the most adequate bleach? Almost all of the current products and bleaching concepts claim to be the best. The tooth-bleaching concept is confusing to me. Research is underway on new bleaching-system brands to see if any recent progress has been made on the ability of lights to enhance the bleaching procedure. As each new bleaching system comes on the market and alleges that their light enhances the bleaching effect, unbiased noncompany research must be performed to see if the claims are true. She recently stated that it is possible that a scientist, at some time in the future, will discover an additive to bleaching gels or solutions that will allow light or heat to speed or increase bleaching. Rella Christensen has been a pioneer in vital-tooth bleaching research. Therefore, as you stated in your question, there is little reason to use lights with bleaching except for marketing and "special effects." Unfortunately, it appears that in the eyes of some manufacturers and dentists, the marketing influence of lights is more important than their actual influence on the bleaching procedure.ĭr. In these studies, light use did not speed or increase the bleaching over the use of bleaching chemicals alone. As with any concept, what actually happens and what the patient thinks is happening may be two different things. ![]() Further scientific information on the lack of the effect of lights will be published in a bleaching supplement to Compendium next month. Tests on BriteSmile have not yet been completed. The following quote includes part of the CRA conclusions from that newsletter: "Use of lights according to the manufacturer's directions did not improve lightening for any system tested." Systems tested in the CRA study were: LaserSmile, LumaArch, Niveous, Opalescence Xtra Boost, PolaOffice, Rembrandt 1 Hour Smile-Whitening Program, and Zoom. The latest of their studies was published in the most recent CRA Newsletter (March 2003), in which we reported on the characteristics of several in-office bleaching systems using light. ![]() Over many years Clinical Research Associates (CRA) has studied the effect of light and heat on bleaching. " (This question has been shortened and rearranged from the original form). Unfortunately, I'm not certain as to what mechanism for whitening is truly happening with the lights. I've assumed that light application used with in-office bleaching was only a marketing tool, with little clinical value. This seems to be supportive of using lights with in-office bleaching. "Recently, I've read: "Light augments tooth whitening with peroxide" (Tavares M, Slultz J. If you would like to submit a question to Dr. Gordon Christensen addresses the most frequently asked questions from Dental Economics readers.
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