Abstract

The aim of the paper is to compare the factors that determine the

effectiveness of the teeth whitening treatment and general satisfaction of patients of

the effects of treatment. The research has covered the influence of selected methods

of whitening on enamel structure. The effectiveness of teeth whitening was assessed

by comparing the tooth colour before and after the treatment using the VITAPAN 3DMASTER

shade indicator. The in vitro research has not indicated any negative

influence on the enamel structure and it has shown higher effectiveness of the

Beyond Whitening system used at White Smile Clinic, as compared to the whitening strips method, which has

been also confirmed by the in vivo research.

Introduction

Among all the procedures used in oral health care, teeth whitening is one of

the methods that give patients the greatest satisfaction. It is essentially a beautifying

treatment, but considering the boost that it gives to state of mind and self-esteem, it

also has a substantial therapeutic effect. This treatment usually involves solutions

containing hydrogen peroxide and urea peroxide. Effectiveness of compounds

containing H2O2 has been confirmed by numerous researches (1,2).

After long-term use of whitening substances applied on whitening strips (over-night whitening, whitening strips

method), there is a frequent effect of tooth hypersensitivity, which is observed in the

case of from 10% to 65% of all patients (according to our own research). There are

several factors that determine the level of tooth hypersensitivity and they include

concentration, time and frequency of application (2) and the state of enamel.

In the last years, there have been tendencies to shorten the time of the

whitening treatment itself. One of the suggestions is whitening using an accelerating

lamp that emits blue light, filtered by about 12,000 optical fibres in order to eliminate

the emission of heat and ultraviolet light. The treatment, which takes about 40

minutes, involves emitting light of the wavelength between 480 and 520 nanometres,

which activates the substance, spread on the teeth, containing H2O2 and silicon

dioxide with an activator and substances that reduce tooth sensitivity.

This paper focuses on an attempt to compare the influence of whitening using

the “Beyond Whitening” accelerator and the whitening strips method on changes in

enamel topography. The second part of the paper discusses also subjective opinions

of patients after using both methods.

Results & Discussion

According to the patients, teeth whitening using the Beyond Whitening system

is not inconvenient or oppressive. Subjective opinions expressed in the performed

survey indicate that patients are really satisfied with the treatment. In the case of the whitening strips method, hypersensitivity occurred on the

second or the third day after application of the whitening substance. Patients most

frequently reported the sensation of tingling, burning, reaction to cold, heat and

touch.

Our experience has shown that the patients who had the whitening treatment

using the whitening strips method did not achieve a satisfactory whitening effect even

if they had precisely followed the instructions. The possible reason could be eating

between the whitening cycles. Such effects do not occur in the case of whitening

using the Beyond Whitening accelerator, even if a patient smokes cigarettes.

Conclusions

The research that has been performed enables the formulation of the following

conclusions:

-Shortening the time of whitening does not have negative impact of the effectiveness

of the treatment.

-With our today’s knowledge, we can believe that short-term application of

H2O2 in clinical environment and longer application of

H2O2 at home does not do any serious harm to enamel, which enables an

assumption that these methods are safe.

-Following the procedures recommended by manufacturers of whitening substances,

similar whitening effects were obtained in vitro in the case of both methods., In vivo

the method of blue light whitening seems to be more effective, which is proven by

whiter shade of teeth.

-The differences observed by patients are usually triggered by the discomfort during

the whitening strips treatment. Generally, it can be concluded that patients are more

satisfied with whitening using the Beyond Whitening method.

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