1. How does bleaching work?
* Stains on teeth are caused by a variety of factors. Components of the bleaching system work to break the stains up into smaller particles that are harder to be seen by the eye; thus the tooth appears to lighten.
2. Who can use the TEETH WHITENER bleaching system on their teeth?
* The manufacturers of this product advocate use for people 13 years and older. Bleaching should be avoided by any person who has known allergies to any component of the bleaching system. Bleaching should also be used with caution in any person who has a number of resin (tooth-colored) restorations or crown and bridge work in their mouth; restorations of this type WILL NOT lighten in color and thus will result in color discrepancies within the mouth. Any persons with known oral disease such as decay, periodontal/gum disease, etc should avoid this product. As stated in the precautions, pregnant and nursing women should not use this product.
3. How will my results compare with those if I were to go to my dentist?
* The TEETH WHITENER system will offer the same results that would be offered by a dentist-fabricated at home system.
4. Do I need to talk to my dentist before I bleach my teeth?
* TEETH WHITENER recommends that each person have an up to date dental exam before they begin bleaching. Remember, any person with untreated oral disease, should avoid whitening their teeth until the disease is eliminated.
5. If I use more whitening gel or wear the trays longer than instructed, will my teeth get whiter faster?
* It is important not to use too much gel or to wear the trays too long. More is not better in the case of whitening. Also, overfilling the trays can lead to some tissue irritation.
6. How white can my teeth get?
* Depending on your initial shade, your teeth can get up to 6-10 shades whiter. Bleaching is proven to whiten teeth but each individual is different and so it is impossible to predict the results.
7. How long will it take my teeth to get their whitest?
* Anywhere from 1-3 weeks, depending on the initial shade of teeth and length of time worn. Remember that it may take longer for some teeth to whiten. Results may vary. Ultimately the number of uses required to achieve maximum results vary by individual and amount of initial discoloration.
8. What if I experience sensitivity of discomfort?
* Few people may experience some degree of sensitivity. Sensitivity is usually short lived and tends to decrease as the whitening treatment progresses. Easing sensitivity may be as simple as using less gel or wearing the trays in shorter time intervals. Sparkling White Smiles does recommend that the initial application be limited to 30 minutes. If you experience sensitivity, try wearing the trays every day for 15 minutes at a time, or wear every other day for 30 minutes. Do not brush your teeth immediately before whitening, as this can contribute to sensitivity. If you experience severe sensitivity, stop use and contact your dentist. In rare cases, some people may not be able to whiten their teeth.
9. Is it OK to swallow the whitening gel?
* Yes, the whitening gel will not harm you in the quantities swallowed under normal use.
10. Are the results that I get from bleaching permanent?
* The results are not permanent, but can last from a few months to years depending on lifestyle habits and maintenance bleaching.
11. Couldn’t I save money by making my own trays with the boil and bite technique?
* Custom trays made from models of your teeth offer a more precise fit to your specific teeth and thus deliver the bleaching materials to the areas that need to be bleached and, if used correctly, keep the bleaching materials away from the areas that could be harmed; in that way custom trays are recommended by the American Dental Association as the proper technique for at-home tooth whitening.
12. How do I store my gels once I receive them and how long is their shelf-life?
* All of your gels should be stored your refrigerator; however, for best results we recommend that you let the gels come to room temperature before using them for whitening purposes. Never freeze your syringes; and of course always protect your gels from heat and direct sunlight. If kept under the proper conditions some gels have a shelf-life of up to one year.
13. Will my fillings, crowns or other porcelain restorations whitening when I bleach my teeth?>BR>
* Unfortunately a permanent restoration is permanent and therefore the color of these restorations will not change when you whiten your teeth. We recommend that if you are to have any major dental work completed that you whiten your teeth to your desired shade prior to having permanent restorations placed to match your tooth color.
14. Will your bleaching system work to treat tetracycline or minocycline discolored teeth?
* Treating tetracycline and minocycline stained teeth is possible through at-home systems; however, it must be understood that it will take a much longer period of time and effects are sometimes not as obvious. We recommend persons with such staining take an initial shade prior to beginning their whitening followed by rigid bleaching for a period of several weeks; after several weeks duration another shade match should be taken to see if at-home bleaching is a worth-while attempt.
What is the treatment procedure? - An
impression of your teeth will be made by you at home with our easy-to-use
instant thermoforming moldable mouth trays or The NEW DUAL ARCH MOUTH TRAY With Putty, Or Our New Duplex ELASTOMER Tray. You will then apply our whitening
gel inside the Duplex Tray or Thermoform Trays and place the tray over your teeth.
Again, since our system is 22%, 36% & 44%, you can
treat your teeth only 20-30 minutes per day. In most cases, you will see results immediately & within only one week.
Is the whitening process permanent?
- For most people, the treatment will last for many years. Your teeth have
become stained in the first place from consuming the foods and beverages. Upon
the completion of your initial bleaching process, your teeth are restored
close to their natural white color. Exposure to foods, drinks (especially
coffee, colas and red wines), smoking and other consumables will gradually
darken teeth again over time. You may want to periodically bleach your teeth.
After an initial treatment, most people do touchups about once every 6-12
months.
How Important are Thermoforming
trays? - Very Important! Having thermoforming trays is
essential to assure proper bleaching results. Non-moldable mouthpieces may
cause inconsistent bleaching or spotting on the teeth and they are
uncomfortable to wear. This is also true with whitening strips on the
market today.
What is the difference between the
thermoforming trays and the professional lab-created mouthpieces? -
Although both mouthpieces are effective and safe, the professional lab-created
mouthpieces are more precise and more comfortable to wear. Since they are
trimmed at the gingival line, they help you save bleaching gel and are better
for people who may have sensitivities to bleaching gels on their gums. The
downside of these professional mouthpieces is that they cost more since there
are more materials needed to create them and professional laboratories are
utilized to create the mouthpiece for you. The thermoforming trays do a
great job with dental bleaching, especially if you have small scissors which
you can trim the trays to the gum line which eliminates gum sensitivity. The
upside of the thermoforming trays is that they are less expensive than the
lab-created mouthpieces. Both mouthpieces are effective and you can
decide which type is best for you.
I already have a set of moldable
mouthpieces. Can I buy just the whitening just the gel ? - Yes, we
sell 22%, 36% & 44% Carbamide Peroxide whitening gel
separately. It can be used with any dental tray in the same way as
your previous whitening gel.
Why is Our product better than
other whiteners? - Simply put, other products do not work as effectively.
Some over-the-counter trays are not moldable to your teeth and do not hold the
gel in the proper position. Many OTC whitening gels are not thick enough to
stay in place and will leak out of the tray. Many OTC gels typically have less
effective active ingredients or a lower concentration of active ingredients.
Many professional dental whitening systems provide a less percentage of
carbamide peroxide. We should note that you can whiten your teeth with a lower
percentage, but it takes a much longer treatment time in your mouth. Our 22%, 36% & 44%
gel is HIGHLY effective. In short, we offer more effective whitening
power for your money than any other system.
Is this product the same thing
dentists sell me for $500 or more? - Yes, Our system uses the same active
ingredients, percent concentration and methodology as those used in
professional dental offices. We provide you with thermoforming trays and
supply you with a high quality, effective whitening gel exactly like the
formula used in dental offices.
What causes tooth discoloration? - There
are many causes. The most common include consumption of foods, coffee, tea,
wine, sodas and smoking. In other words, our teeth naturally get more and more
stained as time goes on and we continue to live our lives. NOTE
- Tetracycline discoloration and artificial dental work are usually not
greatly responsive to dental bleaching.
Who may benefit from tooth
whitening? - Almost everyone. However, there are some cases where
treatment may not be effective. Tooth lightening is ideal for patients who
have healthy, unrestored teeth and would like a whiter, brighter smile.
Tetracycline discolorations and artificial dental work are usually not greatly
responsive to dental bleaching.
Is it safe to bleach my teeth at
home? - Yes, our at-home bleaching system is specially designed to be an
easy-to-use system with detailed usage instructions. Over a decade of research
indicates that whitening teeth with carbamide peroxide is safe and effective.
All of our products comply with FDA regulations.
How long does the bleaching process
take? - Results are dependent upon each individual characteristics of each
person and the daily wear-time of the thermoforming trays, but most people
usually see results within the first week. Maximum results occur over the next
7-21 days.
Are there any side effects? - Some
people experience temporary tooth sensitivity during treatment. Others have
reported discomfort in the gums or in loose fillings. Gum irritation usually
disappears within 1-3 days after beginning the procedure and always upon the
discontinuation or completion of treatment. There are no other
significant side effects. YOU SHOULD NOT USE THIS PRODUCT IF
YOU ARE PREGNANT, HAVE HEALTH PROBLEMS, PERIODONTAL DISEASE OR GUMS THAT ARE
IN POOR CONDITION, WEAR BRACES, HAD RECENT ORAL SURGERY, DECAYED TEETH, HAVE
ROOTS THAT ARE EXPOSED, HAVE COLITIS, OR HAVE JAW PROBLEMS. The manufacturer
and seller assume no responsibility for any usage of product. You
should consult with a dentist before attempting any at-home treatments and
understand that there are risks involved if not doing so. A small percentage
of people may experience Reversible tooth sensitivity and gum irritation which
disappears when use ends, or by decreasing the amount of time you bleach your
teeth each time, or by increasing the amount of time between bleaching
sessions.
How much whitening gel does it take
per treatment? - Each individual tray application
(upper or lower arch) will use approximately 1/4 to1/2cc of whitening gel.
The lower amount of 1/4 cc per treatment is accomplished by 3 things:
experience of using the whitening process, dabbing just a small amount of gel
in the frontal portion of each tooth exposed when smiling only (no need to
whiten unexposed teeth), and most importantly, trimming the thermoforming
trays at the gingival line (tooth/gum line). If you take small scissors and
trim the trays on the gingival line, you do not have a waste factor of gel and
do not expose the soft tissue to the process.
OTHER WHITENING PRODUCTS:
Whitening Toothpastes
Inexpensive ($3 - $10) - If the
product doesn't contain at least 10% carbamide peroxide, it probably will not
work well. Additionally, carbamide peroxide must stay on your teeth for a
period of time to be effective.
In-Office Whitening
Expensive ($300-$600) - The process
consists of the dentist forming a mouth piece for you and usually dispensing
16% carbamide peroxide. Our tooth whitening system works the same way except
you form the tray yourself and our gel is 22%, 36% & 44%.
Special note: Some dentist are using a 44% in office treatment and sending the
patient home with 30% at home treatment.
Laser Bleaching
Expensive $500 -$1,000. This procedure
is usually done in a few hours at the dentist office using a light source to
speed up the process.
Whitening Strips
Inexpensive strips coated with a
low percentage (non- dental strength) whitening gel. Strips
cover front teeth only. Strips do not work well in removing
stains between teeth. Because of the low percentage of whitening gel and
ineffective non fitting delivery method, additional strips are required for
frequent maintenance.
Other Information
Carbamide Peroxide has an approximate shelf life of 2 YEARS, And 2 1/2 years if refrigerated.. You don't want to
purchase a kit that will expire before you have had a chance to use it. Our
kits have gel solution fabricated DAILY. Many companies sell
expired older kits which they purchase at a discounted price (caveat emptor:
Let the buyer beware).
Carbamide or hydrogen peroxide that is
stored and sold in toothpaste like "tubes"and other containers, do
not provide the air-tight properties necessary for storage. Although
syringe/cartridge form is more expensive to manufacture and to purchase, it is
advisable to maintain the gel in an airtight environment.
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