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You Too Can Have a Whiter, Brighter, Smile!
Wall
Street Journal-10/01/2002
Patients can choose from a range of whitening products, from cheap over-the-counter
kits to pricey, in-office treatments. Generally Whitening of the teeth is not covered by insurance.
The active ingredient
in most whitening products is varying concentrations of carbamide peroxide, or in some cases hydrogen peroxide. In general,
in-office treatments cost more but last longer.
Shades of Improvement
One common dentist-supervised approach costs
roughly $400.00 The dentist fits the patient for a special "tray" that fits over the teeth. For two weeks, the patient fills
the tray with a whitening gel and wears it twice a day. This can result in a change of five to seven shades says Dr. Messina,
referring to a scale dentists use to assess tooth color. Potential drawbacks include irritated gums if the tray fits poorly.
Don't want the hassle of daily application? You can shell out between $600 to $1,000 for a one-time "power whitening." Variations
on this treatment are offered through dentists and chains such as BriteSmile Inc., based in Walnut Creek Calif. A whitening
agent is applied to the teeth, then activated with a special light, in a process that takes about an hour. Teeth can get
dramatically whiter; BrightSmile says on average, its clients see an eight-shade improvement.
Some patients are't
good candidates for whitening . Yellow teeth tend to respond better to treatment than do gray or dark brown teeth the ADA
says. If you have gum disease or cavities, whiteners won't help unless you fix those problems first. Teeth deeply discolored
by certain drugs such as tetracycline, used to treat acne, aren't likely to find much benefit.
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