5 features of using trays for teeth whitening

Content:

1. What are teeth whitening trays?
2. Treatment Options
3. Indications for aesthetic procedures
4. Features of the technique
5. What does the brightening gel contain?
6. Other features of the technique
7. Who is contraindicated for home lightening?
8. Pros and cons of the technique

You can make your smile beautiful at home using special whitening trays.
But before starting aesthetic activities, you must definitely visit a doctor. The specialist will examine the condition of the enamel, determine whether there are any contraindications to such therapy, and give useful recommendations. Without obtaining dental advice, you should not use whitening trays, as there is a risk of complications.

Types of mouth guards

There are different types of mouthguards. The entire variety of products offered can be divided into two types:

• Professional products that can be purchased at dental clinics;
• Products available for purchase in any pharmacies or beauty stores.

The first type is available for treatment at home, but will require regular visits to the dental office to monitor the progress of whitening and draw up a treatment plan. That is why this technique is classified as a professional method. Such kits can be purchased online, but using them without talking to a dentist can be dangerous. If you choose professional products, you will receive:

• Professional materials for whitening. Manufacturers of such products mostly cooperate only with clinics. Therefore, the products are intended for professional use. The higher the qualifications of the dentist, the greater the chances of achieving an excellent and safe result.
• Own mouthguard. The doctor will give you the opportunity to make a mouthguard based on an impression of your teeth. They will be more convenient than universal ones. However, this will not affect the result of whitening.
• Professional consultation. This is important when using professional products. The doctor, like no one else, will be able to do everything possible to ensure that whitening gives the most successful result. Consultations with professionals will protect you from various troubles.

Making your own mouth guard

If you have made a choice in favor of whitening kits that can be purchased in stores, then there are several nuances. First of all, choose sets from well-known manufacturers that have earned many positive reviews. You should not save in this situation, such savings can cost you a pretty penny if something goes wrong and you have to deal with dental treatment. Such products have a number of features:

• The mouthguard is universal. These mouth guards are suitable for absolutely anyone, however, they can cause discomfort.
• The concentration of bleaching agents is more gentle than that of professional products. This is because manufacturers are trying to reduce the likelihood of harm. Achieving a positive result will take a longer time.

What are teeth whitening trays?

Plates do not lighten teeth on their own. They serve as a place for laying the whitening material and ensure its long-term contact with the enamel. For the devices to work, a solution based on hydrogen peroxide or urea is placed in them.

The first remedy is considered the most powerful. It removes yellowness faster and allows you to get the desired result in a short time. But it works more aggressively than carbamide peroxide, so it is not recommended to use it if the units are highly sensitive.

Treatment Options

Teeth whitening with trays can be carried out according to different programs:

• Standard (basic). Has the most affordable price. A person buys a universal device at a pharmacy and uses it according to the instructions. This therapy is the most risky. It is not suitable for all patients and often causes allergies. Because the plate does not fit perfectly into the rows, the bleach solution may leak out of the plate. Then irritation of the mucous membranes of the oral cavity occurs, and small ulcers appear.
• Thermoplastic. Involves the use of elements that, after heating, change their shape and size. You just need to dip the product in hot water and put it on immediately. It will “suck” tightly, and after cooling it will retain its new shape. Thermoplastic products are much safer than standard ones. When used correctly, the likelihood of irritation of the mucous membranes is minimized.
• Individual. An option that is suitable for patients who want to get the perfect result. Is the most expensive. Mouthguards are made based on a cast of the jaws. Due to this, they perfectly fit each unit, securely hold the lightening gel inside, and do not irritate the mucous membranes. It is very convenient to use individual products. True, their cost is not low.

Differences between home and office whitening

The advantage of whitening at home is that the procedure can be repeated at a convenient time. Efficiency is achieved through the use of chemicals placed in the mouthguard reservoir. The disadvantage of this method is possible harm to the teeth or gums if the mouth guard does not fit tightly to the teeth. Unlike in-office whitening, the effect occurs only after 10-15 sessions. Also, the home procedure is inconvenient because the patient must follow a diet, excluding coloring substances from the diet: juices, tea, coffee. In addition, smoking is prohibited during the whitening period.

Whitening in the dentist's office allows you to achieve 2 shades of teeth whitening already at your first visit. The procedure is carried out under the supervision of a clinic specialist who, in addition to the bleaching agent, uses lamps that speed up the procedure. In addition, complexes are used that strengthen tooth enamel. The dentists at Dr. Granov’s clinic take into account the characteristics of each patient’s enamel, because whitening gels can cause increased tooth sensitivity.

Features of the technique

The patient is offered products made from hypoallergenic and biocompatible materials, so wearing them does not harm his health. Most often, plates are made from:

• plastic;
• silicone;
• gel-like composite.

Under no circumstances should they be worn on a regular basis. Whitening should be carried out in short courses. Otherwise, the enamel will be damaged. Deep cracks will appear on its surface. Pathogenic microorganisms will begin to multiply in them, which will lead to caries and pulpitis.

What does the brightening gel contain?

Standard and thermoplastic fixtures are sold together with a universal gel. Its active substances are hydrogen peroxide or carbamide. The composition may also contain compounds that strengthen the upper layers of the dental crown, for example, calcium, fluorine, sodium.

In the case of individual products, the selection of whitening gel is carried out on a personal basis. The dentist takes into account:

• patient's age;
• mouth condition;
• desired result;
• tendency to specific dental diseases;
• presence of allergies to medications.

At his discretion, he may offer material with a higher or, conversely, lower content of the bleaching component. This will allow you to get the smile of your dreams quickly and without risks to your oral health.

Other features of the technique

Thanks to the mouth guard, the gel material is distributed as evenly as possible over the teeth. Not a single part of it remains uncultivated. This guarantees a brilliant aesthetic result. Among other features of this whitening:

• Lasts about two to three weeks. Improvement in the appearance of teeth becomes noticeable after three to four procedures. Therefore, do not despair if after the first use of the solution nothing has changed.
• It can be carried out only if the condition of the oral cavity is satisfactory. If during the initial appointment the dentist discovers any diseases, they must be cured. It is unacceptable to apply a composition with carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to carious cavities or inflamed gums.
• You cannot start therapy without first carrying out professional hygiene. The latter is needed to clean the crowns from stone and plaque. If you do not go through it, the units will lighten unevenly, which will look strange and unsightly.
• Helps increase sensitivity. This is normal, since the enamel is exposed to quite serious damage every day. But, if the toothache becomes severe, you should stop aesthetic procedures and seek medical help again.
• You need to wear the devices for as long as the doctor says - and not a minute longer. Some people deliberately increase the duration of their sessions in an attempt to get faster results. This is unacceptable, since the whitening gel can destroy the enamel.
• Affordable price. Home whitening usually costs less than in-office whitening. We cannot ignore the fact that it takes place in comfortable and familiar conditions for a person. During the sessions, he can do any work or relax quietly.

But not everyone can use whitening trays, despite their advantages. This dental technique has certain limitations.

Advantages and disadvantages

Mouthguards are an ideal option for people who are afraid of visiting the dentist or do not want to use the hardware whitening method. They also have a number of other advantages:

• affordable price;
• invisible to others, the procedure can be done at the workplace;
• reusable;
• You can always change the gel if you don’t like the effect or have an allergic reaction;
• enamel lightening occurs on the inner, outer side and edge of the tooth, in the interdental space.

Flaws:

• It is not recommended to talk during the procedure, the products may fall out;
• During the procedure, you should not drink drinks, food with dyes (tea, coffee, carbonated drinks), or smoke;
• Only natural enamel can be lightened; fillings will not change their color.

Who is contraindicated for home lightening?

The method cannot be used:

• in working with children under the age of eighteen, pregnant and breastfeeding women, people who had an extraction less than four weeks ago;
• if you have a piercing in your mouth;
• for untreated diseases of teeth and gums;
• when serving poorly disciplined patients who ignore medical prescriptions.

It is also prohibited to perform whitening if the patient is allergic to the dental material that needs to be used.

Indications for the use of whitening trays

Experts in the field of aesthetic dentistry say that there is a separate category of patients for whom the use of such home lightening methods is especially recommended. These include elderly people whose enamel has changed its color as a result of natural age-related processes, as well as smokers, coffee drinkers, people taking potent medications, including tetracycline antibiotics - quite often these drugs lead to pronounced yellowing of the enamel layer.

Pros and cons of the technique

To make it easier to understand whether this dental program is right for you, we will list its main advantages and disadvantages. The first include:

• availability;
• the ability to independently carry out all procedures;
• high efficiency;
• bleaching occurs immediately from the outside and inside;
• possibility of personal selection of gel and production of individual plates.

Among the disadvantages:

• You will still have to visit the dentist’s office;
• while wearing a mouth guard, you cannot talk, eat, or drink;
• incorrect application of the gel and wearing the plates for too long cause irritation of the gums and mucous membranes;
• long term events.

In any case, you can only answer the question “to be or not to be” together with your dentist. Therefore, be sure to visit your doctor before purchasing the kit from the pharmacy.

What are the contraindications

The use of whitening trays, like any other option for lightening the enamel, is associated with the risk of damage to the protective layer of the teeth, the development of hyperesthesia, that is, increased sensitivity, and even complete destruction of dental tissue. Therefore, before you start using such mouth guards, it is so important to make sure that you have no contraindications:

• tendency to allergic manifestations, especially to the components included in the gel,
• individual intolerance to the composition,
• pregnancy, breastfeeding,
• children's age (up to 16-18 years),
• pathologies of hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity,
• dental injuries,
• piercings on lips and mouth,
• recent tooth extraction,
• injured, thinned enamel,
• taking powerful sedatives,
• some systemic pathologies, for example, diabetes or rheumatism.

During pregnancy, the use of the procedure is contraindicated
. Obviously, making an independent decision about using trays for home whitening is fraught with serious consequences for the health of your smile. Therefore, first you need to visit the dentist’s office to assess the condition of the oral cavity and enamel.