Laser teeth whitening (also known as light activated teeth whitening) is one of the newest methods available for teeth whitening. Laser treatment involves using a beam of special laser light on the desired areas. Laser teeth whitening is popular beacause the procedure only takes an hour, and results can be seen instantly. It is costlier than other teeth whitening methods. The treatment begins by using bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide gel or carbamide peroxide gel on the teeth enamel. The gel is then activated using a controlled laser light. The result is that that the bleaching takes place more effectively and in much less time. The teeth become whiter by up to 10 shades.
Below are the top three laster/light activated teeth whitening procedures available on the market:
Zoom – The Zoom Tooth whitening system by Discus Dental Inc is a very popular teeth whitening system available on the market. Part of its popularity is due to the product’s massive marketing exposure. It is only available at dental offices. The hydrogen peroxide based tooth whitener has a 32% hydrogen peroxide gel and an activator. The gel is mixed with the activator to form a bleaching system of 25% hydrogen peroxide with a pH of 7.5 to 8.5. The system uses a mercury metal halide light within the range of 350-400nm. View Zoom! Reviews Here
BriteSmile – BriteSmile is another very popular teeth whitening system. The BriteSmile treatment consists of the BriteSmile Procedural Gel for whitening teeth. The pre-packaged hydrogen peroxide compound with a 15% hydrogen peroxide concentration and a pH of 6.5 comes in a ready to use formula. An ‘accelerator’ is also used during the second and third procedure to increase the effectiveness of the whitener. The light used is either a gas plasma or LED (light emitting diode) bleaching light with a wavelength between 400 and 500nm. View BriteSmile Reviews Here
Saphhire - The Sapphire Whitening system is made by Den-Mat - they are the same makers as Lumineers. It is only available at dental offices. This system uses a very powerful Sapphire Plasma Arc Light along with a professional grade teeth whitening gel. According to Den-Mat, the light assists the bleaching process in two ways. Sapphire’s bleach formulation absorbs light in the blue end of the spectrum, which becomes excited and decomposes into reactive intermediators that attack the colored compounds that form stains on teeth. In addition, the absorption of blue light serves to activate the colored stain materials absorbed on the teeth. View Sapphire Whitening Reviews Here
There are two schools of thoughts on light activated whitening. Some studies show that it works and some do not. Many respected researchers in dentistry, including CRA (Clinical Research Associates), have performed split-arch, showing that bleaching lights are of no benefit. A split-arch study is when you do one thing on the left side of a patient’s mouth and something different on their right side. Bleaching gels were placed on teeth on both sides of these patient’s mouths. Bleaching lights were used only on one side, and the teeth on the other side of the mouth were shielded from the light. The result? No difference from right side to left side. The study showed that it was only bleaching gel that caused the whitening. However, there are studies out there by credible institutions that show laser whitening does actually work.
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