As the enamel of your teeth is worn down or stained, it's only a matter of time before the natural white luster starts to fade or discolor.
Having yellowed or stained teeth can affect your confidence and self-esteem; thus, it comes as no surprise that professional teeth whitening is now one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures in the world—with certain systems able to give you a whiter smile that's up to 14 shades brighter.
There are now several excellent, industry-standard systems available at dentists all around the world that can dramatically whiten your teeth and give you a beautiful, natural-looking smile you can be proud of.
Keep reading to learn more about them and how they differ before booking your treatment abroad with Dental Departures.
What Are the Differences Between the Most Popular Systems?
You will discover several key differences between laser and plasma whitening; yet both are carried out in the dentist’s chair and use specialized laser and plasma lights, respectively, to activate highly concentrated whitening gels that are applied to the teeth.
All industry-standard laser and plasma whitening systems are quite effective, but there are a couple of brand names you may have heard of.
Zoom!® & Zoom! 2® Laser Whitening:
- Zoom! Whitening is one of the best-recognized laser whitening systems in the world. With this system, a specially formulated whitening gel is applied to your teeth and a laser is focused onto the teeth to rapidly activate the gel and whiten the teeth. The process takes about 60 minutes for each treatment, consisting of three 20-minute applications of whitener, for a cumulative exposure time of an hour.
Most patients’ teeth are whitened by around eight shades from pre-whitening treatment, all in about an hour. The maximum effect is about 10 shades difference. - Zoom! 2 is a second-generation system that has an advanced formulation of the whitening gel and better optics in the laser that focuses more directly on the teeth for a more optimal result. The gel is applied in three 15-minute sessions lasting a total of 45 minutes.
Zoom! 2 whitening achieves an average of 10 shades difference from pre-whitening treatment, with most patients achieving 6-10 shades difference. The maximum whitening is about 12 shades, and the system is 15% more effective than the original Zoom! System.
BriteSmile® Whitening:
BriteSmile whitening also uses an activated gel applied to the teeth for about an hour. However, the BriteSmile system uses blue plasma light that emits no heat to activate the gel. Patients with tooth sensitivity concerns may want to choose this system.
In addition to the cool plasma light, BriteSmile is highly effective, with an average of nine shades of whitening power. BriteSmile is also potentially the most powerful system, with some patients achieving 14 shades of color difference!
How Long Do the Effects of Laser & Plasma Whitening Last?
Typically, the effects of laser and plasma whitening systems can last for one or two years with proper oral hygiene. Of course, smoking, drinking coffee, red wine and consuming other staining agents can negate the effects of laser whitening more quickly.
Take-home whitening kits can also be a good way to maintain your new whiter smile, with custom-made trays made by your dentist and gel top-ups available on prescription.
Does it Hurt?
Most patients experience no pain with either plasma or laser whitening. However, with the laser system, about 20% of patients can experience teeth sensitivity that can be mild or severe and last for around 24 hours. Patients concerned about teeth sensitivity should consider a plasma whitening system, the Zoom! 2 whitening system, or take-home whitening kits.
What Are “Take-home Whitening Kits?”
Take-home whitening kits use a similar gel that is applied during laser or plasma whitening, though it is less concentrated. The gels are applied to the teeth using specially molded trays that fit snugly against your teeth and are held in place for between one and two hours at a time. Multiple applications are needed to achieve optimal results. Take-home kits are not as immediately effective at teeth whitening but can achieve four to eight shades difference over time.
Take-home whitening kits are an excellent way to prolong the effects of laser whitening and maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.
Booking Treatment with Dental Departures
To save cash while abroad, check out our full list of global clinics that offer teeth whitening treatments here.
You can quickly and conveniently book an appointment directly through our site or contact the Dental Departures Customer Care Team to find out how we can help you.
Sources:
Popular Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments. Your Dentistry. Website accessed: 5 January 2021. https://www.yourdentistryguide.com/ss-cosmetic-dentistry/
Teeth Whitening. Colgate. Website accessed: 5 January 2021. https://www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening
Dental Health and Tooth Discoloration. WebMD. 9 October 2019. https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-discoloration
Britesmile Teeth Whitening. Consumer Guide to Dentistry. Website accessed: 5 January 2021. https://www.yourdentistryguide.com/in-office-whitening/