FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 1997
CONTACT:
Chris Martin; [email protected]
Jann Ingmire; [email protected]
312/440/2806
Nighttime Bleaching a Viable Alternative to In-Office Tooth Whitening
CHICAGO -- A relatively new option for patients wanting to whiten their
teeth is nightguard tooth bleaching, which has been demonstrated to be
safe and effective when dispensed and supervised by dentists. While the
technique can be traced back to 1968, it was not introduced in the
dental office until 1989, according to a report by Van B. Haywood,
D.M.D., in a special supplement to the Journal of the American Dental
Association (JADA) on "Nonrestorative Treatment of Discolored Teeth."
Dr. Haywood, an associate professor at the School of Dentistry, Medical
College of Georgia, explains that this type of tooth whitening involves
the use of a 10 percent carbamide peroxide material in a custom-fitted
mouthguard that the patient wears for a few hours a day at home, usually
at night. The normal bleaching treatment time is one to two weeks.
"Detrimental effects on the tooth or the patient have not been noted
with the supervised bleaching times," Dr. Haywood notes. "It's very
important that the dentist use whitening products with the American
Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance because that means clinical
trials have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of those products
on the teeth and soft tissues of the mouth."
It's also important for nightguard bleaching to be supervised by a
dentist as opposed to use of over-the-counter products that offer no
professional supervision, Dr. Haywood says. The dentist needs to
diagnose the cause of the tooth discoloration and evaluate any side
effects a patient may experience before the bleaching process begins.
Custom mouthguards designed and fitted in the dental office can reduce
side effects by controlling the location of the bleaching material and
the amount of tissue contact, as well as reducing the pressure on the
teeth. Also, a custom fitted mouthpiece will not interfere with or
change a patient's bite or jaw joint function.
Patients can either wear the mouthguard filled with the carbamide
peroxide at nighttime or during the day. Dr. Haywood says that most
patients seem to prefer the nighttime treatment because they receive the
maximum benefit from each application, and he says patients are more
likely to actually wear the mouthguard.
The American Dental Association in 1994 published guidelines for the
acceptance of peroxide-containing products that require companies to
demonstrate both the safety and effectiveness of their products. Five
manufacturers currently have whitening products with the ADA Seal of
Acceptance. Three are dispensed through the dental office, while two
are administered in the dental office. No over-the-counter whitening
products have the ADA Seal.
NOTE: Dr. Haywood's report is accompanied by charts (available on
request) that provide useful information in a question and answer format on bleaching tetracycline-stained teeth, the common issues about nightguard
bleaching and the design features and options for mouthguards.
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