November 17, 2009 | dentalproductsreport.com
Specs that matter
Tray whitening
What you should consider before you buy.
by Renee Knight, Senior Editor
Photo: Getty Images
When you think tray whitening, think flexibility.
Your patients have various whitening wants and needs, and that should be reflected in the type of products you have on hand to offer them. From patient comfort to specific time tables for whiter smiles, there are a lot of things to consider before you settle on what tray whitening kits work best for your patients and your practice. Here’s a rundown of what you should think about before you buy:
Sensitivity control. You can’t diagnose sensitivity, so it’s important to use whitening gels with ingredients that help control it, said Mark Guasp, Director of Global Whitening Products at Discus Dental. Ingredients such as fluoride, potassium nitrate and ACP won’t hurt your patients the efficacy of their whitening experience, but they will help lessen the discomfort that sensitivity can cause.
“Even though some people don’t want to talk about it, the fact is a certain part of the patient population will experience sensitivity. It’s an understandable side effect,” Guasp said. “The more progressive brands are going to incorporate an ingredient that helps counteract or soothe sensitivity a patient might feel.”
The concentration. Whitening gels have different concentration levels for a reason. Patients who know they have problems with sensitivity can be prescribed a lower concentration whitening, while patients who are looking for a brighter smile just in time for next week’s class reunion may prefer something with a higher concentration. Many factors should determine the best concentration for the patient: if they’ve whitened before, if they have a specific deadline for a whiter smile, whether they’d rather whiten during the day or at night, and, of course sensitivity, said Gabrielle Minkus, Product Manager of Take Home Whitening for Discus.
The message here? Have options. Talk to your patients and really understand what type of method they’re looking for so you can recommend a product that best fits their needs, said Steve Clark, Ultradent’s Senior Brand Manager for Whitening.
“You want to make this work for your patients. That’s why it’s important to have a wide variety of concentrations and flavors, so it really fits into your patients’ lifestyle,” Clark said “I can’t over speak about compliance. If a patient leaves your office and doesn’t follow protocol, that patient won’t have whiter teeth. It has to fit into what the patient will do. If the patient only wants to wear the tray for half an hour a day and wants mint flavors, you have to be able to offer that.”
Custom tray comfort. These trays should be quick and easy to fabricate, and comfortable for the patient to wear in the end, said Lyn Chau, Clinical Education Manager for SDI Limited.
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