Teeth whitening is usually better with dentists' help

Area dentists offer a variety of options for those seeking a whiter smile.

“We do the overnight process with custom-fitted trays, but the Zoom! treatment is very popular now,” said Dr. Shabbir Hashim of Westgate Dental Arts in Toledo. The process lasts about 40 minutes, and Zoom! can make teeth eight “shades” whiter.

“Before we start, we don't give an exam, but we do a screening to check for decay,” Hashim said. “We go over the medical history to make sure we won't cause any allergic reaction. Then we apply a liquid dam to the gum tissue, which hardens and keeps the whitening material from touching it.”

Hashim then applies a carbamide peroxide to the mouth and turns on a bright, non-UV light to activate the material.

He said since trained assistants perform the procedure, his firm is able to keep costs low, about $400 to $500 per treatment.

“But I like to check in after the procedure,” he said. “We take a ‘before' and ‘after' photo.” The traditional process, using the custom trays for a few weeks of overnight treatments, costs $250 to $300 at his firm. Over-the-counter whitening strips cost $20 to $50, but most dentists agree they are not as effective as “chairside” treatments or custom trays from the dentist. Some dentists offer professional-strength whitening strips.

Hashim said sensitivity of the teeth and gums is a common side effect of the whitening treatment, but it is “transient.”

Dr. Jon Frankel, who has offices in Toledo and Maumee, said his office uses a light-activated whitening system similar to Zoom! called BriteSmile.

“After an in-office treatment, though, we still recommend the tray whitening,” Frankel said.

Frankel said whitening treatment from retail stores “definitely whitens teeth,” but dentists offer products with a higher concentration. Frankel offers the tray whitening as well, and the various treatments cost $200 to $600.

“There's no one who whitens who doesn't love it,” Frankel said.

Patient Michael Carroll owns Carroll Insurance in Maumee and has rewarded four employees with whitening at Frankel's practice.

“It's been a huge home run,” Carroll said, noting that he has had his teeth whitened by Frankel, too. “I brush, I floss but teeth get stained and lose a little of their natural whiteness, especially for those of us who enjoy Diet Cokes and blueberries. Everyone wants to look well.”