The following topics will help you make the switch to tooth whitening, or to make the switch to the Illuminé™ system to take your practice forward.

 

How whitening works

Illuminé™ contains carbamide peroxide (an adduct of hydrogen peroxide and urea) as the active ingredient. This peroxides penetrate the dental hard tissues and oxygenate both the dye substances (chromophores) absorbed onto the enamel surface and those in the enamel and dentine tissues. In the process of bleaching the peroxides attack unsaturated double bonds of the chromophores, which result in colourless oxygenated molecules and particles. The chromophores lose their colouring capacity, and the natural white tooth colour is restored.

 

The causes of discolouration

Food and drink

Drinking and eating heavily coloured food and drink (such as coffee and red wine), smoking and medicaments such as chlorhexidine can stain the surface of our teeth. This surface staining is normally removed by brushing, or during prophy cleaning, but can build up over time and become integrated into the tooth structure, when tooth whitening is the only way of restoring the natural tooth colour. Age As we age, the surface enamel layer becomes thinner through wear, and the underlying darker colour of the dentine shows through. Additionally, secondary dentine is laid down as part of the bodies’ natural defence against thinning enamel and further dulls the tooth colour.

Trauma

Discolouration to vital teeth due to trauma caused by blood penetrating the dentine tubules can be reduced, or even eliminated by tooth whitening. Similar staining due to blood disorders such as thalassemia and sickle-cell anaemia can also be effectively treated.

Extreme staining - tetracycline

Medicaments such as some tetracyclines can case severe tooth staining if given during tooth formation. Tetracyclines may be prescribed during adolescence to treat acne and to treat infection caused by Chlamydia. Tetracyclines taken after the first trimester of pregnancy, or while breast-feeding may also cause tooth staining in the infant. Tetracycline stains can appear as yellow, brown or grey striations, and are integral to the tooth structure. While it is very difficult to remove tetracycline staining from teeth, tooth whitening can lessen the effects, although prolonged treatment may be necessary.

Extreme staining - fluorosis

Fluorosis can cause abnormal enamel, producing an unsightly mottled effect on teeth. Again it is difficult to completely eliminate the effect of fluorosis, but the effect can be lessened. Tooth whitening is contraindicated if fluorosis is so severe that it has virtually eliminated all the enamel.

 

Why offer Illuminé™?

DENTSPLY’s Illuminé™ system has been widely used in the USA (under the names Illuminé™ and Nupro® White Gold) and Europe (under the names Illuminé™  Office and Illuminé™  Home) since 2001. Backed by clinical studies, and years of clinical use, you can rest assured that Illuminé™ is a tried and tested system. Illuminé™ is applied to the teeth using trays made especially for each patient. The tray design incorporates a reservoir that holds the product against the tooth, while keeping product separate from the gingiva. The Illuminé™ system can achieve a shade change of between 6-9 shades depending on the patient and the duration of treatment.

 

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