How Whitening Works
Course Number: 657
Course Contents
In Office Treatment
Liquid dams/mouth shields: Liquid dams are used in practice-based bleaching procedures which apply high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide directly. Images of patient preparation of peroxide whitening applied via this procedure are shown below.
Figure 15 - In-Office Treatment – using liquid dam/mouth shield
Figure 15 - In-Office Treatment – using liquid dam/mouth shield
Image Source: Dr. Gerald Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD
In contemporary systems these may be adjunctively used with light applications. The goal is to provide patient-satisfactory whitening in a single rapidly applied office procedure. In these office-applied systems, concentrations of peroxide as high as 35% may be used. Great care must be taken to protect office personnel and the patient during high concentration applications including eye shields, face coverings, etc. Due to the rapid nature of bleaching, dentinal hypersensitivity is commonly observed. Whitening efficacy of these high-concentration, short-duration treatments is quite good.
Figure 16. Whitening Images from an In Office Treatment.
Pre-op shade – A2
Post-op shade – B1
Figure 16. Whitening Images from an In Office Treatment.
Image Source: Dr. Gerald Kugel, DMD, MS, PhD