How to use a teeth whitening tray

What are whitening trays?

A mouth guard is an orthodontic removable pad used to correct bites and/or whiten teeth. It is made of transparent plastic. For whitening, trays with gel are used, which fills the inside of the material.

Overlays are often installed at night. To achieve lightening of the enamel, you need to wear a mouth guard for at least two weeks every day.

There are several types of orthodontic whitening overlays. They are classified into:

• standard;
• thermoplastic;
• individual.

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Standard overlays are mass produced. They are relatively low cost and are available in almost any pharmacy. Typically, a set includes up to 10 orthodontic structures filled with whitening gel.

The main disadvantage of standard mouth guards is their versatility: it is difficult for a person to choose a design that will fit tightly to the teeth. In such conditions, it gets not only on the enamel, but also on soft tissues, provoking the development of the inflammatory process. To avoid the occurrence of pathology due to the action of the bleaching agent, manufacturers of mouth guards reduce its concentration.

Thermoplastic structures are made of a special silicone that softens under water. This ensures a tighter fit of the structure to the surface of the teeth.

As a result, the likelihood of the whitening gel getting on your gums is reduced. Wearing thermoplastic mouthguards is comfortable and safe. The main disadvantage of such structures is their high cost.

Custom aligners are made based on a dental impression of a specific patient. These structures fit perfectly to the surface of the enamel, repeating the structure of the jaw row.

A custom mouthguard can only be made in a special laboratory. Such orthodontic structures provide the most effective whitening and do not create discomfort.

Advantages and disadvantages of home teeth whitening

The first and probably most important thing is the level of whitening compared to types of professional whitening: Opalescence BOOST and laser whitening. Among home methods, it has no equal, but this method is inferior in its effectiveness to professional whitening methods performed in a dental clinic.

Also, among the disadvantages of home whitening with trays, the following can be highlighted: - In particularly advanced cases, there is a possibility that you will not achieve a good result and will have to resort to professional methods of teeth cleaning by going to the clinic; — Duration of procedures. Whitening in dentistry allows you to achieve the desired result much faster than at home using trays; — The importance of strictly following the dentist’s recommendations and instructions when performing whitening at home. If you leave the tray with the whitening gel too long, there is a possibility of damage to the enamel. If you carry out the whitening procedure in the clinic, you will be under the supervision of a dentist all the time, and the risk of damage to your teeth is minimal.

The advantages of home teeth whitening include the following: - Simplicity and convenience of home teeth whitening with trays; — Excellent results for home whitening; — The entire procedure does not cause any significant discomfort; - Safety. If you follow all the rules and recommendations of your dentist when performing whitening yourself, then this method is absolutely safe for the tooth enamel of your teeth; - Availability. This method of teeth whitening is quite affordable and costs less than teeth whitening procedures in dentistry.

Cap manufacturing process

Thermoplastic and standard designs are manufactured in production using certain technologies and using pre-created impressions. The development of individual products involves several steps:

1. Creation of a three-dimensional model of both jaws of the patient. To develop it, a cast of the dentition is used. The impression is made using a two-component corrective mass. It allows you to create the most accurate impression.
2. Casting a cast. Two impressions are made for the upper and lower jaws.
3. The process of making a mouthguard. The Pro-form device is responsible for this. It has a built-in heating element, under the influence of which a plate made of a special material inserted into the device softens and takes the shape of an impression.
4. Trimming the workpiece. At the last stage, excess parts are removed from the future mouth guard.

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After making the structure, the dentist selects the optimal composition of the gel. It includes hydrogen peroxide, fluoride and potassium nitrate. The last two substances reduce the level of enamel sensitivity. If significant yellowing of the teeth is detected, a high concentration of carbamide peroxide is included in the gel.

In addition to the high price, one of the disadvantages of custom mouth guards is that they take several days to produce.

Types of gel

Sets with standard and thermoplastic designs include a whitening gel based on hydrogen peroxide, which brightens tooth enamel well. To reduce discomfort, manufacturers add substances such as fluoride and potassium nitrate to the drug, which reduce tooth sensitivity.

Important! If the patient purchases custom-made structures, the dentist prepares a special whitening preparation for him. It also contains hydrogen peroxide and components to reduce tooth sensitivity. Usually the doctor prepares a whitening preparation for two weeks of use.

If tooth enamel has become very darkened or has acquired a yellow tint, the doctor may recommend a composition with a high content of carbamide peroxide. To strengthen the enamel and protect it from the aggressive effects of whitening components, dentists advise applying a special remineralizing preparation to the teeth after removing the mouth guard.

A teeth whitening tray is a reservoir into which the whitening gel is placed. The base of most gels is saturated hydrogen peroxide. It allows you to eliminate stains that tea, coffee, tobacco and similar substances leave on your teeth.

Indications and contraindications

The main indication for the use of whitening trays is dark teeth. Enamel changes color as the body ages. Teeth also darken under the influence of the following factors:

• smoking;
• frequent consumption of coffee and strong tea;
• insufficient oral hygiene

Whitening structures are indicated for patients who have tetracycline teeth. This pathology develops against the background of active use of tetracycline antibiotics. Due to the action of the medicine, the enamel becomes yellow, brown or gray.

To avoid negative consequences from the action of bleaching materials, it is recommended to consult a doctor before using them. Absolute contraindications to the use of mouth guards include:

• age is less than 18 years;
• the presence of carious cavities and gum inflammation;
• increased sensitivity of enamel;
• the presence of individual intolerance to the material from which the structure is made, or to the components of the whitening gel;
• piercings near the mouth (on the lips or tongue);
• the presence of fillings, veneers and crowns;
• wearing orthodontic structures (braces, staples, etc.);
• recent extraction ;
• pregnancy and breastfeeding period.

It is not recommended to wear mouthguards without consulting a doctor if the patient has recently taken sedatives, hormonal or psychotropic drugs. Before purchasing a veneer, you should check the reaction of the soft tissues of the oral cavity to the effects of the whitening gel. If it causes gum irritation, you should stop purchasing standard designs.

To whom and when are mouth guards indicated?

Experts note that teeth whitening trays are ideal for the following categories of patients:

• elderly people whose enamel has darkened due to age-related changes;
• smokers who are not saved by classical methods of cleansing the oral cavity;
• people who took drugs of the tetracycline group, which caused a change in the shade of the enamel from healthy to yellow or orange;
• a particularly busy category of the population that does not always have the opportunity to clean the oral cavity after eating food, coffee, or tea.

How to use

Teeth whitening using trays takes several weeks. The duration of an individual procedure depends on the concentration level of the gel.

So, if it contains a lot of hydrogen peroxide, then wearing the whitening structure for more than three hours is not recommended. Universal overlays are usually worn for 8 o'clock.

There is no preparatory stage before bleaching. Dentists recommend increasing the consumption of fermented milk products and vitamin complexes, including calcium, two weeks before the procedure.

Whitening using trays is carried out as follows:

1. Before fixing the veneer, your teeth must be thoroughly cleaned, removing all food debris.
2. Whitening gel in accordance with the requirements of the attached instructions. When fixing the structure, you need to ensure that it fits snugly along its entire length. Before using thermoplastic trays, they should be placed in hot water. They will soften in it.
3. The gel that is released after installation of the structure must be immediately removed with a napkin. After this, you need to rinse your mouth.
4. Depending on the concentration of the whitening agent, the pads are held on the teeth for 2-8 hours.
5. While wearing a mouthguard, you should not eat or drink.
6. After the structure is removed, the teeth are re-treated with fluoride-containing paste. Mouthwash is used to remove gel particles from other areas.

You can achieve the desired effect if you wear whitening pads every day. To avoid complications, you must follow the rules below:

1. When choosing a pad, you should pay attention to the concentration of hydrogen in the whitening gel. The higher the content of this component, the shorter the procedure will be.
2. Before using the mouth guard, be sure to read the instructions.
3. Whitening pads are recommended to be used after professional cleaning .
4. eat or brush your teeth without removing the mouth guard.
5. After removing the aligner, it is recommended not to eat for 2-3 hours.

Whitening structures should not be worn for longer than the prescribed period. This will lead to increased tooth sensitivity and destruction of hard tissue.

Price

There are quite a few options for purchasing whitening trays and gels. The price of mouth guards for teeth whitening depends on the location (pharmacy or online store), manufacturer, model, and configuration; the final cost of the set is determined.

You can buy mouth guards for teeth whitening at pharmacies and dentists at the following prices:

• the cheapest are standard options, the price of which can vary between 500-3000 rubles;
• more convenient and expensive - thermoplastic mouthguards, the price for them will fluctuate in the range of 4-6 thousand rubles;
• Individual onlays can rightfully be called the most expensive, because their cost includes the work of the dentist, the creation of an impression, the production of a brightening composition, etc. The price of such a product can reach 15 thousand rubles.

Thanks to a flexible pricing policy and variety, absolutely everyone can afford a snow-white smile worth a “million dollars.”

After bleaching

After each use, the mouth guards must be thoroughly washed and dried. This rule does not apply to pads filled with gel for the entire whitening course.

It is recommended to store products in special cases with holes for ventilation. At your next visit to the doctor, the pad should be shown to the doctor to assess its current condition.

In order for the whitening results to last long, you must constantly follow a number of rules:

1. Avoid or minimize the consumption of products with coloring agents. These include coffee, strong tea, red wine, several vegetables (beets and others), and berries. These products can change the color of the enamel again.
2. Include in your menu foods that clean your teeth and the space between them. Fresh carrots or cabbage will help remove food debris after eating.
3. Include foods rich in calcium and fluoride in your diet. These microelements contain milk and products made from it, sea fish, and legumes.
4. Stop smoking. Nicotine will quickly eliminate the whitening effect, and the enamel will acquire a dark shade.

To consolidate the effect of the drops, you can use:

1. Whitening pencils.
2. Whitening pastes. They should be used no more than twice a week. It is not recommended to use whitening pastes more often due to the fact that they increase tooth sensitivity.
3. Enamel whitening once a year using a gentle approach.

Following the above recommendations allows you to maintain the effect of the procedure for a long time. To avoid negative consequences when changing whitening compositions, it is recommended to coordinate them with your dentist.

Care after using the whitening complex with trays

In order for the mouthguard to fully perform its whitening functions, it must be looked after. It's easy to do. Here are a few rules for caring for such structures:

• Regular washing and drying of the products helps maintain the quality and integrity of the mouth guard. At the same time, we note that those trays that are filled with gel once for the entire course of treatment cannot be washed.
• Whitening trays are stored in a special case with ventilation holes. The case protects from mechanical damage and temperature changes.
• It is better to take your mouthguard with you to your visit to the dentist so that the doctor can evaluate its condition.
• The gel is applied in a minimal amount and very carefully so that it does not come into contact with the gums. Excess gel is removed.