Teeth Whitening: Anyone done it?

[Josh]

How much are treatments? How many do you need? Any pain/side effects?

 

[Invisible Evil]

My wife has, It was 3 treatments @ 250.00 a pop.
All was well, here teeth were VERY sensative though. Had to swith to Sensodine Toothpast for a while. Other than that she has been happy.

 

[Kaido]

I tried it with the off-the-shelf stuff from the grocery store, I think it was Crest White Strips at the time. They DEFINITELY worked and people noticed (I had to wear braces twice, for most of my teen years).

It made my teeth sensitive (temporarily). They hurt mildy most of the time, especially after using them. Cold food was also a bit more painful, like ice cream. But it goes away 2-3 days after you go through a box and iirc the box only lasted like 2 weeks. I think I used them the week or so before I got married so my teeth would look better in the pictures.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Aren't teeth naturally yellow anyway?

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: Kaido
I tried it with the off-the-shelf stuff from the grocery store, I think it was Crest White Strips at the time. They DEFINITELY worked and people noticed (I had to wear braces twice, for most of my teen years).

It made my teeth sensitive (temporarily). They hurt mildy most of the time, especially after using them. Cold food was also a bit more painful, like ice cream. But it goes away 2-3 days after you go through a box and iirc the box only lasted like 2 weeks. I think I used them the week or so before I got married so my teeth would look better in the pictures.

You just did one box?

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: Invisible Evil
My wife has, It was 3 treatments @ 250.00 a pop.
All was well, here teeth were VERY sensative though. Had to swith to Sensodine Toothpast for a while. Other than that she has been happy.

Were they basically pearly whites then?

 

[ColdFusion718]

I would highly suggest you not do the 1 hour treatment at the office. The whitening agent they put on your teeth make them sensitive as hell throughout and after the process. I would suggest that you get the custom trays so that you can do the whitening at home and over time.

I did it once at the doctor's office and I would never, ever do it again, ever! I use the Crest strips now.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: Kaido
I tried it with the off-the-shelf stuff from the grocery store, I think it was Crest White Strips at the time. They DEFINITELY worked and people noticed (I had to wear braces twice, for most of my teen years).

It made my teeth sensitive (temporarily). They hurt mildy most of the time, especially after using them. Cold food was also a bit more painful, like ice cream. But it goes away 2-3 days after you go through a box and iirc the box only lasted like 2 weeks. I think I used them the week or so before I got married so my teeth would look better in the pictures.

You just did one box?

Yup one box. They weren't like Hollywood "Wow are those fake?" white, but they were much whiter.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: ColdFusion718
I would highly suggest you not do the 1 hour treatment at the office. The whitening agent they put on your teeth make them sensitive as hell throughout and after the process. I would suggest that you get the custom trays so that you can do the whitening at home and over time.

I did it once at the doctor's office and I would never, ever do it again, ever! I use the Crest strips now.

I did it at the dentist and I thought it was great. I wouldn't do it any other way. You do the whitening at the dentist and then use the trays to touch up every so often (I drink A LOT of Dr Pepper). And yeah, my teeth are pretty dang white. Only cost me I think $500 (3 treatments all at once). I had slight sensitivity right after the whitening but it was only for that day. Everything was normal for me the next day.

 

[HyTekJosh]

Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

18 months? Mine were white in a week.

 

[mflacy]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

18 months? Mine were white in a week.

That's how long it's supposed to last. There are different versions; 12 months, 18 months, etc...

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

bs.

Lower strength teeth whitening strips, like Crest White Strips (6% carbamide peroxide), will not deliver the concentration and therefore the power of carbamide peroxide (up to 35%) in the gel you can get at the dental office.

Why does your father recommend Crest White Strips over the gel he can dispense out of his office when the White Strips may lighten one or two shades versus the gel he can purchase for patient dispensing which will lighten four to six shades?

Crest White Strips only give limited results. The only reason I could see for recommending them over in-office gel is if you worked for Proctor & Gamble.

Have you read the Crest White Strips box? You can use them again in 6 months. With the higher strength gel you won't have to use it over and over every 6 months.

 

[Josh]

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: ColdFusion718
I would highly suggest you not do the 1 hour treatment at the office. The whitening agent they put on your teeth make them sensitive as hell throughout and after the process. I would suggest that you get the custom trays so that you can do the whitening at home and over time.

I did it once at the doctor's office and I would never, ever do it again, ever! I use the Crest strips now.

I did it at the dentist and I thought it was great. I wouldn't do it any other way. You do the whitening at the dentist and then use the trays to touch up every so often (I drink A LOT of Dr Pepper). And yeah, my teeth are pretty dang white. Only cost me I think $500 (3 treatments all at once). I had slight sensitivity right after the whitening but it was only for that day. Everything was normal for me the next day.

How long was the treatment at the office? And do you remember what it was called?

And pics if possible?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

How do you maintain the whiteness? Will brushing with whitening toothpaste work or do you HAVE to keep on using white strips?

 

[T9D]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

bs.

Lower strength teeth whitening strips, like Crest White Strips (6% carbamide peroxide), will not deliver the concentration and therefore the power of carbamide peroxide (up to 35%) in the gel you can get at the dental office.

Why does your father recommend Crest White Strips over the gel he can dispense out of his office when the White Strips may lighten one or two shades versus the gel he can purchase for patient dispensing which will lighten four to six shades?

Crest White Strips only give limited results. The only reason I could see for recommending them over in-office gel is if you worked for Proctor & Gamble.

Have you read the Crest White Strips box? You can use them again in 6 months. With the higher strength gel you won't have to use it over and over every 6 months.

It's not BS. Thats the whole point of why they take longer. They are not as strong. Hence you use them for a longer period. The extra strength at the dentist is to do it faster in a shorter period of time. It's just like driving at a slower pace but you still get there.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

bs.

Lower strength teeth whitening strips, like Crest White Strips (6% carbamide peroxide), will not deliver the concentration and therefore the power of carbamide peroxide (up to 35%) in the gel you can get at the dental office.

Why does your father recommend Crest White Strips over the gel he can dispense out of his office when the White Strips may lighten one or two shades versus the gel he can purchase for patient dispensing which will lighten four to six shades?

Crest White Strips only give limited results. The only reason I could see for recommending them over in-office gel is if you worked for Proctor & Gamble.

Have you read the Crest White Strips box? You can use them again in 6 months. With the higher strength gel you won't have to use it over and over every 6 months.

Take into consideration the price difference though. I would recommend at least trying the Crest White Strips box first and then decide whether or not you want to get it done professionally. No reason to jump the gun.

 

[James Bond]

If I did Crest White Strips for, say, 3 months, how long would the whiteness last?

Is it literally whitening my teeth, or just covering up the yellow?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Josh

Originally posted by: JackBurton

Originally posted by: ColdFusion718
I would highly suggest you not do the 1 hour treatment at the office. The whitening agent they put on your teeth make them sensitive as hell throughout and after the process. I would suggest that you get the custom trays so that you can do the whitening at home and over time.

I did it once at the doctor's office and I would never, ever do it again, ever! I use the Crest strips now.

I did it at the dentist and I thought it was great. I wouldn't do it any other way. You do the whitening at the dentist and then use the trays to touch up every so often (I drink A LOT of Dr Pepper). And yeah, my teeth are pretty dang white. Only cost me I think $500 (3 treatments all at once). I had slight sensitivity right after the whitening but it was only for that day. Everything was normal for me the next day.

How long was the treatment at the office? And do you remember what it was called?

And pics if possible?

I think my dentist calls it "power whitening" but I don't think that is the technical name for it. Other dentists may call it something else. It's basically done with some kind of high powered light. They do 3 passes within I believe 1 hr (maybe less). Then they give you a tray (molded to fit your teeth) that you'll use for about another week to get your teeth as bright as they can be (or as you'd like). The thing is, some people's teeth are more sensitive than others. Mine aren't very sensitive I guess because even on the third pass I was fine. Some people's teeth start getting sensitive on the second pass but your dentist should check on you to see how you are doing.

I don't have any pics, but I'll see what I can do.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: v1001

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

bs.

Lower strength teeth whitening strips, like Crest White Strips (6% carbamide peroxide), will not deliver the concentration and therefore the power of carbamide peroxide (up to 35%) in the gel you can get at the dental office.

Why does your father recommend Crest White Strips over the gel he can dispense out of his office when the White Strips may lighten one or two shades versus the gel he can purchase for patient dispensing which will lighten four to six shades?

Crest White Strips only give limited results. The only reason I could see for recommending them over in-office gel is if you worked for Proctor & Gamble.

Have you read the Crest White Strips box? You can use them again in 6 months. With the higher strength gel you won't have to use it over and over every 6 months.

It's not BS. Thats the whole point of why they take longer. They are not as strong. Hence you use them for a longer period. The extra strength at the dentist is to do it faster in a shorter period of time. It's just like driving at a slower pace but you still get there.

My point was that no dentist is going to recommend Crest White Strips *over* professional teeth whitening. There is no reasoning for this if you are looking to give your patient the best result.

I can see recommending the White Strips if the patient can't afford the office treatment, because they are better than nothing, but that is not what HyTekJosh implied.

 

[Chryso]

It is crazy what people will pay for in the name of vanity.

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

bs.

Lower strength teeth whitening strips, like Crest White Strips (6% carbamide peroxide), will not deliver the concentration and therefore the power of carbamide peroxide (up to 35%) in the gel you can get at the dental office.

Why does your father recommend Crest White Strips over the gel he can dispense out of his office when the White Strips may lighten one or two shades versus the gel he can purchase for patient dispensing which will lighten four to six shades?

Crest White Strips only give limited results. The only reason I could see for recommending them over in-office gel is if you worked for Proctor & Gamble.

Have you read the Crest White Strips box? You can use them again in 6 months. With the higher strength gel you won't have to use it over and over every 6 months.

Take into consideration the price difference though. I would recommend at least trying the Crest White Strips box first and then decide whether or not you want to get it done professionally. No reason to jump the gun.

one to two shades lighter versus four to five shades lighter. where is the bargain there?

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Chryso
It is crazy what people will pay for in the name of vanity.

That's just something ugly people say.

 

[Xavier434]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: Xavier434

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: HyTekJosh
Crest White Strips 18 month is the way to go. My father is a dentist and recommends that over professional teeth whitening.

bs.

Lower strength teeth whitening strips, like Crest White Strips (6% carbamide peroxide), will not deliver the concentration and therefore the power of carbamide peroxide (up to 35%) in the gel you can get at the dental office.

Why does your father recommend Crest White Strips over the gel he can dispense out of his office when the White Strips may lighten one or two shades versus the gel he can purchase for patient dispensing which will lighten four to six shades?

Crest White Strips only give limited results. The only reason I could see for recommending them over in-office gel is if you worked for Proctor & Gamble.

Have you read the Crest White Strips box? You can use them again in 6 months. With the higher strength gel you won't have to use it over and over every 6 months.

Take into consideration the price difference though. I would recommend at least trying the Crest White Strips box first and then decide whether or not you want to get it done professionally. No reason to jump the gun.

one to two shades lighter versus four to five shades lighter. where is the bargain there?

The results are different for everyone and most people don't have a good idea how white their teeth will look after using the strips. For many, the results look better than they originally thought and end up being very satisfied. One to two shades is a lot more than you think. I'm not saying anyone should boycott the dentist for this procedure, but it's wise to start with the strips first.

 

[skace]

Originally posted by: ColdFusion718
I would highly suggest you not do the 1 hour treatment at the office. The whitening agent they put on your teeth make them sensitive as hell throughout and after the process. I would suggest that you get the custom trays so that you can do the whitening at home and over time.

I did it once at the doctor's office and I would never, ever do it again, ever! I use the Crest strips now.

Well you're in for some more bad news. The trays make your teeth doubly sensitive and for a longer period of time. You should be glad you did it quickly and got it over with. I did the trays and had to deal with sensitive teeth over the course of several weeks. Sometimes so sensitive that it would wake me up in the middle of the night. Also, I got the pleasant surprise of being woken up in the morning with a throat full of nasty shit that I had to spend 10 minutes spitting out.

I don't regret the treatment, but I definitely would have done the 1 day treatment instead. In fact, it is the superior method and is replacing all of the previous methods.

It was all worth it when I smiled and actually got complimented on how nice my smile was. Was kind of a shocker to get that compliment from a beautiful girl no less.