Question:
I have conferred with my dentist regarding teeth whitening - take home
systems. I'm not sure the actual product he is using, but he said it is the
take home, impression type - and it will cost $350. Now, I see a few
products via the internet that claim to be the EXACT same system (16%
Carbamide Peroxide using impressions ), but with much lower cost. The two
that caught my eye after much surfing are Ultra-White (www.ultra-white.com)
and White Brilliance (/www.americandentalsupply.com) The Ultra-White has
the system where you make the impressions yourself and send them off to
them - then they send you the trays (which I believe is exactly what my
dentist would be doing). The other company has a boil-and-bite system.
Now, the question I have is - they say they are the exact same as what my
dentist does, and after viewing a video in his office it does seem that way.
Has anyone heard of Ultra-White before?? Or used it? Their cost is $118.95
and the White Brilliance is $90. Should I try these instead of paying $350
for what my dentist would charge?? I WOULD like to save some money, but if
going through my dentist is better then I would do that I guess. Just
looking to see if I will get the same results for a lower cost this way.
The savings definitely would be nice, but its hard to tell without hearing
from people who have actually used these systems. I checked into NiteWhite
and DayWhite but they seem to be available only from a dentist. If anyone
can give me some feedback/person experiences here I would greatly appreciate
it
Answer:
Just a couple of caveats...
You might save a few bucks but you cant be too sure of the quality control
with these products...they might be ok but who knows...odds are your doc has
gotten kits from a reputable company with good quality control of the
product.
If problems develop ...gum irritation, uneven bleaching response
,sensitivity, etc who you gonna call for help advice, etc....an 800
operator?
Odds are these systems aree probably ok..but buyer beware.
I dispense a large bottle of bleaching stuff so that patients will not
run out. It is equilvalent to 60 syringes. I also do the "boil and
bite" thing although the other kind is better.
I had one patient return to purchase a second bottle from me after a
2-year hiatus. Her teeth were dazzling! I mean white.
Tooth bleaching is now available for patients directly
from the manufacturer. I found out about this piece of
information at sci.med.dentistry last evening. See?
Look at all we can learn right here!
Apparently, they send the patient some putty-like
material for taking one's own impressions and then they
send back custom-made bleaching trays. They send the
trays plus the bleaching material directly to the
patient. This is designed to eliminate the middle-man
(or middle-woman), whatever is appropriate.
This is probably a better way to handle these things in
my opinion. As for in-office bleaching, I have had
1,000 people ask about tooth bleaching very recently.
People as old as 80 want their teeth bleached. I guess
there are still plenty of acting opportunities
available in Hollywoood for senior citizens.
"What? Not covered by my dental insurance? Are you
sure?" Yes, I am sure.
Other times, a new patient buzzes in for the trays and
the bleaching stuff and hands me a piece of paper with
scribbling which turns out to be a rubber check. I drop
it on the floor and it bounces right up to the ceiling.
Instead of making money, I am losing $7 to the bank for
trying to pass it off as authentic. That's why I
prefer to add bleaching to my armamentarium for my
REGULAR patients, but certainly not for the over-
bleached, pop-in, going-here-and-there-anyway set.
One time, a guy in my neighborhood who is normally
covered by some cheezy managed care plan asked me about
tooth bleaching. He's not my patient - but he is in
our neighborhood, and he knows that I am a dentist, so
why not ask? I told "Yeh, sure. It'll cost you $200."
Remember, I'm figuring that he's in the neighborhood,
so its got to be done right and it might take a little
time besides.
"How about if I give you $100 which is what I have
right now and I will pay you the rest next month?"
Well, I noticed that my competitors' have a coupon in
Val-Pak this month for $100 for tooth bleaching, which
includes both upper and lower. I sent him right over
there instead. I hear that they were scratching their
heads and wondering why I did this. Its unusual that a
dentist sends another dentist a patient!
They use bleaching as their loss leader over there, and
then they try to convince the patient that besides the
bleaching, that the patient needs an extra $4,340 worth
of dentistry. Fine. Go for it. Meanwhile, the guy is
back and forth for 3 or 4 visits, impressions, photos,
the whole ball of wax.
I imagine that he might tell them, "How about if I give
you $100 which is what I have right now and I will pay
you the other $4,240 next month?" Good luck with this
guy! Those sorts of business tactics are just not for
me!
Basically, I prefer that in those circumstances, that
the patients get the bleaching and the trays direct
from the manufacturer for the $118 fee, or go with
Vanna White which is okay too for the run-of-the-mill
bleaching. If it works, okay. If it does not work
okay too. That's how it happens with teeth. Meanwhile,
there's no rubber check problem and there's no high
pressure tactics either.
