,Teeth whitening in older patients requires a combination of longer whitening time, the right whitening gel chemistry, and properly designed trays. Most dentists would agree that elderly patients require a more involved whitening protocol than younger patients. But do they know how to explain the “why” when discussing treatment with elderly patients? If they can, they’re more likely to achieve treatment acceptance
.,Dr. Rod Kurthy, whitening science expert and founder and CEO of KöR Whitening, recently wrote about why older patients require a more involved whitening protocol to achieve the best results. Here’s a summary:,To combat these challenges and achieve the best possible whitening outcome for elderly patients, teeth require extended constant contact with fresh, active peroxide to break up the dark organic matter into ultra-tiny molecules so they can be pushed out of the tooth structure via diffusion. But time isn’t the only factor. Treatment requires gel that stays active in the trays (including the cervical third) for and extended time. Whitening trays must be designed to prevent saliva and sulcular fluid from entering the trays and destroying the gel. Typical whitening gels lose their effectiveness after just 20 or 35 minutes, but KöR Whitening gels applied using specially designed KöR-Seal whitening trays remain active for 6+ hours, with some activity up to 10 hours.,Explaining the “why” behind treatment recommendations (in this case, KöR Whitening using KöR-Seal Trays) helps to engage patients in their oral healthcare. Keep it simple, but don’t talk down to patients. Guide them with science so they can achieve the best possible treatment outcomes.
