We have been writing about teeth whitening a great deal in recent blogs, because we find that it’s one of the cosmetic procedures patients have the most questions about. No doubt about it, teeth whitening is a sure-fire way to shave years off of your looks with a minimally invasive treatment. However, some people worry about the safety of teeth whitening, especially regarding children. At this point, there’s still a fairly limited amount of clinical research evidence proving the best age ranges for teeth whitening. Palatine cosmetic dentist, Dr. Brent Engelberg, will tell you about one compelling whitening trial done on preteens and teens.
Details of the Clinical Trial
The effects of 2 different bleaching systems were evaluated when administered to volunteers from age 11 to 18. The two systems tested on the 106 study participants were a 6.5% hydrogen peroxide strip system, as well as a 10% carbamide peroxide tray system. The study took place over the course of 8-weeks. The children were chosen for one of the treatments randomly. Their maxillary arches were first tested, followed by the mandibular arch for 4 consecutive weeks each. The strip system required administration twice daily for 30 minutes. The other group wore their tray systems overnight.
Teeth Whitening for Children Could Possibly Be Safe
There were no marked differences between groups on maxillary teeth. However, after 4 weeks of overnight treatment with the 10% carbamide peroxide tray, there was significantly more whitening with that system on the mandibular teeth. There was a similar but not significant amount of sensitivity/irritation reported from both systems. The research demonstrates that teeth whitening in adolescents and teens has potential to be just as safe of a practice as it is for adults. This could be terrific news for children with excessive stains from medication, fluorosis, or craze lines. More research is necessary, however.
Teeth Whitening from Palatine Dentist
Teeth whitening might not be the best idea for very young kids, but Dr. Engelberg will not currently perform whitening on anyone under age 13. If you would like to arrange a consultation to discuss professional teeth whitening with your cosmetic dentist in Palatine for yourself or your teenager, schedule an appointment with our 60074 dentist office by calling 847-259-8030. We are happy to serve patients in Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, Northwest Chicago Suburbs, and Northern Chicago Suburbs.
