Whitening pens are a popular choice for take-home teeth whitening, providing a convenient way for patients to maintain and extend the brightness of their smiles. But are you using them correctly to achieve the best results? Let’s explore the ins and outs of whitening pens with our dental professional team and discover how to make the most of this versatile product.
What is a Whitening Pen?
A whitening pen is a compact, portable tool designed for at-home teeth whitening. These pens contain a whitening gel, which comes in varying concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (HP) equivalent. Typically, the gel ranges from 6-14% HP equivalent, offering a range of strengths suited for different needs and preferences.
How to Use a Whitening Pen
Whitening pens can be highly effective in two main scenarios: as a brightening extender following a chairside whitening session or as a smile maintenance tool. Here’s how to use them effectively in both cases:
Post-Chairside Whitening
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Ensure No Sensitivity: Before recommending a whitening pen for post-chairside use, confirm that your patient does not experience any sensitivity from the chairside whitening treatment.
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Daily Application: Advise patients to apply the whitening gel daily for 20 minutes, for a duration of 5-7 days. The whitening pen should be used while the tooth tubules are still open from the professional whitening session. This maximizes gel absorption and enhances whitening results.
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Proper Technique: Instruct patients to apply the gel evenly on their teeth, ensuring that they cover all visible surfaces. Using the pen as directed will help achieve optimal results in the shortest time frame.
Smile Maintenance
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Regular Use: For maintaining a bright smile, recommend using the whitening pen once a month or 1-3 nights before a special event. Application should be for 20 minutes each time.
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Complementary Products: To enhance results, suggest using smile extenders like Stain-X Exfoliant and Whitening Mouthwash. These products help remove surface stains and keep the teeth looking their best.
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Consistency: Regular use of the whitening pen as part of an oral care routine will help prolong the effects of previous whitening treatments and keep the smile looking fresh.
Our Preferred Method
To ensure patients get the most out of their whitening pen, we recommend always sending a cheek retractor home with them. Keeping the lips out of the way during application can be challenging, and a cheek retractor helps ensure that the gel is applied accurately to the teeth, without interference.
Share Your Experience!
We’d love to hear how you incorporate whitening pens into your whitening clinic! Share your methods for selling and using whitening pens, and let us know how they’ve worked for you and your patients. Your insights can help others achieve brighter, more radiant smiles.