Opalescence PF at home treatment

Opalescence PF at home treatment - not helping

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Mr. Goodbar - 30 Jul 2006 22:08 GMT

I've been using Opalescence PF 15% in a custom tray for 7 days @ 3
hours per day, and the color of my teeth has barely budged - they are
still a dull yellow, though the sides and bottoms (away from gum) are
starting to look a little lighter.

I've googled this group and found one post that suggested I may have
sabotaged myself by drinking coffee during treatment. My dentist never
warned me about this..should he have? Have I just wasted a week's worth
of the gel?

Thanks

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Steven Bornfeld - 30 Jul 2006 22:14 GMT

> I've been using Opalescence PF 15% in a custom tray for 7 days @ 3
> hours per day, and the color of my teeth has barely budged - they are
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>
> Thanks

Not likely. Some stains just don't respond well to bleaching, and
sometimes it's not easy to predict which will and which won't.
In any case, the teeth should have been cleaned BEFORE you started the
bleaching process. You'd have to drink a LOT of coffee to see
significant staining in a week.

Steve

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Mr. Goodbar - 30 Jul 2006 22:20 GMT

> > I've googled this group and found one post that suggested I may have
> > sabotaged myself by drinking coffee during treatment. My dentist never
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
>
> Steve

I doubt I drank a lot of coffee - about 1.5 cups a day on average..and
yes, I did have them cleaned before starting the treatment. Should I
continue with the treatment beyond 8 days, or is it unlikely I'll see
any more improvement at this point? Are there are other whitening
options if my teeth don't respond well to this stuff? Thanks; I
appreciate your input.

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Steven Bornfeld - 30 Jul 2006 22:52 GMT

>>>I've googled this group and found one post that suggested I may have
>>>sabotaged myself by drinking coffee during treatment. My dentist never
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
> options if my teeth don't respond well to this stuff? Thanks; I
> appreciate your input.

    Honestly, if you've seen negligible change after 7 days, it's doubtful
it's going to get much better.
    All the commonly used bleaching systems--tray, laser, white strips etc.
use the same active ingredient--carbamyl peroxide, so I wouldn't advise
trying other bleaches (I'm assuming your dentist gets this stuff
fresh--it is not terribly stable and doesn't have a long shelf life. If
it's old, all bets are off).
    Then if the color is really unsatisfactory to you, you should consider
some kind of masking procedure such as porcelain laminate veneers. This
is of course making a bigger commitment.

Steve

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Mr. Goodbar - 30 Jul 2006 23:06 GMT

> Honestly, if you've seen negligible change after 7 days, it's doubtful
> it's going to get much better.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
> Steve

Thanks, Steve. Their color doesn't bother me enough to go down the
veneer route since, as you point out, it's a pretty big commitment.

I'm certainly disappointed, but..I guess I'll have to accept the teeth
I have. (btw, I checked your web site and noticed we went to the same
high school - I'm BTHS class of '98. Go Engineers! : - )

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Steven Bornfeld - 31 Jul 2006 00:23 GMT

>> Honestly, if you've seen negligible change after 7 days, it's doubtful
>>it's going to get much better.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> I have. (btw, I checked your web site and noticed we went to the same
> high school - I'm BTHS class of '98. Go Engineers! : - )

Yes, I graduated in 1969--before girls were admitted. They had to
import cheerleaders from Bay Ridge HS.
I have a bunch of current and retired BTHS teachers as patients (as has
my brother) including (if you can believe this) one of my math teachers.
Obviously he knew I liked him--how many students get that opportunity
for revenge?

Steve

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Mr. Goodbar - 31 Jul 2006 00:43 GMT

> Yes, I graduated in 1969--before girls were admitted. They had to
> import cheerleaders from Bay Ridge HS.
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Steve

*blink* *blink* I had to read that a couple of times. 'Opportunity for
revenge' is right - your former teacher must indeed have had a lot of
faith in you. lol @ importing cheerleaders - I wonder if the Bay Ridge
girls had to have high grades in math to qualify.

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Steven Bornfeld - 31 Jul 2006 00:46 GMT

>> Yes, I graduated in 1969--before girls were admitted. They had to
>>import cheerleaders from Bay Ridge HS.
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> faith in you. lol @ importing cheerleaders - I wonder if the Bay Ridge
> girls had to have high grades in math to qualify.

I think you know the answer to that one. ;-)

Steve

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