Question re retainer & whitening

[jessicamay]

Hi guys,

I have lingual braces on top and ceramic on bottom and they're coming off next Thurs after 18 months, woo!!

I'd like to get my teeth whitened after I get them off but I am going to have fixed retainers on top and bottom as well as wearing a clear retainer at night...does anyone know if this is do-able? If I have to wear the retainer I'm guessing I might not be able to wear the whitening tray for very long? Or could I go for zoom whitening?

Thanks!!

[Crazy4Snow]

I'm getting clear retainers (like invisaligners) when my braces come off and my Ortho told me that I can use them as bleaching trays. You can buy Opalescence online, it's the stongest out there and will cause sensitivity but it's not half as bad as the Zoom bleaching. I've not done Zoom but every single person I spoke to that has, said it was a total nightmare. The zingers and sensitivity were completely relentless and they swore never in a million years would they ever do that again. So, I will stick to good advice from friends and not even go there. Especially since my Ortho said the regular stuff they have and the Opalescence gives you the same results.

I buy my Opalescence from http://www.just4teeth.com/Opalescence-35, their prices are reasonable and I've never had a problem with them ever.

I've never tried tooth desensitizers but a lot of people swear by them and my Dentist said they actually do work for normal bleaching. So, I'll be trying it and after much research settled on this: http://www.acquamedtech.com/html/whitening.html If you try it, let me know how it works!

[Bullfighter]

... I've not done Zoom but every single person I spoke to that has, said it was a total nightmare. The zingers and sensitivity were completely relentless and they swore never in a million years would they ever do that again. So, I will stick to good advice from friends and not even go there...

I did Zoom a few years back and was fine -- first the light, then the trays with gel once a month.

Maybe it varies by person. I plan to do it again once my braces are off.

[Crazy4Snow]

I did Zoom a few years back and was fine -- first the light, then the trays with gel once a month.

Maybe it varies by person. I plan to do it again once my braces are off.

Consider yourself very lucky!!! Check out reviews on the internet...way more negatives than positives, I'd say 85% neg to 15% pos. It was upon the advice of 6 very close friends that I decided, based on their experience, that it wasn't worth the risk for me.

Glad it worked for you with no pain or problems.

[Chicagogal]

I'm getting excited for debanding in a couple months and really wanting to whiten. Reading the most recent posts I looked up Opalescence and this is what I found:

Many studies at a 2007 session International Association for Dental Research (IADR) examine whether whitening can damage the structure of the tooth, including the enamel. One study shows that the three products tested (NiteWhite ACP, Opalescence PF and Tres White) decrease enamel hardness and density.

Should I just stick with the slow and limited progress of toothpaste brand white strips? I already worry about having a genetic propensity for softening enamel...