Finding the Key to Success A helpful guide for Staff Education on the three whitening methods. Jenna R. Derango R.D.H.

What’s the key to success?  Making patients happy  Giving patients what they want  Domino effect

What do patients want??  Patients will pay for what they want long before what they need  Patients aren’t created equal  Finding some patients’ wants can be like pulling teeth

What we don’t know  85% of patients want whiter teeth  Seeing 100 patients a week equals approximately 85 patients a week to be scheduled to bleach

Give them want they want  Patients want options: Whitening strips Oral B Remberant Proffesional Crest Whitestrips Supreme Proffesional Strength Take home trays Opalescence PF Colgate Platinum Overnight Professional In office bleaching Zoom 2

What to say  “Esthetics is the last of our four categories. Today I am going to take a shade of your current tooth color. The reason I am doing this is because we now know that teeth change colors or darken over time. By taking your shade we will have a reference point for our records.”

Tooth Whitening is it safe?  Found in 1960  Carbamide peroxide- antiseptic for periodontal surgery  No research showing harmful effects to the tooth

Whitening strip advantages ORAL B  Cost: $33  8.5% hydrogen peroxide solution  Easy to use  Use for 5-7 days  30 minutes daily CREST  Cost $55  14% hydrogen peroxide solution  Easy to use  Use for 3 weeks  30 minutes twice daily

Whitening strip disadvantages  Patient Compliance  Misaligned teeth could cause spotting  Not cost effective  No touch ups or long lasting effect guarenteed

Take home tray advantages Opalescence  Cost $315, touch up gel $32-45 (four pack)  15% & 20% Carbamide Peroxide solution  Use for 10 – 14 days  Perfect fit to teeth  Long lasting results  Ability to touch up  Most effective method Colgate  $ 315, touch up $12 a tube  10% Carbamide Peroxide solution  Use for days  Perfect fit to teeth  Long lasting results  Ability to touch up  Most effective method

Take home tray disadvantages  Patient compliance  Sensitivity  Cost not covered by insurance

In office bleaching (Zoom 2) advantages  Nationwide average= $725 Our cost=$550  16% Peroxide solution  Immediate results  Eliminates compliance issue

In office bleaching (Zoom 2) disadvantages  Patient comfort  Use of tray system to increase and maintain results  Increased sensitivity  Cost not covered by insurance

Best time to bleach….NOW  After dental cleanings  Before restorative treatment

Special Thanks to…  Gary Takacs –Specializes in the “business of dentistry” –Practice Management Instructor at the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry –Founder of Ride and Learn and Race and Learn