Whitening Products Open Door For Production and Profits by Tess Fyalka, Managing Editor of The New Dentist – The #1 Journal for New Dentists

A few years back, reality TV shows such as Extreme Makeover and The Swan were wildly popular among viewers who dreamed of having cosmetic surgery’s elite transform them into Angelina Jolie look-alikes in just one television season.  Individuals would volunteer to have an extreme Hollywood-style makeover or be transformed from the “ugly duckling” into a beautiful swan.

One of the most emotional scenes in the series was the moment the contestants saw their spectacular new smiles.  For dentistry, it was a turning point.  A hundred years of patient education couldn’t do what one season of Extreme Makeover did for public perception of the profession.  For the first time in dentistry’s history, patients were demanding services in droves.  The general public was finally beginning to understand and appreciate what dentistry had to offer.

The floodgates opened and seemingly overnight virtually everyone wanted a whiter and brighter smile.  Dr. Bill Dorfman, the original cosmetic dentist on Extreme Makeover, introduced the world to Zoom whitening.  Crest and Colgate brought the public at-home, low-cost whitening strips.  Since then, several products have entered the dental marketplace as demand has soared.

Today, whitening techniques are a staple in the new dentist’s practice.  There is a product to fit virtually every practitioner and every patient…

…Dr. Trenton Buchanan began using the KoR Whitening Deep Bleaching the first day he opened his practice two years ago.  This 2006 University of Alabama at Birmingham, School of Dentistry grad started his practice from scratch in November 2009.  “I started using it right when I opened.  I read a lot on DentalTown and I would always read Dr. (Rod) Kurthy’s posts, (Founder of Evolve Dental and creator of KoR Whitening Deep Bleaching).  I knew I wanted that product in my practice.  I want the best technology, equipment, and materials.  And nobody around me is using it, so it helps my practice stand out.”

Dr. Buchanan has found the system achieves excellent results and patients are thrilled with their smiles, but he acknowledges that there was a learning curve in getting the best impression.  “The better the impression is the better the results will be.  The first patient that I tried it on, I took the impression six times.  I felt so bad.  I was trying to open a new office.  I was trying to learn new techniques.  I had a million other things to do.  I actually contacted Dr. Kurthy, and he took the time to email me and give me feedback on my impressions and pointers about how to improve the process.”  After overcoming the initial impression-making hurdle, Dr. Buchanan says he’s had no trouble since.

He notes that one of the best aspects of working with the KoR Bleaching is the results that tetracycline patients can achieve.  “I find that these patients that don’t want veneers but they want to do something, and they are the most compliant patients.  They follow the protocols exactly.  And they are so happy when they see the results because it changes their lives.”

He says that on occasion, patients do experience some sensitivity, but Dr. Buchanan notes that the desensitizer that comes with the product works well.  And, in some cases, the treatment protocols can be adjusted to further manage sensitivity issues. 

Since opening his practice, Dr. Buchanan says he has taken advantage of opportunities to talk on local television about Deep Bleaching.  In addition, he writes about the topic regularly on his blog.  He also advertises Deep Bleaching online and through direct mail promotions.  He finds that there is a great deal of interest, and it has set his practice apart.

Dr. Buchanan also uses the Opalescence at home whitening products for patients who are interested in brightening their smiles, but either do not need Deep Bleaching or do not want to invest the time and money in a Deep Bleaching system.  “Some people can achieve great results without Deep Bleaching, especially younger patients who may just want their smiles to be a few shades lighter.  They’ve had pretty good luck with the Crest White Strips, but they want to take it to the next level.”

Additionally, he says that the at-home products oftentimes are a good introduction to whitening for patients and can lead to greater interest in investing in Deep Bleaching down the road. 

Additions to the article:

For tetracycline stained teeth, Veneers would always be the ideal treatment.  If the patient can’t afford veneers or does not want veneers, drastic improvements can be seen with Deep Bleaching Ultra. 

The take-home tray system in our office is a step up from over-the-counter whitening methods (Crest White Strips) because the bleach can be held against the tooth for a longer period of time.  Better results will be achieved with trays.  However, if the tooth does not accept the bleach, meaning no results are seen, the only technique that works in these situations is Deep Bleaching.

Hoover-Birmingham dentist Dr. Trent Buchanan of Greystone Smile Design discusses oral cancer and the importance of early detection.

Dr. Trent Buchanan of Greystone Smile Design discusses the importance of dental hygiene on the local NBC13 morning show.

More videos of Dr. Trent Buchanan:

Dr. Buchanan on ABC’s ‘Talk of Alabama’ July 2010

Dr. Buchanan on ABC’s ‘Talk of Alabama’ January 2010

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Buchanan, visit Greystone Smile Design or call 205-981-7775.

Watch Dr. Trent Buchanan on ABC 33/40′s “Talk of Alabama” discussing the many ways to whiten your smile! 

Related Articles:

Tell Me About Over-the-Counter Whitening

More on Deep Bleaching

Teeth Whitening Myths Revealed

Related Links:

Greystone Smile Design

Greystone Smile Design Blog