More than 10 million people have used Invisalign clear teeth aligners to enhance their smiles, and per recent news, we don’t see that number declining any time soon. Not only does this large group of patients have the ability to straighten their teeth with the aligners, but they can now whiten them, too.
Last week, the brand announced a new professional whitening system comprised of an Opalescence PF Whitening Formula, formulated with fluoride and potassium nitrate, and can be used inside the Invisalign clear retainers and Vivera retainers to whiten teeth. According to the brand, this product is a purely tray-based system designed to brighten smiles in as little as 30 minutes.
Invisalign has created two versions of the whitening product: the first is designed to be used in-office by an oral-care professional, and the second is a three-night regimen to be used at home. The take-home option becomes available to consumers on October 10.
“We’re honored to partner with Align to make the top professional teeth-whitening products available to more clinicians and patients around the world,” says Ultradent president and CEO Dirk Jeffs according to a release. “Providing Align with teeth-whitening products ideal for use with Invisalign aligners and Vivera retainers is a considerable step toward our mission of improving oral health globally and we look forward to pursuing this mission together.”
While moving and whitening the teeth simultaneously may sound easy, Chevy Chase, MD cosmetic dentist Claudia Cotca, DDS warns that it may inflict more pain than doing each process separately. “Independently, tooth movement and whitening can both be painful or uncomfortable, depending on the clinical findings and presentation. It remains to be seen as to how the brands will be coordinating the protocol sequence, how each clinician will then apply it to their patients and how consumers will respond given the immediate gratification pressures seen in the market from consumers in the last decade. While it is a market penetration approach concept, aspects of partnerships are eligible to bring synergistic care, with caution as to not compromise the process and ultimately the clinical effect. What is certain is that this system will compete with other systems in the market which have an at-home product option as well as an in-office process.”
