A Tale of Whiter Smiles and Cutting-Edge Tools

Offering whitening services for over a decade at The Art of Dental Care in Chicago, IL, Dr. Mary Kim has found success with Opalescence whitening. “Patients always want to look their best, and whitening services help with that goal,” she said. “I prefer Opalescence because it’s effective, has minimal sensitivity during use, and is reasonably priced.”

Providing whitening treatment also is a no-brainer for Kevin Anderson, DMD. “Whitening is the least invasive way to improve patient esthetics, and there is a lot of value in that alone,” he shared. “Many products work well with compliance, but Opalescence just has a great combination of everything important in a whitening system—potassium nitrate, fluoride, a pleasant flavor, good science, a long clinical history, simple patient instructions, and more.” 

An in-office power whitener that offers brighter, whiter teeth after about an hour in the dental chair, Opalescence Boost is a 40% hydrogen peroxide gel that is chemically activated and applied in up to three 20-minute treatments. Thick and viscous to prevent running, the gel is applied using a Black Mini tip and is tinted red to simplify placement.

“We often use Opalescence in conjunction with various restorative and/ or orthodontic treatments to improve our outcomes and achieve pleasing results with generally less dentistry,” said Dr. Anderson. “When coupled with restorative treatment, it makes our job easier and more dramatic for the patient.” 

Laser-Focused on Great Patient Care

While Opalescence whitening systems require no lights or lasers, lasers are still an essential dental tool, especially for the DPS readers who use the Gemini EVO in their practices. That includes Ed Kusek, DMD, who uses the laser for a variety of procedures, including troughing tissues for crown and bridge work, biopsies, frenectomies, laser-assisted periodontal procedures, laser bacterial reduction, and photobiomodulation.

The dual-wavelength diode laser offers 100 watts of peak super-pulsed power for faster cutting, less heat, and ultraclean incisions in soft tissue.

“Lasers create greater healing and less discomfort,” said Dr. Kusek. That’s especially true for super-pulsed lasers like the Gemini EVO, he added, as they allow the target tissue to rest—decreasing the risk of tissue edema and necroses.

"The navigation system is easy to operate, which makes it possible to start using the laser quickly, and it is very portable. It’s also easy to train team members to set the laser up," Dr. Kusek shared. "Patients always have a very positive response when I use the laser and see it as high technology. They appreciate that I’ve invested in their comfort and improved healing.”

With built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, 16 preset procedures, and adjustable tip illumination, Gemini EVO simplifies laser dentistry. “You must be patient with this part of dentistry as it is different than what you learned in dental school,” he advised. “But it's exciting to do something out of your comfort zone."