DT News - UK - Delivering the ultimate teeth whitening experience

Dental Tribune International

Mon. 29 August 2016

save

CAMBRIDGE & LONDON, UK: Philips has come a long way since introducing its first patent for a light bulb with an extended burning time in 1905. Over more than 100 years, the Dutch company has continued to pave the way with groundbreaking products, such as medical X-ray tubes, radios, electric shavers and toothbrushes—innovations that made a small company from a town of fewer than 50,000 residents in the south of the Netherlands a household name around the globe.

Active in the field of health care since the 1990s, the company began a new chapter several years ago with the acquisition of Discus Dental and its Zoom tooth whitening technology in 2010. According to then Philips Consumer Lifestyle CEO Pieter Nota, the company took this step in order to complement its existing Sonicare portfolio of health care products, as well as strengthen its position as a leading oral health care brand and generate growth in the cosmetic dentistry segment. Today, according to Philips, ten million people have been treated worldwide with Zoom tooth whitening technology. Recent studies have shown that, compared with other solutions on the market, its 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening gel, in combination with light-activated technology, achieves excellent results and overall patient satisfaction with minimal to no sensitivity.

Almost everything concerning Zoom is currently being researched and further developed at the Philips research site at the Cambridge Science Park, which is both the oldest such space in Britain and where major industry competitors like Toshiba and ARM Holdings have been conducting cutting-edge research for years. In this exclusive neighbourhood, established in the early 1970s, more than 30 Philips employees from around the globe are working on solutions that will soon benefit millions of patients around the world. One of the five major research centres in Europe, the site is closely linked not only to Philips’s High Tech Campus in the Netherlands but also to over 80 research institutions in Britain and worldwide, including universities in Cambridge, Southampton and London. Overall, it adds to a network of more than 1,200 scientists conducting research on behalf of Philips all around the world. In addition to its focus on tooth whitening, the company performs research on microbiology and in- and outdoor location technologies at the science park.

In the Zoom laboratories, Philips scientists and research engineers are constantly at work to learn more about the processes behind the complex mix of chemistry and physics that help to whiten teeth. In in vitro studies, parameters are optimised before being tested on stained bovine models and finally validated on extracted human teeth. The results are continually measured after whitening, as well as for a further seven and 30 days in solution for hydration, which can affect the colour of the teeth. Through testing, among other things, engineers have been able to debunk a number of tooth whitening myths of the recent past, such as the assumption that using heat accelerates the whitening process. Instead they found that the hydrogen peroxide was rapidly converted into water and oxygen even before it was able to penetrate the dentine to have an effect.

In addition to its 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening gel, which breaks the molecular bonds of stains in and on the teeth, Zoom therefore uses light-activated technology, which is similar to curing lights in restorative dentistry, through its chairside Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed Whitening LED Accelerator, to speed up the process and achieve better results. The system has proven to be 40% more effective than non-light-activated systems and to whiten teeth by up to six shades in an hour. The latest generation of the whitening gel comes with amorphous calcium phosphate, also known as “artificial enamel”, that is applied through a dual-barrel syringe to reduce sensitivity by reducing fluid flow in the teeth.

Patients who want to whiten their teeth at home can do so using the Philips Zoom DayWhite and Zoom NiteWhite kits, which both promise maximum results within one or two weeks. However, dental professionals recommend a combined approach. “What I say to patients is that the Zoom procedure is a ‘kick start’ to their whitening journey,” explained Zoom user Dr Zaki Kanaan, a well-known dentist from Fulham in London. “You will notice a visible difference immediately upon completion of your Zoom and you will need to follow up the procedure with a few days of home whitening, rather than the 14+ days of home whitening alone. Quite often patients go for the combination approach and some will of course opt for the take-home whitening alone.”

“Whichever option patients go for and even if this is predominantly take-home whitening in your practice, one thing’s for sure, professionally applied whitening is a ‘must have’ option for patients. There is a large segment of the population who will always want the quick route to what they want and if you don’t offer it, they will find someone who does,” he added.

To post a reply please login or register

Mobile-phone manufacturer drives business with free teeth-whitening vouchers

LONDON – The increasing desire for the perfect smile has already been exploited by some shrewd business people, such as those who recently opened ...

What it takes to build the ultimate practice team

It is said that all teams are groups, but not all groups are teams. What separates the two is interdependence. A true team is focused on a common purpose; ...

Align Technology introduces its first professional whitening system in the UK

The new Invisalign Professional Whitening System revolutionises teeth whitening with an all-in-one solution that enables Invisalign trained doctors to ...

Cracking the code of fractured teeth

The need for an endodontic skill set within the profession is higher than it has ever been. Culturally and socially, there have been significant changes in ...

Researchers discover the origin of teeth

BRISTOL – The evolutionary origin of dental structures is highly debated among experts. Now, a team of international scientists has found evidence ...

The KATANA Zirconia Block—Clinical experiences from Italy

Earlier this year, Kuraray Noritake Dental invited dental professionals from all over Europe to a symposium in Berlin in Germany that highlighted the newest...

General Dental Council figures show illegal tooth whitening procedures on the rise

LONDON, UK: In recent years, tooth whitening has become an increasingly common form of aesthetic dental treatment. Though its provision is legally limited ...

Post-hygiene whitening for everyone

It is often amazing to see how a slightly different shade of colour can brighten up a smile and the entire countenance of patients who decide to undergo ...

Interview: “Prevention of sex trafficking is our ultimate aim”

Sex trafficking remains a major issue in many parts of Asia, not only in sex tourism hot spots like in Indonesia or Thailand but also in smaller countries ...

Tooth whitening companies team up for charity

LONDON, UK: Several of the UK’s largest tooth whitening companies have come together for the holiday season in support of a campaign titled, “White ...

Education

Live webinar
Wed. 24 April 2024
1:00 pm UTC (London)