Customer Reviews

OPALESCENCE 35% PF MINT REFILL KIT

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I have used the Opalescence whitening line for a few months. I used both 15% which I had to wear overnight and the 20% which is worn for an hour a day. I started using the 35% concentration because I really did not like wearing my dental trays overnight -- they hindered my sleep quite a bit. In addition, I liked the idea of only wearing the trays for 30 minutes each day (as opposed to the hour for the 20% concentration).

I have used the 35% for about a week and am seeing great results already. I really like the product but would mention a few precautions to those looking to try it:

(1) It will be pretty uncomfortable for someone with sensitive teeth. I notice some discomfort in my back teeth after removing the trays but it is usually gone by an hour or so. Sometimes the discomfort lasts longer but it is manageable.

(2) Using too much gel can cause your gums to burn. The instructions that came with my purchase failed to indicate how much gel was to be used during each bleaching session. I followed the instructions from my previous uses with the 15% and 20% concentrations, using a half of a syringe per treatment. This was too much. Despite having custom trays (which is a MUST with this system), the excess gel burned my gums in some places turning them white. The whiteness from the burn is gone in an hour and really is not uncomfortable but considering there was enough gel to reach the gums, it is pretty wasteful to use that much. Consequently, I now attempt to get 2.5-3 treatments per syringe. This has eliminated the potential for burning and reduced the discomfort associated with the high concentration. The bleaching process may take a little longer but it is worth it to alleviate these issues.

(3) I have had some uneven bleaching thus far. I have a few spots on my front teeth that are whiter than the rest of the tooth. From afar, this is not noticable but close up, it is obvious. I still have many treatments to go and am assuming it will all even out over time (it is already better now than it was 1-2 days after I started last week).

(4) Lastly, as I noted above, I would only recommend this treatment with custom molded trays. As I noted above, I have had some unevenness in my whitening thus far and cannot help but believe that this issue would be compounded if I did not have custom trays (and would be much harder to correct).

All in all, I am very pleased after a week of using this product. I gave it 4 stars only because I think the instructions should be more clear (i.e., how much gel is appropriate). I would recommend it to anyone looking for a great whitening product, excluding those with sensitive teeth.

As a dentist, I know that the key to success in tooth whitening is to have a properly made custom-fitted tray, and the right concentration of bleaching gel.

This product markets a 35% Carbamide-Peroxide bleaching gel. The 35% concentration is considered extremely strong in comparison to the concentrations available. Most at-home systems use a 10-15% concentration of Carbamide Peroxide.

The MAJOR drawback to this system is that it assumes that you have a custom-moulded bleaching tray, which is essential to using this product correctly and safely. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A CUSTOM-MOULDED MOUTH TRAY, DO NOT USE THIS PRODUCT. A custom-moulded tray must fit the teeth precisely and must not allow the bleaching gel to leak from the tray. A properly moulded tray will have a reservior for the gel, and a contoured scalloped border that prevents the gel from coming into contact with the gum tissues. (Sustained contact of the bleaching gel with gum tissues will result in a white chemical burn).

Since this product does not have a custom tray, I cannot wholeheartedly recommend it therefore giving it an overall score of 2-stars. However, if you have a custom-moulded tray (not an at-home heat moulded (boiled) system), this is an effective product if used in moderation and according to instructions (in that case I give it 3 stars). I actually think that a 20% bleaching solution is too strong to be used unsupervised. A 20% solution will likely cause tooth sensitivity and has the additional likelihood of causing chemical burns of the gums. It must be used with caution and restraint.

Keep in mind that Crest and others offer a tray-less system (no gel), as the gel is impregnated in the adhesive strip that is applied to the teeth. These systems work well and are fairly cheap to use. The advantage with the custom-made tray system is that you can use a variety of different bleaching gel strengths, some of which are much stronger than the adherant strip systems.

Jim "Konedog" Koenig (dentist)

With products as this, it is best to precursor the review with some instruction and expectation setting:

Instructions:
--This product is meant to be used as a refill to custom trays fitted by your dentist. Otherwise, you will have issues with uneven application and gum burning.

--Application muust follow instructions that are provided. Do not overapply or the gel will burn your gums and turn them white for a little while.

Expectations:
--At the end of the day, research suggests that the 35% whitens as much as the 15%. The difference is twofold: The 35% needs to onlt stay on for 30 minutes, but the 15% needs to stay on an hour. Second, the 35% will get your teeth whiter faster. E.g., if it takes 12 weeks for the 15% to get to the desired whitening, it may take 8 weeks for the 35%.

--The 35% will make your teeth more sensitive than 15%. For me, it was worth the extra sensitivity to get faster results.

--It takes time! Results do not occur overnight for most people. Expect 12-16 weeks, applying once a day at night for 30 minutes. If it occurs faster, use the remaining gel to periodically keep them white.

--The gum line part of the tooth may still be yellowish. My guess is it is hard to get right to the gum line without burning. So the application will still be a little uneven.

My review:

I had noticable results after 4 weeks, from 2-4 shades. One tooth was 4 shades, most were 3, and the rest were 1 to 2. I am under Dentist care for the entire process.

For the 4 week period, the Dentist was highly pleased with the progress. I was pleased as well. After 6 weeks, though, the progress seemed slower, and the lower teeth are still too yellow.

As well, one issue remains: one upper front tooth would not whiten well. It had undergone tramua when I was young. So, the 2 upper front teeth will need veneers. Right now it is a race to whiten as much as possible to get the whitest shade of veneers possible.

My method:
-- I used 12) 15% gel for 6 weeks that the denstist provided
-- I used (8)35% gel for 4 weeks that I bought from Amazon
-- I applied twice a day for at least half the time
-- I used between 1/3 to 1/2 of the syringe per application

In all, you have to be patient and not expect quick results. Some teeth will whiten faster and others may not whiten much at all. From what I researched and the Denist's input, results widely vary. However, you should certainly see viable results and the effort is not hard. 30 minutes after bushing and flossing is pretty easy.

I disagree with the low ratings for this product. Just because someone does not use the product properly, does not reflect on the product quality. Results based on non-custom trays are invalid in my opinion and should not reflect on the rating.

I would have given a 5 star, but I felt somehow they need to get the gel to the gumline without burning, providing full tooth coverage.

I've just finished my first bleaching session with this product and, in all honesty, I have used whitening products from aquafresh, crest, colgate (including the version from colgate that dentist offices sell for bleaching), and two other versions of 35% Carbamide Peroxide solution...But Opalescence has been the best so far. The viscosity of the solution keeps the stuff in the mouth trays (mine are custom-made) better. I think anyone who bleaches their teeth will likely agree that the solution, the feel of the trays, and the occasional burning or stinging if there's too much product around one area of the gumline will make you salivate more than usual. (Duh!) Other products were notably thinned out or almost totally dissipated by the time I'd had the trays in for the recommended length of time for each. I would say there's an element of truth to assuming that, unless you can stop making saliva for 30 min. to an hour, having a 'thinner' solution that keeps seeping out of the trays (and thus the 'gel/spit' ratio decreases, spit being the victor) cuts down on the effectiveness of the treatment. A 'thicker' solution such as Opalescence pretty much didn't budge. I rinsed after the first time I used this product (which was, as I stated, just now and I was so impressed I leapt online-this is the first review I've ever written-it was THAT GOOD) a tactic which usually cleaned out most of the residue from the other bleaching gels I've used, and found that there was still a decent layer on my teeth for me to brush off. Yes the syringes are a little small and it's a little more expensive, but I'm no longer even interested in trying anything else. Opalescence will be the only bleaching product I buy from here on out. If you're on the fence about what brand to buy or whether you should bleach (though if you've never bleached before, perhaps try the lower percentage) I'd recommend this brand to anyone and it's absolutely worth a try.

I used 22% from my dentist and wasn't all that pleased with the results. My dentist didn't even tell me that there was a stronger formula out there so when I found it here I jumped on it and even after using the 22% for 4 months one application of the 35% was amazing!!!!! My teeth are as white as what I thought they should have been after spending over 300$$ at my dentist office. Why is it so hard for them to give you your moneys worth when you know that they are getting the gel for less than what I paid here? Oh well, lesson learned, get your whitening gel here and if you aren't sensitive go for the 35 %. You'll be glad that you did.

If you have your own teeth molds, this is a great product for a refresher.

I used typical dentist distribution the first time I purchased Opalescence, and left the molds on all night while sleeping. (Instructions said 8 hours.) They worked okay, but it took a few weeks to see results. I don't know what the concentration was on those.

I put these on for four hours minimum, and in about 2 or 3 days I can see noticeable improvement. There were no adverse side effects.

That said, I'm not caking this stuff on either. I'm judicious in it's use. A thin even line in the molds so that everything gets covered, but I don't have stuff oozing out the edges.

In both cases there was rare sensitivity (after the fact) but it didn't last long, and was quite rare.

I always floss a couple times and brush a couple times before using, to make sure nothing is in the way. And of course, brush and rinse very well after use.

I did expect greater results with these, and got improved response but not what the expectation was. The first set I used (from the dentist) had an effervescence going on - I could tell it was working. I did not get that kind of effect here at all. It didn't feel like a "high powered" version of the product, but it did work better than the previous.

I think that proper molds are important so that you have a good fit against your teeth, otherwise you'd be filling the gaps with product in order to get any kind of result (and probably burning your gums in the meantime).

I love Opalescence. I have used the whitening gel for over a year, and have loved it. I had been using the 22% and it worked great, but the 35% took my tooth whitening to a new level! WOW! I must get 4 or 5 complimets PER DAY on my white smile. Thanks Opallescence and Aplussmile!

First, I am pleased to report that while a couple of the reviewers mentioned a burning sensation from this product, I did not.

I have always used Opalescence 15%, but there is a distinct acceleration in the efficacy of Opalescence 35%. I had for years gotten the 15% product directly from the dentist who had made my molds. So, I was happy to find that Amazon carried a higher concentration of this product with a much lower time requirement for results.

To think ~ I used to wear my mouth molds overnight! With this concentration level though, as long as you're not particularly sensitive, you are only supposed to wear them for 1/2 an hour. That's a step in the right direction! With Oplaescence 35% I saw distinct whitening improvement after only two uses.

I have tried several types of teeth whitening products. I really like this product because you only apply it to your teeth for 1/2 hour. Quick and I can see the results because of the 35 percent peroxide mix . . . much higher than other products used.

I recommend this product.

This product is clearly superior with it's 35% peroxide as opposed to drug store products which run about 15%.

However, without custom dental trays it can burn very badly. The first couple times i used this it was almost too painful to wear.

But, it can work without the custom trays. Here's my advice: don't use every day, this should be used every other day. Secondly, instead of applying the product to the trays and putting them in your mouth, apply the whitener directly to your teeth and put an un-moulded tray over so it doesn't get on your upper lip. this worked well for me, the bleach still gets on my teeth and it doesn't leak and burn the hell out of my gums.