Illuminé from Dentsply/Preventive Care is a hydrogen peroxide gel for in-office tooth whitening. The gel is supplied in an innovative mixing device consisting of two plastic syringes joined at the center by a plastic stopcock. One syringe contains 30% liquid hydrogen peroxide, and the other contains a proprietary powder blend. Prior to treatment, a standard bleaching tray with reservoir areas is fabricated for the patient. At the time of use, the contents of the liquid-containing syringe are expressed into the powder-containing syringe. The material is mixed by forcing it from one syringe into the other several times. The mixture is then expressed into the bleaching tray where, over a one-minute period, it converts into a semi-solid gel. The tray is inserted into the patient's mouth, and excess gel is carefully removed from the gingiva. The patient can then return to the waiting room. At the end of a standard treatment period (30 to 60 minutes) the patient returns to the chair and the tray is removed. Dentsply claims that one treatment can effectively whiten teeth from four to six shades, and that post-treatment whitening continues for 24 to 72 hours that produces an additional one- to two-shade change. Another purported advantage of Illuminé is that it is less messy than most other whitening products because the gel's semi-solid consistency and adhesiveness limit its overflow from the tray. Illuminé can be used as a stand-alone product or as a "boost" treatment prior to using Nupro Gold, Dentsply's home bleaching product. One kit of Illuminé contains two sets of syringes, enough for two treatments.
Illumine is an innovative product that is significantly different from most in-office bleaching agents. It does not require light or heat to activate the gel. It features a coupled-syringe mixing system that efficiently mixes the components and makes dispensing the product into the tray easy. The gel becomes thick after setting, which limits its overextension during tray placement. Mixing and use instructions are are provided on a graphics card. Evaluators noticed a post-treatment whitening effect, which made the product very useful as a “boost” treatment before the use of traditional home bleaching products. The packaging takes up relatively little space and recommended storage conditions are listed on the package. Expiration date and lot number are clearly stamped on syringes. An MSDS comes with the package.
The product did not achieve the nine shades of whitening claimed by Dentsply, and some patients required additional treatments and/or an at-home bleaching product to produce satisfactory results. The product has a considerably lower pH than those of home bleaching products tested by DIS, and can cause significant gingival irritation if the tissue isn’t adequately isolated. Some evaluators found the gel became too thick prior to tray placement, and thought the gel was difficult to remove from teeth after treatment. The instructions call for the incorporation of reservoirs in the bleaching tray.
This review has been adapted from the DECS website. The DECS has no formal association with Dentalcompare or with vendors listed on dentalcompare.com. The DECS does not specifically endorse any particular product or vendor and is provided for informational purposes only.
