Expert: Rafael Mosery,D.D.S. - 8/27/2006

Question
Hi,

I've had whitening trays for over a year. My dentist's assts cut them non-scalloped with a regular scissors and the plastic seems a little scratchy. I notice on the net that a lot of these trays are cut scalloped and heated so there are no rough edges.  I'm wondering what's the correct way and wondering why if this is such an expensive dental practice I go to they would do a shoddy job?

Also, I have gotten these hyperwhitened lines that look like crack marks situated toward where two separate teeth meet making it look like I have food stuck between.  I had recent cleanings and the only think I've done differently is haven't been eating as well and also looked under a light at my teeth. Can heat from a light or change in diet cause craze lines to appear?

Answer
Re: whitening trays. The non scalloped are just fine if there are one or two spots that are scratchy these could be trimmed with any fine scissors or bring them back and have the dentist do it.Many dentists prefer the nonscalloped tray.Although the scallop may look more impressive or more custom it's all the same. The main thing is that they fit properly. They didn't necessarily do a shoddy job.
These hyper calcifications are not cracks. They are due to less than optimal oral hygiene usually found in orthodontic patients or they were there all along and the bleaching accentuated them.Check into a product called MI paste available through your dentist or by prescription and used in the same trays.
Good Luck,
Dr.Rafael Mosery