The restricted effectiveness of over-the-counter whitening strips on posterior enamel, comparable to molars, stems primarily from their design and utility technique. These strips are usually manufactured to evolve to the form of anterior enamel the incisors and canines which might be seen when smiling. Because of this, they usually fail to make sufficient contact with the broader, flatter surfaces of molars, resulting in uneven distribution of the whitening agent.
Efficient tooth whitening is dependent upon constant and extended contact between the whitening agent and the tooth enamel. When molars are usually not adequately coated by the whitening strip, the energetic elements, comparable to hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, can’t penetrate the enamel successfully to interrupt down the stain molecules. This uneven utility ends in minimal or no noticeable shade change on these enamel. Moreover, the saliva current within the mouth can dilute the whitening agent in areas the place the strip shouldn’t be correctly adhered, additional diminishing its effectiveness.