Do all whitening gels work the same, or is the brand actually important?

Are lights and in-office “power whitening” just marketing hype?

And what’s the deal with the infamous white diet – do your patients really need to give up coffee and red wine?

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Wyman Chan, the man who literally hung up his drills in 2002 to dedicate his career to whitening alone. With over 20,000 cases under his belt (and a PhD in the science behind it), Wyman shares his three golden rules for whitening success: trays, communication, and conscious bleaching.

We’re also joined by Dr. Niki Shah, who brings his own insights into whitening and patient care, making this a conversation packed with both science and clinical experience.

Wyman introduces his latest invention—Magic 3, a fizzing gel that reveals and removes plaque while calming gums. Plus, Wyman busts some of the biggest whitening myths (sorry, “white diet”) and explains why he no longer bothers with internal bleaching.

If you’ve ever wondered how to make whitening safer, more predictable, and less stressful for you and your patients—this is the episode you’ll want to tune in for.

Protrusive Dental Pearl

Innovation in Hygiene with Magic 3 – What is Magic 3?

• A colorless plaque indicator gel developed by Wyman Chan.
• Fizzes on contact with plaque.
• Cleans teeth, removes superficial stains, and softens soft calculus.

Clinical Application

• Alternative to scaling/polishing for routine patients.
• Nervous patients who dislike ultrasonic scalers.
• Children (6+) – safe as a Class I medical device.
• Orthodontic patients – helps prevent white spot lesions.

Learn more at https://protrusive.co.uk/magic3

https://youtu.be/ImpHJP3Wxec Watch PDP245 on YouTube

Key Takeaways:

• Teeth whitening success depends on tray design, formulation, technique, and compliance.
• Conscious bleaching helps minimise sensitivity.
• Sensitivity is due to peroxide reaching the pulp.
• Patients should adjust wear time gradually, starting short and increasing if comfortable.
• Communication and treatment planning are crucial to match whitening regimes with lifestyles.
• The “white diet” is not scientifically necessary – normal eating and drinking can resume within minutes.
• External bleaching alone can be effective, even for single dark teeth.
• Tetracycline-stained teeth can respond to whitening with the right protocols.
• The brand is less important than protocol consistency and clinician experience.
• In-office light-assisted whitening adds risk, cost, and chairside time without proven benefit.
• Allergic reactions are more likely caused by gel additives, not peroxide itself.
• Emerging products, such as peroxide-based gels for plaque disruption and gingival health, may complement whitening in the future.

Highlights of this episode:

• 00:00 TEASER
• 1:00 INTRO
• 3:13 PROTRUSIVE DENTAL PEARL
• 07:05 Dr. Wyman Chan Introduction
• 13:32 Niki’s Journey in Dentistry
• 17:03 Whitening Products and Techniques
• 23:09 Three Keys to Whitening Success
• 30:03 Addressing Sensitivity in Teeth Whitening
• 37:43 MIDROLL
• 41:04 Addressing Sensitivity in Teeth Whitening
• 46:15 Whitening as Treatment Planning
• 49:10 Myths and Misconceptions
• 01:00:27 Lights and In-Office Whitening
• 01:03:13 Introducing Magic3: A Revolutionary Dental Product
• 01:16:10 OUTRO

Discover Magic3 and Dr. Wyman Chan’s inventions

If this episode piqued your interest, continue the whitening theme by listening to PDP199 “How To Eliminate Sensitivity During Teeth Whitening”. And don’t miss the upcoming visual follow-up to this episode!

#PDPMainEpisodes #BreadandButterDentistry

This episode is eligible for 1 CE credit via the quiz on Protrusive Guidance.

This episode meets GDC Outcomes A, C, and D.

AGD Subject Code: 780 – Esthetics/Cosmetic Dentistry

Aim: To deepen dentists’ understanding of teeth whitening by exploring evidence-based protocols, tray design, and methods to reduce patient sensitivity. It also aims to challenge common myths and introduce innovations that can improve both patient comfort and clinical outcomes.

Dentists will be able to:

Evaluate the importance of tray design, communication, and conscious bleaching as critical factors for safe and effective whitening outcomes Identify the common causes of whitening sensitivity and apply strategies to minimise or prevent pulpal irritation during treatment Assess the evidence behind common whitening myths, including the “white diet” and the use of heat/light for activation.