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Fig 7a-c: View of systematically clinically measured bleached indexes in the new module before the whitening procedure (Figure 7a), after
one week of wearing a custom tray and whitening with 16% carbamide peroxide during the night (Figure 7b) and after two weeks (Figure 7c).
Continuous monitoring shows a decrease in the value of the bleached index, which proves a positive change, i.e., an increase in lightness and a
decrease in shade saturation of the treated teeth.

Fig 8a-b: Clinical presentation of the patient’s tooth shade before whitening (Figure 8a) and results after the completion of the two-week at-home
procedure (Figure 8b).

to the photo of the patient in the free and accessible mobile application
VITA mobileAssist+ (Figures 3-5) and simulation of a possible future
solution (Figure 6) are convenient, added features. It should be noted
that the software solution produces a simulation (although digital) that
is very real and natural, which is not always the case in other programs
and represents a major advance in digital technology.
The described procedure can be performed several times, depending
on the type of whitening protocol, so it is very easy to remember the
average values and compare them. A bleached index is a relative
number that expresses a certain level of lightness and saturation that
is inversely proportional, i.e. a high value of the index represents low
lightness and high saturation (what the observer sees as a darker tooth),
and a low index means high lightness and low saturation (what the
eye of the beholder sees as a lighter tooth). Logically, a high bleached
index is an indication for the whitening process, and at the same time,
this value should gradually decrease (Figure 7) and the tooth shade
should become lighter and less intense (Figure 8). All simulations can
be digitally sent to the patient and stored in their files.
The advantage of the described upgrade is manifested in the
simplicity of the assessment of the tooth shade expressed by a one-
digit or two-digit number that represents the relative value of the
shade parameters relevant to the whitening process. This way, both
Fig 9: Digital representation of the change after the whitening process the patient and the dentist can easily obtain shade information, and
with basic shade data. the bleached index is easy to remember, and if necessary, compare
values before and after the procedure, particularly if it is an at-home
whitening that can take two to three weeks. A drop in the value of the

Dental Practice i March-April 2024 i Vol 20 No 2 39