Zoom Whitening - Cosmetic Dentistry

Which is better, at home or Zoom whitening?

Many cosmetic dental offices have a power (laser bleaching) light and other equipment available to do this treatment in the office. These include the Brite Smile and Zoom bleaching treatments. While these techniques are faster and more convenient for some patients, the at-home tooth whitening treatments are simpler, less expensive, and just as effective. The advantages of the Zoom whitening are speed and convenience. You won’t ultimately get your teeth any whiter with Zoom than you will with at home bleaching treatments.

Brite Smile, Zoom, and other power whitening treatments are probably equal in effectiveness. One thing that people like about Zoom is that at the end of the appointment your teeth are dramatically whiter. This whiteness will fade and you will either need to come back for repeated treatments or supplement the treatment with trays at home, but many people like the convenience and the quickness of the results.

There also may be a little more sensitivity afterward with this laser or power bleaching than with regular at-home tooth whitening, but that sensitivity typically lasts only a couple of hours.

Zoom whitening technique:

Zoom whitening starts with retractors being placed to help keep your teeth exposed during the procedure. A napkin is placed under the retractors to cover your lips and cheeks.

Second, the dental assistant will place a rubbery coating that sticks to your gums. This protects your gums, because the Zoom whitening gel is irritating to soft tissue. The Zoom whitening gel is then placed on your teeth. During the appointment, this gel gently penetrates your teeth. Effective tooth whitening must have tooth penetration by the peroxide gel.

Third, the Zoom whitening light is focused on your teeth. It stays focused there and the gel remains on your teeth for about fifteen to thirty minutes. (Techniques vary from one office to another.) The light helps activate the gel and releases peroxide in your tooth structure, which oxidizes the discoloration embedded in your teeth.
During this time many offices will provide facilities for you to relax, watch TV, or listen to music.

At the end of your appointment, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. This whiteness will fade somewhat over the next day or two.
Some offices will have you come back for another one or two sessions. Others will provide a tray that you can wear at home to boost the whitening power of the session.

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Related information:

When you go to the oral care counter of your favorite store, you’ll notice that virtually every toothpaste claims to be a whitening toothpaste. Click here for some information about that.
Click here for referral to an expert cosmetic dentist who fully understands Zoom whitening.
To return to the frequent questions page, click here.

Click here to ask Dr. Hall a question.

This content was written by Dr. David Hall.