Do you want a sparkling, self-assured smile that lights up any room? The years of coffee, tea, red wine, and some foods may take their toll, and your teeth may be left dull, and the natural brightness of your teeth may be lost. Although over-the-counter treatments give minimal results, when done by professionals, there is a dramatic change, which can be achieved after a single visit. Zoom whitening uses light-activated technology to make stained teeth a few shades lighter. This safe and painless procedure removes deep stains to show the beautiful smile you always wanted.
Are you prepared to show off your best smile? Call Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry to schedule your Zoom whitening appointment today and find out how simple it can be to create a more gorgeous, whiter smile. But first, let us look at what Zoom whitening is.
Zoom Whitening and How it Works
Zoom whitening applies the latest dental technology to achieve a much whiter smile. The system uses a strong formulation of a high-strength hydrogen peroxide gel and a patented blue LED light accelerator. The unique technique enables a more effective and deeper whitening experience than many home-based options.
Zoom whitening is incredibly effective. The professional Zoom hydrogen peroxide gel is carefully applied to the front surfaces of your teeth in a thin, even layer. This gel is designed to work to its full potential with the guidance of a professional. After putting the gel in the proper place, one of the most important parts of this advanced system, the Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed LED lamp, is placed directly over your mouth. The light is subsequently turned on to start the strong whitening procedure. This stage is usually divided into three or four different cycles of 15 minutes each. The blue LED light is the ingredient used in every cycle to catalyze the stain-lifting process of the gel. The light activates the hydrogen peroxide, which decomposes and liberates oxygen ions that enter the tooth structure and disrupt the tough stain. During these cycles, you are free to rest, possibly with music, a show, or just a rest, as the technology is doing its job to change your smile.
This careful protection is essential because it avoids any inconvenience or harm to the sensitive soft tissues of your mouth and enables the whitening gel to act upon the tooth enamel alone and in a perfectly comfortable way. You may also be provided with protective spectacles to protect your eyes against the bright LED light.
When the final cycle has been done, the specialist gently wipes off the gel and all protective barriers. Your dentist will hand you a mirror and, with the shade guide used during your first visit, compare your new, brighter smile with your base tooth shade.
Zoom Whitening Candidates
To decide whether Zoom whitening is the most appropriate option, it is important to understand under which circumstances the procedure is most beneficial and when a more detailed consultation should be conducted. Being truthful regarding your dental health and expectancy is the most critical part of having the ideal outcome.
The best candidates for Zoom whitening are people with healthy teeth and gums and no severe decay or active periodontal disease. Those with yellow-stained teeth, built up over years of coffee, tea, red wine intake, or aging, will likely achieve the most spectacular and gratifying outcomes. Their enamel composition is usually sensitive to hydrogen peroxide, and they can be cleaned effectively of stains.
Nevertheless, there are cases requiring a consultation to ensure the treatment is suitable and to regulate the expectations.
For example, suppose you have restorations, like crowns, veneers, or fillings, on your front teeth. These materials will not whiten. The whitening gel will not be able to penetrate the artificial material, leaving the restorations with the same color that they started with, potentially making them look uneven. Likewise, intrinsic stains react differently to whitening due to using tetracycline during tooth formation or overexposure to fluoride (fluorosis). Though a certain improvement can be observed, the effect is less dramatic than extrinsic stains, and other cosmetic procedures may be more appropriate.
Patients with pre-existing sensitivity should also speak with their dentist about this. As much as Zoom whitening prides itself on reducing discomfort, your dentist could recommend active measures like desensitizing toothpaste before the procedure.
Furthermore, gum disease symptoms should be eliminated and treated before cosmetic procedures, like a whitening process, since a healthy mouth is the first condition for successful and safe treatment.
Zoom Whitening With Cavities
Dentists will not do Zoom whitening, or any type of professional teeth whitening, when a patient has active dental caries, or cavities. This is a critical safety policy that has been adopted to protect the oral health of the patient.
This limitation is primarily due to the possibility of heightened sensitivity and pain. Whitening agents usually consist of hydrogen peroxide and act by infiltrating the tooth enamel to dissolve intrinsic stains. However, in case of a cavity, this powerful bleaching agent could leak into the inner softer parts of the tooth, including the dentin and even the pulp, where the nerves are found. This direct exposure could cause significant pain and extreme tooth sensitivity. In the worst cases, it may cause nerve damage.
In addition to short-term pain, the likelihood of infection and additional damage to the affected tooth is relatively high. A cavity is a tooth region where bacteria have caused a structural flaw. Bleaching this weakened structure with powerful whitening agents may enhance the decay, inflame the dental pulp, and significantly increase the chances of causing an infection of the tooth.
Moreover, trying to whiten teeth with already existing cavities may result in unwanted and disproportionate cosmetic outcomes. Whitening gels are primarily directed to healthy tooth enamel. Areas that have decayed are often discolored (usually brown or black) and will not react to the whitening process or healthy enamel. This mismatch may lead to an ugly, spotty, and unbalanced smile on the patient.
Thus, before undertaking any teeth whitening process, dentists always ensure that they carry out an in-depth analysis of the patients’ teeth and gums. In case of any cavities or other oral health problems, including gum disease, the dentist will always advise on dealing with them first. This usually means the extraction of the decayed parts of the tooth and subsequent installation of the right dental fillings to regain the tooth’s integrity. A coexisting gum disease or other oral health issue will also be treated.
Only after the patient’s oral health has stabilized and all oral matters, like cavities, have been corrected successfully, can the dentist safely carry out the Zoom whitening procedure, allowing the patient to attain a brighter, more evenly whitened smile.
Zoom Whitening Versus Other Options
When it comes to teeth whitening, there are several alternatives, from professional in-office whitening, like Zoom, to many DIY options. The differences will allow you to make an informed choice depending on your preferred speed, intensity, and budget.
Zoom vs. at-home trays expose clear benefits. Zoom Whitening is a fast, dramatic procedure with results visible in only one visit, with a considerable improvement in shade in many cases. This is because of the increased use of hydrogen peroxide gel concentration and the activation of the special blue light, all under professional control. By contrast, custom-fit at-home whitening trays, which a dentist supplies, involve a lower concentration gel and must be applied daily over several weeks to produce gradual results. They are effective but require increased patience and regularity of the regimen. Zoom tends to be more expensive at the outset, but its effectiveness and rapidity are its strengths, and the at-home trays are cheaper but slower.
Likewise, over-the-counter strips provide a universal solution for all sizes and have a very low concentration of whitening agents. Their outcomes are often incomplete and inconsistent because they might not fit perfectly on all the surfaces of the teeth or cover all the discolored regions. Zoom, however, offers a personalized, complete whitening service. It is professionally applied, evenly spread, and is professionally strong. Light activation can whiten teeth up to 8 shades in a single session, though it may not be the same with every person, depending on their initial color and the type of stains they have. The difference in strength and application method is so drastic that the aesthetic result is more predictable and, in most cases, better with Zoom.
Is Zoom Whitening Safe?
Safety and possible discomfort are expected concerns with any dental procedure, and Zoom whitening is no exception. These fears can be addressed to offer assurance and what to anticipate.
Regarding safety, you should have no worries about the Zoom whitening procedure being highly safe when a qualified and experienced dental practitioner conducts it. Dentists receive a lot of training to learn how the whitening gel should be applied and how the LED light should operate safely. Another important part of the safety protocol is carefully applying protective barriers to your gums and lips. These barriers also guarantee that the high-concentration whitening gel can only reach your teeth and will not irritate or hurt the sensitive soft tissues of your mouth. This professional control and its added security make Zoom a safe way to have a brighter smile.
Although safe in general, the most obvious side effect is the temporary sensitivity, the most often reported side effect by patients. This is because of the temporary dehydration of the teeth and the opening of microscopic tubules in the dentin. This sensitivity is, however, nearly always temporary and disappears in 24 to 48 hours. To prevent this sensitivity in advance, dental professionals take several steps. A desensitizing agent like Philips Relief ACP can reduce discomfort during the procedure. Moreover, it is advisable to use a desensitizing toothpaste in the week preceding and following the treatment. This can also minimize the chances and severity of post-treatment sensitivity, making the whitening process more pleasant.
Durability, Maintenance, and Frequency
Getting a stunning white smile with Zoom whitening is an exciting process, and with proper aftercare and maintenance, you can extend your brilliant results a long way. The duration of your whitening will significantly depend on the type of lifestyle and oral hygiene practices.
The white diet is essential right after your Zoom whitening procedure. At this time, your teeth are more porous and prone to staining. Hence, it is necessary to avoid staining foods and beverages. Follow a white diet containing water, milk, plain yogurt, white rice, pasta with white sauce, chicken, turkey, fish, potatoes, and bananas. On the other hand, you will have to avoid highly pigmented foods and drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, dark soda, berries, dark sauces (soy, tomato), chocolate, and tobacco. Following this diet during the first two days will keep your new color locked in and discoloration-free.
To achieve long-term maintenance with lasting results, you must follow additional recommendations past the first 48 hours. Your lifestyle is a significant factor. Using stain-causing foods like coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco will often reverse the whitening effect over time.
Good oral care is also important. Brushing twice daily, flossing once a day, and regularly going to the dentist for a check-up and cleaning will aid in eliminating newly acquired stains before they form. Between professional treatments, it is also possible to use a whitening toothpaste to keep the teeth bright.
One question often asked is, “How often should you do the full Zoom treatment?” You can go for the complete in-office Zoom whitening procedure once every three years or once a year. This duration is not fixed and largely depends on your lifestyle factors, eating habits, and the efficiency of your at-home maintenance program. Depending upon the patient’s habits, some people may choose to do more frequent treatments, and some with clean oral hygiene and less exposure to staining agents may find that the results will last longer.
This leads us to the role of touch-up kits. The distinction between a comprehensive in-office procedure and maintenance is the key to long-term whitening. A take-home whitening kit, which you can buy through your dentist, is a great solution to extend your results and not have to visit the office every time, but instead do a touch-up every few months. These kits usually include customized trays and a low level of whitening gel. Applying them once or twice a year, or as suggested by your dental expert, can help fight the appearance of new stains on the surface of your teeth and keep your smile fresh and bright, making your first purchase of Zoom last even longer.
The Cost of Zoom Whitening
It is expected to seek to understand the financial side of Zoom whitening as a part of deciding when to go for one. Although providing a fixed cost without a personal consultation is impossible, some factors determine the overall cost.
Factors affecting the cost of Zoom whitening may differ considerably. The ultimate cost depends on:
- Your location, where prices are lower in the city than in the countryside
- The expertise of the dentist and the overhead of the particular practice
- Optional services, like custom take-home trays to do touch-ups, or a desensitizing kit
After your initial consultation, your dentist will provide a detailed quote listing all the parts of the treatment plan.
Instead of just considering the procedure a cost, it is more of an investment in your smile with Zoom whitening. This value is more than the immediate aesthetic gain. An improved, whiter, more confident smile can positively affect personal and professional relationships, improving self-esteem. Considering the total amount of money you would have spent over the years on less effective over-the-counter products that can lead to unpleasant or incomplete results, the single professional investment in Zoom can be a more effective and fulfilling journey to the radiant smile.
To increase the accessibility of this investment, some dental practices have financing options. This could involve in-house payment plans or collaborations with third-party financing tools like CareCredit. A conversation with your dentist could enable you to develop a payment option that suits your budget and give you your desired smile without creating a hole in your pocket.
Find a Zoom Whitening Specialist Near Me
With the help of Zoom whitening, you can obtain a dazzling white smile, making you look great and, therefore, much more confident. The promise of a whiter smile is tempting, but the journey to a safe and effective whitening can start with a solid base of good oral health. Even trying to whiten already unhealthy teeth with untreated cavities or other dental problems can be painful, cause more damage, and result in uneven and dissatisfying outcomes. A dental check-up will make your smile beautiful and healthy at its core.
Do not sacrifice your oral health to an easy solution. To ensure your teeth are healthy enough to receive the beautiful change that Zoom whitening can provide, call Agoura Hills Advanced Dentistry at 818-878-7300 to set up your customized Zoom whitening appointment.