How does Zoom teeth whitening work? Great question! The whitening gel contains hydrogen peroxide, which oxidizes under the WhiteSpeed blue LED lamp and lifts stains from your teeth. Zoom whitening takes about 45 minutes, but our dentists will break up your appointment into three 15-minute sessions.
Continue reading to learn what else you can expect.
Before and After ZOOM! Whitening
You can whiten your teeth by up to 8 shades if you choose our in-office treatment with Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed. Before getting started, we’ll check the current shade of your teeth. That way, you’ll be able to notice the dramatic results in your smile. Many of our patients feel good about being able to smile with confidence for the first time in years.
Consultation
If you have ever felt self-conscious about tooth discoloration, you owe it to yourself to speak with one of our cosmetic dentists. Our dentists will be able to tell you if you are a candidate for Zoom teeth whitening. While most people qualify for Zoom whitening, our dentists may be concerned if you have a history of tooth sensitivity or gum disease. For example, patients with periodontitis may want to reconsider professional teeth whitening techniques that could irritate their gums.
Zoom Whitening Procedure
First, one of our dentists or dental hygienists will cover your lips and gums to protect them from the whitening gel. Once your mouth is ready, the Zoom whitening gel will be applied to your teeth and activated with our WhiteSpeed blue LED lamp. The whitening gel contains hydrogen peroxide, which oxidizes under the LED light and lifts tooth stains.
The Zoom whitening procedure takes about 45 minutes, but is broken up in three 15-minute sessions. After each session, more whitening gel will be added to your teeth before the LED light is turned back on. During the sessions, you may feel free to relax or listen to music to pass the time. After you have completed the third session, a special fluoride gel is applied to your teeth to reduce sensitivity.
During the teeth whitening procedure, you may experience what we call “zingers.” Zingers are brief flashes of pain that happen when the nerves in your teeth react to the whitening process. This pain can continue even after you leave the office, which is why we always give our patients pain relievers to take afterwards.
If you experience pain during Zoom whitening, please do not hesitate to alert one of our dentists or dental assistants. You have the power to stop the procedure at any time if you feel the pain is too much. Different people have different pain tolerances, which is why we typically don’t recommend Zoom whitening for patients with sensitive teeth.
Zoom Whitening Aftercare
After your appointment, you will be given a kit that contains custom teeth whitening trays. The teeth whitening trays are for you to use at home so you can maintain your beautifully white smile. Our dentists will also ask you to stay away from foods and beverages that can stain your teeth, such as coffee and red wine. For the rest of the day, you may experience brief flashes of pain that can be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers.
Teeth whitening is not permanent. This is why it’s important you take good care of your smile. Continue brushing your teeth twice a day and floss once daily to remove plaque. We also recommend seeing us at least every 6 months for your oral examination and teeth cleaning. A healthy smile is a beautiful smile. Request an appointment with our teeth whitening dentists to get started.
Request an Appointment With Us
Sarah Palmer DDS and Amy Harmon DDS are accepting new patients! To request an appointment for Zoom teeth whitening, call (616) 534-0080. Our teeth whitening dentists in Grandville, MI can help you smile with confidence in no time.
