Whitening, also known as bleaching, is the procedure used to brighten teeth. ZOOM!® in-office whitening treatment uses a laser to facilitate the whitening process and allows Dr. Froum to customize aspects of the treatment to each individual patient's needs to provide the best possible results.
The most common side effect is tooth and gum sensitivity. Your dentist is your best resource to ensure that you are a good candidate for whitening and that you are using the right concentration of whitening formula. Philips ZOOM!® WhiteSpeed has adjustable intensity settings to help maximize patient comfort, and 99% of patients experienced little to no sensitivity. And Philips ZOOM!® DayWhite and NiteWhite have a special formula with built-in potassium nitrate and ACP (amorphous calcium phosphate), which are known desensitizers. These special ingredients make your enamel smoother and more lustrous as well. We also recommend that you brush with a sensitivity formula toothpaste like Fluoridex Daily Defense Sensitivity Relief two weeks prior to whitening, and that you take ibuprofen on the day of your treatment.
What kind of results should I expect?
In-Office Bleaching usually requires only one office visit. A protective gel or a rubber shield is placed over the gums to protect the soft tissue. A bleaching agent containing carbamide peroxide is applied to the teeth, and a specialized light is then used to enhance the action of the whitening agent. This is the fastest way to achieve results.
At-Home bleaching requires an impression of the teeth to be taken to make a customized mouth guard to hold the whitening gel, containing carbide peroxide, against the teeth. Once the mouth guard is made, it is worn for a period of time, as instructed by our office. The amount of time may vary from a couple hours a day, or all night, to up to four weeks or longer, if desired.
How long will my ZOOM!® whitening results to last?
That depends on your genetics and habits, but generally around a year. Drinking staining foods or beverages and smoking can limit your results, but you can easily keep your smile shining between treatments with the ZOOM!® Whitening Pen.