Zoom! Tooth Whitening: A Bright Idea!

When you look in the mirror, is your smile as white and bright as you would like it to be Have you tried some of the home whitening options available at the store, only to be disappointed with the results

Now there is a teeth-whitening solution, performed by a professional, that will give you immediate results. Zoom! chair-side tooth whitening is a simple, fast, and relatively inexpensive way to give you that boost of confidence that comes from having a beautiful smile.

What is Zoom! tooth whitening

Zoom! is a whitening process, performed by a professional clinician, which incorporates the use of a tooth-whitening gel, supplemented by the Zoom! lamp. This bleaching process is clinically proven to lighten the discoloration of tooth enamel and dentin.

Teeth can become discolored by the use of chewing tobacco or drinking coffee, soda pop, red wine, or tea. The combination of the Zoom! whitening gel and the Zoom! lamp are specifically designed to target these discolorations and restore your pearly whites to there rightful brilliance.

What is the Zoom! procedure like

Normally, your dentist will recommend a cleaning be performed on your teeth before the Zoom! whitening procedure, to ensure the best possible results. After that, there will be a brief preparation period.

Next, your dentist will make upper and lower impressions of your teeth. These impressions are used to make custom bleaching trays for you to take home for any touch-ups that may be needed down the road.

A waterproof seal is then applied to the soft tissue areas around and inside your mouth. This protects these delicate areas from the bleaching gel and light.

Next, the Zoom! whitening gel is applied to the front surface of your teeth. The Zoom! lamp is then positioned to shine directly onto your smile. After 15 minutes the gel is removed, and reapplied. This is done once more, for a total of three 15 minute sessions.

The procedure wraps up with a quick 5 minute fluoride treatment and you are out the door with your home touch-up kit in less than one hour.

How does the Zoom! whitening process work

The Zoom! whitening procedure is based on a dual-sided approach to whitening the enamel and dentin of your smile.

The Zoom! light-activated whitening gels active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide. Upon application, the hydrogen peroxide breaks down, allowing oxygen to enter the tooth enamel and dentin, bleaching any colored substances found there, leaving the structure of the tooth completely unchanged. Hydrogen peroxide has been safely used on gums and other oral soft tissue for many years.

Subsequently, the Zoom! lamp aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide. One study has shown that the Zoom! light increases effectiveness of the whitening gel by 33%, allowing an average improvement of eight shades.

What kind of results can I expect

Most patients see an average of eight shades of improvement upon initial treatment. With proper dental hygiene and daily brushing and flossing, your teeth will always be whiter than before the treatment. Avoiding the above-stated causes of tooth discoloration will also greatly improve the life of your pearly whites. Each patient is normally provided with a supply of take-home whitening gel for later touch-ups.

Is the Zoom! whitening treatment safe

A clinical study performed by Loma Linda University on the effect of whitening gel on tooth enamel, confirmed that Zoom! is safe. The study concluded that Zoom! does not adversely affect the microhardness and surface morphology of human enamel.

A clinical study was conducted by Discus Dental to evaluate the efficacy of the Zoom! system. Fifty subjects participated in a study that showed that the average shade change with the Zoom! system is 8 shades and that the Zoom! system is safe and effective for whitening teeth rapidly. In addition, minimal sensitivity was noted during the study, with a significant number of patients reporting no sensitivity.

Individuals who are light-sensitive, including those undergoing Psoralen and UV Radiation (PUVA) therapy or other photo-chemotherapy, as well as patients with melanoma are encouraged to consider other whitening methods.

Patients taking light-sensitive drugs or substances should consult their doctor first.

Zoom! Is not recommended for children under the age of 13 and women who are pregnant or breast feeding.