Teeth Whitening

If you’re still on the fence about trying our In-Office Whitening, or if you still want to know more about Zoom, feel free to give us a call and schedule a consultation with one of our dentists. When you’re at the initial consultation, one of our dentists will explain, in detail, every step of the procedure. They will then evaluate your teeth and gums, and ask you about your end goal. Lastly, they’ll talk to you about your different treatment options and you can also use this time to ask any questions that you may have.

There also may be times when one of our dentists recommends Zoom Whitening. For example, if you’re undergoing another kind of procedure, like having implants placed or receiving veneers. Zoom Whitening can help you end up with a more clean, natural look.

Unfortunately, it is possible that while at your consultation, your dentist may determine that you are not the right candidate for Zoom Whitening. It’s possible that the procedure would have adverse interactions with other work you’ve had done, and colors may not match.

Before booking your In-Office Zoom Whitening, you will have to have had a routine cleaning and exam done within the last six months. Having your teeth recently cleaned and polished will help them respond better to the whitening treatment. This is because the cleaning will remove any surface stains or plaque that have built up on your teeth. Having a recent exam before whitening is also important because it allows the dentist to evaluate your gums and identify any prior treatment done in the mouth. Then, on the day of your Zoom appointment, you will need to fill out some paperwork and sign a few consent forms.

The entire Zoom Teeth-Whitening procedure usually takes just about under two hours. You’ll start by filling out all the necessary paperwork and then the dental assistant will begin to prepare you for the procedure. Then, the assistant will take some impressions of your teeth to make your custom whitening trays. After that is completed, a dentist or hygienist will place a covering over your gums and lips so that only the teeth are visible. Then they will give you protective eyewear to help shield your eyes from the blue LED light. Then they will put a layer of the whitening gel on top of your teeth and put the Zoom lamp in place for 15 minutes.

This process will be repeated three to four times. Between each session, the assistant will check for progress. If they believe it’s needed, they will adjust the light or add more gel to your teeth.

Two-hours is a long time, so it may be hard to stay in the right position for each session, but we will do our best to help you stay comfortable. Once your full treatment session is finished, the dentist will coat your teeth in a gel that helps with remineralization and sensitivity. This particular gel helps greatly reduce sensitivity, which can occur in some patients after a Zoom Whitening treatment.

Once your treatment is finished, the assistant will get you all cleaned up, fit you with your whitening trays and then you’ll be free to go. It’s very important to know what you can and cannot consume immediately after your procedure (Hint: none of those staining we drinks mentioned earlier!). Resuming smoking, post-procedure, is also strongly discouraged. Doing so will rapidly reverse the whitening effects of the treatment and can cause even greater damage to your teeth.

About 3-4 weeks after your initial treatment, you can start using your custom trays for touch-ups if you feel you need to. Doing this monthly, will help preserve your bright, new smile!

The most important thing to consider when looking into Zoom Whitening is your sensitivity level. Tooth sensitivity can occur during and even after treatment. During the whitening process, the hydrogen peroxide gel removes a thin layer that rests on top of the tooth enamel.

This is called the pellicle. The pellicle, which is a thin, cell-membrane, keeps your teeth from being sensitive to hot and cold foods and drinks. Just be aware that your teeth may feel more sensitive after your treatment. Luckily, this layer will grow back within a couple of days.

Using Sensodyne Toothpaste and taking over-the-counter pain medication before your appointment can help lessen these side-effects.

A final consideration is that if you are pregnant, nursing, or under 13 years of age, then Zoom Whitening is not a recommended treatment for you.

After taking in all of this information, you may be wondering what all of this may cost. Our average cost for the entire procedure is around $500. This will also include the take-home kit and custom whitening trays you receive before you leave the office. We also currently accept CareCredit as a payment option to help alleviate the final cost of treatment.

Zoom Teeth Whitening is an extremely fast and effective way to brighten your smile. If you have any more questions not covered here, or if you want to find out how to schedule your Zoom Whitening consultation, please call us at (828) 693-8630.