Here at Leland Dental we are excited about the results we are seeing using the Zoom™ whitening protocol. It is the safest and most effective whitening systems we’ve used in the practice. Zoom can give you a brighter, healthier-looking smile in as little as one day. If you have watched any recent TV makeover programs, you may have witnessed Zoom in action. It produces extremely fast results. If you want to whiten your smile on a limited time line, Zoom is an excellent option.
A beautiful smile can boost your confidence in any situation—from a vacation photo op to a job interview or wedding ceremony—which should be reason enough to consider paying us a visit. The first step in improving your smile is to establish a regimen of regular exams and stable, good oral health. This, in combination with quality home-care of brushing and flossing, will steadily, if less rapidly, improve the color and overall health of your teeth and gums. For young healthy teeth and some fortunate older ones, disciplined cleaning alone may be enough to restore a smile to its natural beauty.
If staining and discoloration have dulled your smile, schedule a preliminary exam in which we’ll identify causes and determine the depth or degree of staining. Almost anyone may benefit from tooth whitening. However, it may not be as effective for some as it is for others. You are probably aware of the most common causes of tooth discoloration – yellow staining from aging, tobacco, dark cola, tea, coffee and red wine. Whitening will achieve the greatest success with these kinds of stains. On the other hand, you may have grayish discoloration because you were exposed to certain antibiotics or excessive fluoride as a young child. Whitening may provide less dramatic results in this case, but will provide significant improvement.
As with any other whitening product, Zoom will not lighten existing porcelain, composite or any other restorative material. If your front teeth have restorations, we might advise initial whitening with Zoom, followed (in a week or so) by replacement of those older, dark fillings with lighter composites that disappear into your newly whitened smile. The results can be stunning!
Once we have examined your teeth we will discuss your needs and preferences. If you are a candidate for Zoom whitening, we will work with you to design a customized treatment plan. Next step is the Zoom whitening procedure, which, as mentioned, usually takes a single office visit. The active ingredient in the gel is hydrogen peroxide – but not the low-level compound found in over-the-counter products. It’s highly concentrated, such that we spend the first 20 minutes of your whitening treatment applying protective coverage to the entire gum and mouth area.
Correctly applied, Zoom whitening will not hurt the enamel of your teeth. However, one of the risks with any whitening/bleach product, including toothpaste and mouthwash, is the possibility of heightened sensitivity. Whitening products can instigate tooth sensitivity, or increase it if it’s already present. This can be more of a risk if gums have receded, uncovering the highly sensitive root of a tooth. If you have ever overused an over-the-counter whitener in an attempt to improve initially disappointing results, you probably have learned by hard experience just how painful and sensitive mouth tissue can become when irritated.
Once the soft tissue is protected, we apply Zoom whitening. As the hydrogen peroxide in the gel is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, lightening any colored substances, while leaving the structure of the tooth unchanged. A proprietary lamp aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. The gel remains in place for 15 minutes while the light is activated. During this time, you can relax and watch TV or listen to music. The gel is applied for three to four 15-minute sessions of light activation. Immediately afterwards, a sensitivity-reducing fluoride paste-gel is applied to your teeth. Total procedure time is usually about 90 minutes.
Whitening treatments can work wonders on existing stains. Some patients will never need to repeat the whitening process. However, most of us will likely continue to enjoy the stain-producing coffee, wine or soft drinks that we love so well. Smoking will immediately begin to stain teeth and is definitely proscribed. Natural aging will continue, of course; your teeth may eventually become discolored again.
The effects of in-office whitening can last up to five years with good oral habits. In contrast, over-the-counter methods last from six months to one year. You can lengthen the lifespan of whitening and help combat recurring discoloration with a bit of maintenance. I generally recommend at home touch-up whitening for patients on a three-month basis or each time they have a cleaning. We can also provide you with professional daily cleaning products that will help keep you smile pearly-white.
Call Leland Dental at 781-826-8395 or contact us online at LelandDental.com for more information on Zoom™ Whitener or to schedule an appointment
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