Dental Questions: Do whitening strips work?

Tooth whitening is the most commonly requested cosmetic procedure at dental offices nation wide. Lightening the shade of dental enamel can create a dramatic change that draws attention to your smile. As such, you have probably seen products like Crest WhiteStrips at your local pharmacy and wondered if they were worth the investment. Why would someone choose these over a professional bleaching treatment performed at a dental office? For these answers and more, read on!

Any tooth whitening product that works (from a scientific perspective) will have some concentration of a peroxide compound. Peroxide works by oxidizing the pigments that have leached into your teeth and removing their colors. Typically, dental products contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide suspended in some type of gel. 

The main difference between a whitening strip, a bleach tray and an in-office bleaching session is the concentration of peroxide. Since these compounds are slightly caustic, high levels of peroxide can cause gum irritation or discoloration. For an in-office whitening session, the gums can be safely guarded and isolated, allowing us to use a higher level of peroxide. As a result, you will see an almost instantaneous change in the shade of your dental enamel. With a product like WhiteStrips, the plastic tray is not custom molded to your teeth and is bound to contact your gums or become leaky out the sides. Hence, a lower concentration of peroxide must be used, with noticeable results taking longer to appear. 

Which type of whitening is best? That can only be answered on a patient-by-patient basis. For those looking for a cost effective change without a deadline, over-the-counter whitening strips are a great option. If you're looking for a single treatment that brings almost instant results, in-office bleaching might be better. It really depends on what you hope to accomplish and how much time you can devote to your treatment. If you would like to know more about tooth whitening, dental bleaching or other cosmetic procedures, please give our office a call!

Case Presentation: ZOOM Whitening

Take a look at the dramatic change we achieved in this patient using the ZOOM Whitening products. Can you believe this transformation only took a single office visit?

At a typical ZOOM appointment, we start by quickly polishing the teeth to remove any surface staining. Then, a special material is applied to the gums surrounding the teeth to protect them from the bleaching gel. The actual "bleach" is a special formulation of peroxide that is activated using the ZOOM light. The entire session takes about an hour and a half where you can relax, listen to Pandora music, watch cable TV or catch up on your favorite Netflix series! If you would like to know more about your bleaching options or to schedule a ZOOM appointment for yourself, please call or email our office.

Dental Questions: What's the difference between Zoom whitening and bleach trays?

A whitening procedure performed at our office in addition to Invisalign invisible braces. 

You have probably heard of two main types of bleaching systems offered at dental offices: "ZOOM" whitening and bleach trays. While they both achieve the same results, there are some differences between the two procedures that you should take note of:

ZOOM Whitening is the name brand for Phillip's in-office bleaching system. Here, the entire "whitening" procedure is performed in our exam rooms. We use a blocking material to shield your gums and apply several layers of concentrated peroxide gel to your teeth. A special light is utilized to speed up the chemical reaction by activating the gel. Overall, ZOOM takes about an hour and twenty minutes from being seated in a chair to leaving our office. In the meantime, you will be set up with Pandora music, cable TV or Netflix movies. While this is the fastest way to whiter teeth, it is also the most likely to cause temporary sensitivity issues afterwards. 

Bleach Trays are a home whitening system that is administered and monitored by a dentist. You will need an initial appointment for a consultation and impressions of your teeth. Later that day or the following day, your new bleach trays will be ready. You then perform the actual "whitening" at home using a peroxide gel (similar to ZOOM, but lower in concentration). Typically, patients are instructed to whiten for one hour once a day for 14 days, followed by once a month as needed. This type of whitening does work slower, but usually causes less sensitivity issues and can be adjusted to your personal comfort level. 

Overall, you can see the similarities and differences between ZOOM and bleach trays. Some of our patients even combine the two procedures- that is, have one ZOOM session and bleach trays made for maintenance (done in the same visit). Since both services rely on the same peroxide gel, they can be used together for additive action. If you have any further questions on bleaching, bleach trays or other cosmetic procedures, please give our office a call!