Teeth Whitening

our practice

Teeth Whitening

This is the procedure of making teeth whiter, and therefore more attractive. Our office uses several methods: Zoom!, passive tray whitening, and professional strength white strips.

There are many reasons why teeth can become discolored. The major reasons are:

• Diet – Drinking tea, coffee, red wine or other food and drink with strong colorings.
• Smoking – Smoking can result in teeth appearing a yellowish color
• Age – As people grow older their teeth can become darker naturally.
• Tooth decay, fillings and tartar build-up can also be a cause of the changing color.
• Trauma – Teeth have nerves and blood vessels inside them. If these nerves and blood vessels are damaged the tooth may become darker even several years after the trauma.
• Medication – Staining can be caused by diseases or medicines. Tetracycline, an antibiotic, will cause a distinct discoloration if given to a child whose adult teeth are still developing.

Zoom! is a revolutionary tooth whitening procedure. It’s safe, effective and fast, very fast. In just over an hour, your teeth will be dramatically whiter. The convenience of Zoom! in comparison to days of using strips or wearing trays makes it the perfect choice for the busy individual. The Zoom! Whitening procedure is simple. It begins with a short preparation to isolate your lips and gums. The clinician then applies the proprietary Zoom! whitening gel that is activated by a specially designed light. Teeth typically become at least six to ten shades whiter, sometimes more.  You’ll be amazed with the results. In most cases, teeth get even whiter the first few days after the procedure. Trays with gel are recommended afterward for maximum whitening and maintenance.

The tray method involves having impressions taken from which laboratory-fabricated custom vinyl trays are made. A carbamide peroxide gel is placed in these trays and the trays with gel are worn for about 3 hours, or overnight. The entire process takes 3-4 weeks of daily use. Three different strengths of gel may be used, however the higher the strength the greater the likelihood of reactions or tooth sensitivity. The tray method is recommended for badly stained teeth, such as tetracycline staining, and it may take several months of use to see significant color improvement. For maintenance of whitened teeth the trays should be used every several months.

The end results, whether using trays at home or doing Zoom!, are the same. The cost of the tray method is about half compared to Zoom!, and there is usually less post-treatment sensitivity.