Zoom Whitening is an in-office bleaching process that is widely known for its ability to quickly brighten teeth from the effects of discoloration.
The complete procedure takes about one hour, but a preliminary evaluation and teeth cleaning is recommended prior to the treatment.
Once the lips and gums are safely covered, the dentist will apply the patented Zoom hydrogen peroxide whitening gel.
Zoom incorporates a special light that penetrates the teeth to break up stains and discoloration. During the process, the patient is free to relax, watch TV, or listen to music.
Tooth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure that lightens teeth and helps to remove stains and discoloration.
It is the most popular treatment by both men and women alike and the treatments available range from one-hour one-time dental visits to take-home do-it-yourself kits.
It is popular because it can significantly improve the appearance of your teeth at much less cost and inconvenience than other techniques.
Yellow or stained teeth are a common problem most Americans will develop at some point in their lives but can remedy with proper treatment.
Our teeth contain enamel, a porcelain-like surface that started out sparkling white. Tooth enamel is designed to protect the teeth from the effects of chewing, gnashing, trauma and acid attacks caused by sugar.
Over time, our enamel starts to hold stains within its pores and becomes more transparent and permits the yellow color of dentin, the tooth’s core material, to show through.
As more stains and debris accumulate because of normal wear and tear and eating habits, the teeth develop a dull, lackluster appearance.
Tooth whitening exists to remove the stains and debris associated with diet and aging, and there are various solutions available.
Causes of Tooth Staining
Food and diet are the most common culprits of teeth discoloration, but there are a number of causes that can incite discolored teeth. Below is a list of the top causes of teeth stains and discoloration:
Medicine– Some over-the-counter medications and antibiotics can dull your teeth. Minocycline, a derivative of Tetracycline (a bacteria-fighting antibiotic) has been shown to turn teeth yellow in small children and can cause a permanent bluish-gray stain in adults.
There are certain antihistamines that can also discolor teeth. Your dentist will able to tell you if your medications are impacting the color of your teeth and if there may be alternatives to their use.
Excessive Fluoride– Fluoride in large concentrations can cause chalky white spots to appear on your teeth.
Fluoride is generally good for teeth however people can get too much fluoride from drinking water with high concentrations of fluoride, or from excessive use of fluoride-containing toothpaste.
A good suggestion would be to use a sensible pea-sized amount of toothpaste each time you brush.
Genetics and Aging– As you age the enamel of your teeth wears thin and the natural yellow or brown color of the underlying dentin layer shows through.
Also, genetics play a role as some people just have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.
Dental Damage– Trauma such as injury or falls can produce sizable cracks in the teeth, which collect large amounts of stains and debris.
Dark Drinks– A good rule of thumb here is that “any drink that can stain your carpet can stain your teeth.”
Coffee, tea, and red wine are well known for their tooth staining capabilities; however other dark liquids such as fruit juice, soda, and even beer can damage your smile.
Drinking through a straw to protect your front teeth or swigging some water around after drinking dark fluids can offset their staining power.
Colorful Foods– The habitual consumption of deep colored heavily pigmented foods such as cherries, blueberries, cranberries and soy sauce can quickly stain teeth.
To avoid this brush your teeth soon after eating these types of foods.
Bad Oral Hygiene– An obvious reason for dull or lackluster teeth, poor oral hygiene means that stain-producing substances are not routinely removed from your teeth and will allow bacteria to build up.
The more you brush and floss properly the better chance you have at fighting off yellow and green stains that can result from bad habits.
Types of Tooth Stains
There are two types of staining as related to teeth: Extrinsic Staining and Intrinsic Staining
Extrinsic Staining
Extrinsic stains are caused by external factors such as coffee, red wine, tea, other dark-colored foods and drinks, tobacco and routine wear and tear.
Essentially they are a natural part of life but they are unsightly and can be removed. Superficial extrinsic stains can be removed with good hygiene techniques such as regular brushing and dental check-ups with cleanings.
More stubborn stains can be removed with more involved efforts like teeth bleaching or whitening.
According to the FDA, the difference between bleaching and whitening is that the term “bleaching” is permitted to be used only when the teeth can be whitened beyond their natural color and when the products contain bleach.
Whitening refers to restoring a tooth’s surface color by removing dirt and debris.
Intrinsic Staining
Intrinsic stains occur much deeper in the tooth than extrinsic stains, forming in the interior of teeth. They can result from trauma, aging, exposure to minerals (like tetracycline), during tooth formation and/or excessive ingestion of fluoride.
Zoom Teeth Whitening Procedure
In-Office Whitening– In-office whitening offers the benefits of a significant color change in the shortest period of time.
This process involves the use of a high-concentration peroxide gel, applied to the teeth by your dentist who ensures that the gums and mouth are protected from the application.
The gel remains on the teeth for several 15 to 20-minute intervals that add up to about an hour.
The advantage of these procedures is that the results are immediate as opposed to take-home kits or over-the-counter whitening.
Zoom Whitening Cost
On average Zoom whitening costs about $500 but may greatly depend on your dentist and if there is a need for a pretreatment process.
This price includes a post-treatment application of fluoride (1.1% neutral sodium fluoride gel) in the form of take-home trays, and continued teeth whitening treatments with an at-home whitener.
It is uncommon for dental insurance providers to cover the cost of a cosmetic dentistry treatment such as Zoom teeth whitening however you may want to contact them to see if they will consider covering the cost.