Category Archives: Teeth Whitening

Zoom Whitening for Tetracycline Stains

I talked to my dentist about solutions for my tetracycline stains. I cannot afford porcelain veneers and told him that. His suggestion is that I use Zoom Whitening because it is very strong. Before I get my hopes up about this solution, I wanted to get a second opinion. Do you think this is a viable solution for my smile?

Kelli


Dear Kelli,

Zoom Whitening Logo

I appreciate that your dentist is trying to find a solution for you that does not include porcelain veneers. He was sort of on the right track. If you are persistent enough, and I mean really persistent, then teeth whitening can greatly improve the look of your smile, even with tetracycline stains. It will not look as beautiful as porcelain veneers would when done by and expert cosmetic dentist, but it can make a big difference. The downside is that it will take many months.

Because of the amount of whitening necessary to make a real impact, I don’t think Zoom Whitening is your best option. It is more expensive than tray whitening and you will need so many treatments that it will not be cost effective.

My suggestion is that you have at-home tray whitening done. Your dentist will make you custom-fitted trays for your teeth and then can provide you with whitening gel that you will wear at your convenience. The longer you can wear them each day, the faster your teeth will whiten. It is much more affordable for you to keep purchasing new gel to put in the bleaching trays, than it will be to do additional Zoom treatments.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Zoom Whitening After Spots from Braces?

My daughter had gotten her braces off several weeks ago and there were white spots on her teeth. Our orthodontist told me to see our dentist who would know how to fix the white spots. Our dentist suggested we whiten her teeth. Because we were in such a hurry to get her teeth looking normal and attractive, she suggested Zoom Whitening, which is a new procedure she had started doing. We did it but it made the spots a lot worse. Did she do something wrong? She did tell me we’d be one of the first patients to use the procedure.

Kelly


Dear Kelly,

A patient under a Zoom Whitening Light
Zoom Whitening

I am sorry your daughter has been getting such poor care. I think your dentist is well intentioned but doesn’t understand the principles of teeth whitening very well.

When teeth are whitened, they are whitened uniformly. That means the white spots will get whiter along with the remainder of your daughter’s teeth. Zoom whitening is very effective, which meant it just whitened the teeth uniformly faster.

The Cause of White Spots on Teeth

When there are white spots on teeth after braces, it is because of decalcification. This happens when the teeth are not adequately cleaned during the time they are wearing braces. It can be hard to get around all those metal wires and brackets.

There is a tooth mousse that could help with the decalcification, however it does not usually help with the esthetics. One way that will deal with both issues is dental bonding.

However, dental bonding is a very advanced cosmetic dental procedure. As your dentist did not have a grasp of the principles of teeth whitening, which is the simplest cosmetic procedure, she will not be able to do the dental bonding well.

My suggestion is that you take your daughter to an expert cosmetic dentist to have the dental bonding done.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Will Zoom Whitening Refresh My Porcelain Veneers?

I have had my porcelain veneers for a little over seven months. Everything was fine, but recently I have noticed that they have begun taking on stains. I tried over-the-counter teeth whitening strips, but they do not seem to be helping. My dentist does zoom whitening. Would that help?

Laurie

Dear Laurie,

a porcelain veneer being held up to a tooth

The glaze on porcelain veneers are very stain resistant. In fact, they are more stain resistant than your natural teeth. If they are picking up stains then something has damaged the glazing that protects them.

You mentioned that you have had them for a bit over seven months. This is enough time for you to go in for a check up and cleaning.  It is possible that the hygienist was unaware that using a power prophy jet or acidulated fluoride could damage the glazing.

My suggestion is you ask your hygienist what he or she used during your appointment. If they damaged the veneers then they should be the ones to repair them.

Unfortunately, Zoom Whitening will not help. Teeth whitening only works on natural tooth structure, not dental work. This is also why the over the counter strips didn’t work.

The good news is that there is a way to repair the glazing. If your dentist does not know how, have him cover the expense of having an expert cosmetic dentist do that for you.

Once they are repaired, I recommend you use Supersmile Toothpaste. It is specifically designed to keep dental work in top shape. It can even remove coffee stains without any damage to your porcelain veneers.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Zoom Whitening Left One Tooth Lighter than Others

Two days ago I had Zoom whitening done. It all went pretty well, and I had very little pain or sensitivity after. It didn’t burn my gums or anything like that. I was surprised because a friend of mine did experience those things, but she does have extra sensitive teeth.

But now I can’t help but notice my right front tooth, the one next to the eye tooth, is lighter than all the others! At first, I thought I was imagining things, but I’ve looked at it under different lights and it’s definitely lighter than its neighbors. I asked my wife and she can see it too.

Why would this happen? What should I do?

Thanks,
Eric

Dear Eric,

Zoom whitening patient under the light

 

For those who are unfamiliar with this procedure, Zoom Whitening works by having a professional place a hydrogen peroxide based gel on the teeth, which is then activated by shining a specific type of light upon it. It will whiten any natural tooth structure, but will not whiten dental work, such as tooth-colored fillings or crowns, whether porcelain fused to metal, zirconia, or veneers.

The light activation allows you to get your teeth completely whitened in just one appointment.

What Would Cause One Tooth To Be Lighter Than The Others?

There are a few reasons this might happen. If the neighboring teeth have more filling material than this tooth, it could appear lighter due to the higher presence of natural tooth structure that is responding to the whitening agent. If this tooth happens to have an already-light crown or veneer, this may occur.

Sometimes it may be due to differences in the application of the gel, if it had been applied unevenly. Other times it may simply be caused by the original shade of the tooth itself, compared to the others. These shade differences occur naturally at times, and a tooth that was slightly lighter to begin with may end up lighter at the finish.

 

What Can Be Done?

Call your dentist; they should be able to get you in for an evaluation. If this was not due to an existing filling, crown or veneer, the doctor may choose to do a touch-up, where additional Zoom whitening treatment is given to the neighboring teeth to see if they can be lifted to match the shade of the lighter tooth. This may take a few appointments. Barring that, you may consider bonding or a porcelain veneer to attain the shade match desired. Many options exist, but they all begin by calling the office.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Zoom Whitening and a Date on the Same Day

I finally talked my parents into letting me get Zoom Whitening done on my teeth. The appointment is for February 13. I did that in the hopes that if Brandon asked me out for Valentine’s Day that I’d have a beautiful smile for our date. I’ve been waiting for him to ask me out for weeks. Well, today he asked me out for Valentine’s Day, but wouldn’t you know it, he needs us to go out on the 13th because his parents are making him babysit his siblings so THEY can go out on the 14th. Will it be okay to go out with him on the same day? My aunt had Zoom done and she said her teeth hurt afterward. She does have sensitive teeth though and I don’t think I do.

Brianna

Dear Brianna,

Patient under a Zoom Whitening light
Zoom Whitening Light

Congratulations on the Zoom Whitening and the dream date! I don’t know if your aunt told you what the procedure entails, but I’ll give you a quick rundown. They will put some retractors in your mouth to isolate your teeth and gums. That is not nearly as scary as it sounds. It is mostly so you don’t have to hold your mouth open and still yourself the whole time, which would be crazy hard.

After that they’ll put this material on your gums. It is designed to protect your gums from both the whitening material and the light that will be used on your teeth. From there, the Zoom Whitening gel is applied to your teeth and you sit under the light in small installments. The whole process takes about an hour. It’s usually easy enough where people don’t even need a local anesthetic.

That being said, some people have more sensitive teeth than others. One way around this is to ask your dentist for a fluoride varnish to help lessen the sensitivity. It is also appropriate to take some over the counter pain killers, such as acetaminophen.

You know, you could even make this a two night date. At the end of your outing, you could offer to help him babysit his siblings the next day. It’s always a good idea to see what a guy is like around kids.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Zoom Whitening and Blood Thinners

I have been wanting to whiten my teeth for some time now. I think I want to do it quickly with that in office procedure that uses the lights. The one thing that is holding me back is that I am on blood thinners because of a heart attack. I have been stable for a while on the same dose and my heart is healthier. Is there a risk for people on blood thinners with this procedure? If so, do I have any options?

Annie

Dear Annie,

Patient under a Zoom Whitening light
Zoom Whitening Light

When you are on blood thinners is important to avoid invasive procedures because the medicine is designed to stop blood clotting in order to protect you from another cardiac event. If you needed an invasive procedure, your doctor would ask you to stop the medications for a while.

The procedure you are referring to is Zoom Whitening and it is an effective way to whiten your teeth quickly. It is not an invasive procedure and as such will not generally cause any bleeding.

That being said, your oral health is a big factor in that. If you have gum disease, your gums will bleed much more easily, even at the slightest pressure on them. I would want to make sure your oral hygiene is in top shape for two months before proceeding. You will need to brush twice a day and floss once a day. Make certain there is no blood on your floss every time before even considering moving forward.

You will also want to have a thorough professional cleaning done as well. Otherwise, your results will be splotchy because there will be a film over parts of your teeth.

I hope this helps you make a decision. Consult with your dentist and see about the health of your gums. If there is any periodontal disease present, that will need to be addressed before moving forward.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Zoom Whitening After Gum Surgery

I had gum surgery to fix some recessive areas. I love the results, but now am wanting to improve my smile even more. Is it possible to get zoom whitening done or do I need to wait for a period of time?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

Zoom Whitening Logo

Congrats on the gum procedure and feeling good about your smile! That is exciting. I can understand the desire to keep improving the appearance. Once you get a taste of beauty, you just want to do what you can.

You did not mention which gum grafting procedure you had done. Different ones have a varied amount of healing requirements because of the differences in invasiveness. Typically, you need between four to eight weeks of healing before you are ready for any other oral procedure.

With teeth whitening, such as Zoom Whitening, it is important that you pass the following checkpoints:

  • No missing fillings or even damaged fillings
  • No active, untreated decay
  • No gum issues, including periodontal disease and gum injury

Additionally, you will have wanted to have a recent cleaning. Otherwise, you risk splotchy results from calculus being on the surface of the teeth.

I would simply have a consultation appointment with your dentist to see if your oral health is ready for the next step. You’ll find your smile’s appearance improves dramatically once you have them whitened, taking years off your appearance.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Getting White Teeth Fast

I had read on a dental blog similar to yours that over the counter Crest whitestrips actually works. I’ve been using them, but they seem to take forever. I want really white teeth, but need it faster because I have an event coming up. Is there a product for that?

Misty

Dear Misty,

Zoom Whitening Logo

While it is true that Crest Whitestrips really will whiten your teeth, the whitening gel concentration is pretty weak. That is why it is taking so long. It’s not Crest’s fault. Because they are over-the-counter, there are regulations on the strength they can use in order to protect patients.

If you are looking for something to get your teeth really white really fast, than I will suggest you see a dentist who offers Zoom Whitening. This is a procedure that you will do in-office and your teeth will be white in just one appointment. The gel is highly concentrated. Plus, there is a special light they use to activate the gel and kick the whitening process into gear. You’ll get remarkable results.

Make sure you ask for a take home tray so you can do upkeep and touchups in a year or so. That will save you money in the long run.

Getting a Complete Smile Makeover

single porcelain veneer being placed

Another option you have, if you’ve ever considered a total smile makeover is to get porcelain veneers. These use tiny wafers of porcelain that can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth simultaneosly. It is the go-to for Hollywood to get that celebrity smile they all seem to have.

It is quite an advanced procedure, though. You won’t want to let just any dentist do it. They need training, technical skill, and artistry. We have an AACD accredited dentist on our staff which means he is in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country. If you decide you want to go the complete makeover route, find one in your area. If you have to drive to a nearby city or state, it will be worth it.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Tooth Mousse & Zoom Whitening

I have some white spot lesions on my teeth. My dentist prescribed tooth mousse for me. It is a nine week treatment. After that, if the white spots are not gone, then we will finish it up with Zoom Whitening because it is fast. However, we are hoping the mousse will take care of it on its own. Is there a chance that both those things together won’t work and I’ll need a third treatment?

Eve

Dear Eve,

someone getting zoom whitening
Zoom Whitening

I’m glad you wrote. Your dentist is sort of close on this, but not close enough for me to not give you some warnings. First, tooth mousse is a decent treatment option. However, I’m concerned he doesn’t understand the point of the treatment. It is designed to treat white spots, but mostly to remineralize the area.

White spots are precursors to decay. Using the tooth mousse will repair the demineralization that occurred to cause the spots in the first place. The company makes no claim that it will change the aesthetics of the tooth.

As for the Zoom Whitening finishing that up, it will actually make things worse. Teeth whitening, no matter what method you choose, will whiten your teeth evenly. This means the white spots will get whiter along with the rest of your teeth.

While the remineralization is a great idea. The thing that will make the teeth even in color is dental bonding. However, I would not ask your dentist to do the bonding himself. This is an advanced cosmetic procedure. If he did not understand how teeth whitening works, he will not be able to do the bonding well.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentists Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.

Should She Finish This Smile REconstruction?

I have worn teeth because of teeth grinding. I didn’t realize I was doing it and my last dentist never mentioned it. However, when I moved I switched dentists because of the location and this dentist pointed out a whole bunch of things I didn’t know about. The grinding makes sense and does explain why my teeth have become more sensitive in recent years. She mentioned that I would need a mouth guard to protect my teeth from nighttime grinding and to repair the teeth, most of them would need crowns. We did the lowers first and it was a bit traumatic for me. I tend to have trouble with change. Plus, I have had some gum inflammation. My dentist wants to finish the procedure, but I am hesitant. My teeth aren’t hurting as much anymore and I miss my old smile. It wasn’t perfect, but it had a quirky nature I enjoyed and fit my personality. Do I really need to finish? Could I just whiten the tops?

Patty

Dear Patty,

Woman Smiling.

I have not seen your case, so it would be tricky to give you a definitive answer, but I can give some general guidelines.

First, change is hard for some. I know. Though in my experience, when a case is done by a skilled cosmetic dentist patients are thrilled when the results are finished and grateful they went through the trouble. It’s a bit like remodeling a house. It’s inconvenient, but when it is done you have the home of your dreams. This leads me to the quirkiness issue.

These are your teeth. If you want quirky in your smile, by golly, your dentist and their ceramist can put it there. In fact, because most patients want a perfect, flawless smile, my guess is they’d be thrilled at the chance to put some character in a smile.

Finally, while you could just whiten the upper teeth, dental ceramics will be harder on your upper teeth than your natural tooth structure was. If you have structural loss from teeth grinding, that would include the upper teeth. I am afraid only doing half the fix will actually make things worse for you in the long run.

This blog is brought to you by Lafayette, LA Dentist Drs. Foreman and Thimmesch.