What is Zoom Teeth Whitening?

Zoom is a popular and professional teeth whitening treatment, which means it is completed in-office. This chairside treatment can whiten teeth up to eight shades after one or two sessions. It is also FDA-approved and takes one hour to complete. 

Professional whitening treatments like Zoom are more effective than over-the-counter products in terms of speed and degree of whitening achieved.

Zoom is very effective because Dr. Lanza and his staff are qualified to use higher concentrations of hydrogen and carbamide peroxide than over-the-counter (OTC) products. OTC teeth whitening treatments contain between 5 and 10% hydrogen peroxide, while Zoom contains 25% hydrogen peroxide. 

Who is a Candidate for Zoom Whitening?

You may be a candidate for Zoom whitening if you:

•  Have extrinsic tooth discoloration, which is caused by consuming dark-pigmented foods and drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, dark berries, and tomato sauce. Poor oral hygiene and tobacco products can also cause this type of discoloration.6
•  Have intrinsic tooth discoloration, which refers to deeper staining. Natural aging, certain medications like tetracycline, and tooth defects/injuries can cause intrinsic stains.6
•  Are not pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
•  Do not have untreated dental conditions like cavities, gum disease, exposed tooth roots, or worn down enamel. 
•  Do not have braces on your teeth.
•  Do not have veneers or crowns on your teeth (they don’t whiten).

How Does Zoom Whitening Work?

Zoom treatment is quick and straightforward. The process consists of the following steps:

Consultation and Planning 

To determine if Zoom whitening is right for you, you’ll need to set up an appointment with Dr. Lanza. During this consultation, he will ask you some questions about your lifestyle and oral hygiene habits. Then he’ll perform a detailed examination to ensure you don’t have cavities, worn down enamel, exposed roots, or gum disease. 

Also, let Dr. Lanza know if you plan to get veneers or bonding treatment, which will alter the shade of your teeth. They can try to match your teeth to the desired shade of the dental restoration. 

Zoom whitening is safe to use on crowns, veneers, fillings, and other dental restorations.  But they will not whiten like your natural teeth.

Zoom Procedure: Step-By-Step

In general, Zoom whitening treatment includes six steps:

1. Before the procedure, the dentist will cover your gums and lips, leaving only your teeth exposed. 
2. Then they will apply the Zoom whitening gel, which contains 25% hydrogen peroxide, directly to your teeth. 
3. After the gel is applied, they’ll use a specially designed Zoom light that helps speed up the teeth whitening process. Together, the gel and light remove surface stains by penetrating deep into your tooth enamel. 
4. More gel is applied every 15 minutes, and the entire procedure takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete. 
5. Once the procedure is done, they will rinse the whitening gel off your teeth and apply a fluoride-based gel to reduce any sensitivity. 
6. The results last between 6 months and a year with proper care. You can set up retouch appointments during routine dental exams. 

If you have a strong gag reflex or anxiety, it may be difficult to undergo the entire procedure. Talk with your Dr. Lanza or a staff member beforehand to make sure Zoom is right for you. 

Aftercare Tips

Dr. Lanza will provide you with an at-home retouch kit after your Zoom whitening session. This kit includes custom-fitted whitening trays, hydrogen peroxide gel, and instructions. Your dentist will let you know how often to use the kit to keep your teeth bright.

In addition to the retouch kit, you can keep your teeth white longer by limiting your intake of staining foods and drinks. This includes coffee, tea, red wine, and dark soda, among others. Tobacco and poor oral hygiene can also cause tooth discoloration over time.