Question:

Zoom! Teeth Whitening seems so convenient, cost effective and accessible. It seems that every dentist offers Zoom! Teeth whitening. Why should I come to a professional such as yourself for custom teeth whitening? (Dr. Muslin – maybe focus on “every dentist can do it” – i.e. a mass production product where no skill is required.

Answer:

After bleaching teeth for over 15 years, buying the Zoom II whitening system and using it, seeing patients that had Brite Smile whitening and Zoom whitening in other dental offices and trying many different methods, I have come to the conclusion that the best whitening systems are systems that are customized to the patient’s individual needs. The cost is generally not more expensive to whiten teeth using the best teeth whitening methods. Some patients have yellow teeth, some patients have highly mineralized teeth, other patients have tetracycline stained teeth, some patients have very sensitive teeth, while other patients have grey or very translucent teeth.

I have found that the systems that use a high powered light generate a lot of heat that can raise the nerve temperature inside the teeth or burn the gums or lips. I have also found that the teeth bleaching systems that use a light have results that do not last as long and can make the teeth more sensitive to temperature. We have had patients claim it was painful and the results did not last. They said, “a month later and my teeth were yellow again”.

The idea behind the light systems is that any dentist can do it. No thinking required, just follow the directions. The best teeth whitening systems may use one material one week and another complimentary material the next. Rather than just one method, we have several choices available to get the best possible results for our patients. The ability to customize the duration of exposure, strength of material, eliminate the heat from a light is a big advantage over the idea that one system fits everyone.

With increased duration of exposure with a gentle teeth whitening material we get results that last longer and bleaches the teeth to a natural whiter color.