Take-Home Teeth Whitening vs. ZOOM!
Take-Home Teeth Whitening vs. ZOOM!
If you’re considering professional teeth whitening, you have two options to choose from at our Newport Beach office: take-home trays or a same-day ZOOM! Whitening treatment.
How do you know which one is better for your lifestyle? Although both custom teeth whitening trays and ZOOM! Whitening have different advantages, your personal preferences and timeline will play a big role. Not all teeth bleaching treatments are the same, so here’s what you need to know before committing to one over the other.
Advantages of Take-Home Whitening Trays
A take-home whitening kit includes a set of custom trays. Each is snuggly fitted to your unique smile, hugging every curve of each tooth. This design makes it possible to apply the gel evenly for optimal contact and consistent results.
Most people who are whitening their teeth for the first time will want to wear their kit for at least an hour a day, 10-14 days in a row. Depending on the type of gel that Dr. Yazdan suggests, some blends are also safe to sleep in. Used as directed, you’ll see multiple shades of improvement within the first several days with full results visible at the end of the two weeks.
One of the biggest conveniences of a take-home whitening kit is that you can touch up whenever you need to. We recommend a brief session (or three) after each of your six-month cleanings. If you’re someone who drinks a bit more coffee or tea, you may want to re-apply the gel more frequently, such as every 3-4 months.
All in all, the biggest advantages of a take-home kit include:
- More flexibility
- Easy touch-ups
- More effective than over-the-counter products
- Reduced sensitivity
- Cost-effective
- Easy to use
Advantages of ZOOM! Whitening
ZOOM! Whitening is a professional in-office teeth whitening system. The process involves applying a concentrated gel directly to your teeth and then activating the stain oxidation process with a bright light. We’ll rinse your teeth and re-apply the gel again for another 15-minute round of whitening. Depending on the results between each application, we usually have to apply it 3-4 times. Since everyone’s smile is different, this can equate to anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half for your appointment.
The biggest advantage of ZOOM! Whitening is that your full teeth bleaching results are seen in just one trip to our Newport Beach dentist’s office. There’s no need to come back to pick up trays, buy gel refills, or apply the product at home every day.
When you select an in-office whitening treatment, you get perks like:
- Same-day results
- No gels or trays to use
- Perfect for last-minute events
- Only takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete
Is Teeth Bleaching Safe?
Absolutely. Our Newport Beach cosmetic dentist will thoroughly screen your teeth before recommending a teeth whitening regimen. Once we’ve determined your teeth and gums are healthy, you can choose between either teeth whitening treatment.
For our patients who have a bit more sensitive teeth, a take-home teeth bleaching kit may be the better choice. Simply because you can adjust the application process a bit more. For example, you might want to apply the whitening gel once every other day instead of each day. Or you can alternate your whitening sessions with using sensitivity toothpaste.
Something to Keep in Mind
No matter which type of teeth whitening treatment you choose, your teeth are porous and can absorb new stains over time. That’s why it’s so important to minimize your contact with more problematic types of foods and liquids. If you’re not able to drink through a straw (that doesn’t necessarily go with a glass of red wine now, does it?) try to rinse your mouth out well with water, minimizing stain particle contact with your teeth. The same can be said when you’re eating tomato-based sauces or curries.
Scheduling regular checkups is also important since we can polish off any new superficial stains that accumulate between visits.
Long-term results are easily achievable if you decide to go ahead and invest in a set of home trays to keep on hand. Even if you decide that you want your initial whitening treatment to be a same-day application.
Help Your Teeth Look Their Best
The Center For Restorative & Cosmetic Dentistry offers both popular teeth whitening systems to meet the diverse needs of our Newport Beach patients. If you’re still torn as to whether you should get custom teeth whitening trays or have your smile brightened in a day with ZOOM! Whitening, we’ll be happy to help guide you through the decision process.
Brightening your enamel helps teeth look naturally healthier and more youthful. When your smile looks its brightest, it’s the foundation to everything that comes next.
Contact our Newport Beach cosmetic dentistry office today to reserve a consultation.
About Dr. Yazdan
