You may be thinking of having your teeth professionally whitened at your dentist's office. It's possible you may have already tried at-home whitening products like toothpaste or bleaching gel, but might not be satisfied with the results. Professionally whitened teeth tend to have better results than at-home products, as they tend to be chemically stronger.

You might have heard of Zoom teeth whitening and are considering trying it. Should you have this procedure done? It depends on your whitening needs and what your dentist says.

Before the Whitening

Your dentist will give your teeth and gums a thorough examination before the whitening to determine whether or not it's a good fit for your needs. If it is determined that Zoom whitening will brighten your teeth and your gums are healthy, you can then make an appointment for the procedure.

The entire whitening will take up to an hour because there are several steps involved.

The Procedure

Before the dentist begins the procedure, your hygienist will perform a regular teeth cleaning. This could include scaling and a fluoride treatment if deemed necessary. Once the cleaning is done, your teeth and gums are prepared by the dentist placing covers over your lips and gums.

Once you are prepared for the treatment, a gel is put on your teeth. The dentist will then take a light and run it across your teeth to activate the gel. The gel and light work together to penetrate into the teeth — without changing the structure of the teeth themselves— and break up stains, and help to remove discoloration.

This first exposure to the gel and light is done for several minutes. Then the gel is re-applied and the light is used again. This continues for up to an hour. This typically is done a few times until the whitening is complete.

After the Procedure

Once the procedure is complete, you will be given an after-care kit to take home with you. This is a touch-up kit to care for your teeth and keep them looking white. It will include whitening trays that are custom fitted to your teeth and gums that will act like an at-home Zoom whitening gel treatment without the light applied.

It is possible that you might experience some sensitivity after the treatment is done. The Zoom light does emit a small amount of heat and this can irritate your gums. If you are prone to sensitivity in your teeth and gums, ask your dentist to recommend an anti-sensitivity toothpaste or use one prior to the treatment.

To learn more, get in touch with a group like University Dental Group PA.