ZOOM® vs. custom trays vs. whitening strips: which whitening is right?

How do whitening strips work?

Whitening strips are the simplest option, and you can buy them at the drug store. The catch is that the concentration of bleaching agent in them is low, so it takes a good two weeks for most people to see a result. They can also be a little awkward to put on.

If you have rotated, missing or crowded teeth, the strips may not sit flat against every tooth, and you can end up with uneven bleaching or spots. We have had patients with straight teeth use them with limited success. For a quick touch up that is inexpensive and temporary, they can help.

What are custom made whitening trays?

At home whitening uses a mild bleaching agent such as carbamide peroxide in a tray. The tray sits on your teeth for several minutes to a couple of hours, over a period of several days.

Patients at Pearl Dental Care report that the moderately priced GO brand of whitening trays is the most popular, both for convenience and for price. The professional version has a stronger concentration and better fitting trays. Better fitting trays mean less sensitivity, because the gel stays in contact with the teeth instead of leaking onto the gums.

Trays also give you more control over the color. If you want a whiter smile, you wear the trays more days. If the color matches nicely after a few days, you can stop there. When we are redoing multiple crowns, we may suggest whitening the opposite arch first so the new crowns can be matched to a brighter shade.

What is ZOOM in-office whitening?

Many patients are busy, or know they will not stick with wearing trays at night. For them, we added the ZOOM light process. It is popular because it takes very little time and produces faster results.

Here is the process. First the teeth are prepared and the lips and gums are protected with a gel or a thin rubber shield, leaving just the teeth exposed. A special ZOOM light then activates a gel placed over the teeth. That oxygenates debris in the outer microscopic tubules of the tooth so it comes clean, and the teeth look whiter. The whole process takes just over one hour, and you simply relax in the chair.

Some patients feel minor sensitivity to cold for a few hours afterward. It usually fades quickly once the outer layer of the tooth reforms. We suggest skipping coffee, tea and colored berries for the first couple of days, and we can provide a special toothpaste or a touch up kit to keep teeth white and reduce sensitivity.

How fast does whitening work?

It depends on several things: your age, your diet, how dark your teeth are, and whether the shade sits in the yellow and grey range or the purple and grey range. Berries, smoking, dark soda, coffee and tea all play a part. Certain nuts and certain medications have been known to cause dark stains as well.

Everyone whitens at a different rate. One person might see a noticeable change in two weeks, while another sees improvement in two days.

Will whitening lighten my crowns and fillings?

No. Crowns in the front teeth, large fillings and partial dentures will not whiten. In that case we may make a customized tray or suggest another approach so the result still looks even.

How long the results last

Results vary, and so does how long teeth stay white. Your diet, smoking, coffee and tea, your home care and the restorations next to the tooth all factor in. Professional cleanings, flossing and limiting dark drinks help keep a smile bright longer, and it is fine to use maintenance trays again later to keep it up. If the discoloration is deep, or there is also chipping, rotation or spacing, porcelain veneers may be the better option.

To ask a question or book a visit, call Pearl Dental Care at (630) 810-9940 or visit us at 331 W 63rd St, Westmont, IL 60559.

This guide is educational only. Your dentist will tailor any plan at your visit.