take-home teeth whitening Archives

Can I Give My Leftover Zoom Whitening Gel to a Friend?

September 6, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I had Zoom whitening done about a year ago and the doctor gave me a tray and some gel to use at home for touch ups if I wanted. My teeth have retained their color and I’m still happy with them, but the stuff is just sitting around. My best friend has always wanted to try Zoom whitening, and I am thinking about giving her mine. I have four syringes left. That should be enough, I think. Is it safe for me to give her my kit?

Thanks,

Tina in Oregon

Dear Tina,

Your Zoom whitening take-home kit should not be shared. The first concern is the gel itself. Most of the time it’s good for about a year, but your dental office may have had it in stock for a while. There’s a chance that it has expired now, especially if you kept it in a bathroom or other warm environment. It should be clear, but if it’s cloudy or white, that means it’s no longer good. Of course, it still may be ineffective due to age, even if it’s not showing signs.

A second consideration is your friend’s oral health. It’s important to start with clean teeth, so that the gel can work properly. If she hasn’t had a cleaning in a while, trying to lighten her teeth now can lead to splotchy results. It’s also worth noting that the color of dental work won’t change. So, if she has fillings and crowns, those will remain the darker shade. It may not matter for back teeth, but it’s certainly a consideration if she’s had dental work anywhere that shows when she smiles.

Lastly, your trays were custom-made for you. You probably remember having impressions taken, and from those, a stone model was made that’s an exact replica of your teeth. The trays were made from that, and so they will not fit your friend. Even if she can get them on, they won’t be an exact match, which means she runs the risk of uneven whitening and possibly even sore gums from not being able to keep the gel off them.

The bottom line is that it’s a bad idea to share your Zoom teeth whitening kit. While it was a very thoughtful notion, it could leave her with bad results. It’s best if she visits a dentist and has a kit made especially for her, after having an exam and cleaning.

I wanted to ask a cosmetic dentist about the Premium Home Whitening brand products?

September 3, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I saw a Groupon discount offer for something called Premium Home Whitening. It is advertised as a professional grade teeth whitening brand. I wanted to ask a cosmetic dentist if it would be worth it to give it a try?

– Paul in New Jersey

Paul,

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon to see all sorts of teeth whitening offers on sites like Groupon. They can range from simple take home whitening trays, like Crest Whitening strips to Zoom whitening and everything in between. Also, most dental offices will use this marketing tactic to draw in new patients by offering free teeth whitening. But as far as the particular brand, Premium Home Whitening, here are my two cents.

The main teeth whitening agent in the Premium Home Whitening system is carbamide peroxide at 35 percent. This whitening agent will whiten your teeth. That said, the “cold blue light” probably won’t do anything to intensify or increase the effectiveness of the product. Nothing in the ingredient list or instructions really sets them apart from any other teeth whitening system.

But, I’d caution you to make the purchase for a few reasons. The cost is pretty high, although you didn’t mention the Groupon discounted price. The retail cost is high when you look at professional teeth whitening that you’d get at dentist’s office. When your whitening is overseen by a reputable dentist, the results will be more effective and they will likely double check that you don’t have any immediate issues that need to be addressed prior to treatment.

Then, there’s the safety issue of the formula and process. There have been cases of patients that ended up requiring a root canal treatment after using an over-the-counter whitening system. From a safety perspective, teeth whitening under the supervision of a dentist will ensure your safety. Other issues with take-home whitening systems on the market include damage to gums or existing dental work, cracked or leaky fillings or other sensitivity problems.

Also, you need to take into consideration the fit of the tray from this brand you are considering, will not give you a perfect fit. This is because it isn’t made to fit your teeth perfectly like it would be at a dentist’s office. This could lead to the possibility of the gel leaking and also an uneven coloration. If there are leaks, than the effectiveness goes down too. Gum irritation from an inadequate fit of the tray is also a concern.

So, if you are looking for an endorsement from a cosmetic dentist on this product, you likely won’t get it. That said, most dentists do a good job of whitening and you don’t necessarily need to see an expert cosmetic dentist for teeth whitening treatment. It may be worth your while to call around town to see if you can compare prices between dentists. That way you may end up saving a little money and also have the professional supervision that will ensure your safety, as well as a beautiful white smile. Good luck!

How Can I Lighten the Color of a Filling?

September 2, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I went through a serious depression a couple of years ago and stopped taking care of myself entirely. I’m back to my normal self again, and I’m trying to update my appearance so I can feel better about the way I look. I wanted to do Zoom Whitening, but it was out of my budget and I wasn’t ready to go to the dentist yet. So, I started using one of those home systems you can buy online. I’ve been using it daily for a few months and my teeth are brighter, but I have a tiny filling on one tooth that didn’t change and it looks funny. Now I’m thinking I’ll have to have Zoom Whitening done. I’d like to go whiter, but if there’s a way to fix this at home for now, I’d really rather do that. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Melissa in Kentucky

Dear Melissa,

Glad to hear you’re doing better. Unfortunately, there isn’t tooth whitening available anywhere that will change the color of a filling – not even Zoom Whitening in the dental office. The color of a filling is permanent, and the only way to correct it is to have the old filling removed, and to replace it with a new one in a lighter shade.

On a side note, it sounds like you’ve been using the home kit quite a bit, probably more than the instructions call for. Some of the weak ones are safe to use daily, but stronger varieties can cause issues when you use them too much. The biggest complaints are chronic tooth pain, gum irritation, and discolored enamel. If you’re having any of these issues, you should stop treatment right away, because the tooth pain will get worse and can cause permanent damage. Some people also report uneven color, which is somewhat common with the systems you can use at home. Again, though, this depends on the strength of the product you are using.

For the best results, it’s a good idea to go and have a consultation with your dentist. Any kind of whitening system works better on clean teeth, and it’s certainly wise to have a checkup. Plus, the doctor will be able to evaluate your progress and help you troubleshoot any issues you are having. If you want to go brighter and the regular in-office system is out of your reach financially, you can have custom trays made with professional-strength solution for a fraction of the price.

I can’t afford porcelain veneers to cover tetracycline stains.

August 19, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have tetracycline stains from medication given to me as a baby. I was told porcelain veneers are the best treatment for this condition. But I simply cannot afford it. I had a dentist put dental bonding on my teeth but they are chipping already. Do you know if Zoom whitening is an option? I’m so sick of hating my smile.

-Jen in California

Jen,

Tetracycline stains are permanent. For most patients they appear as very dark brown or gray stains. The discoloration occurs in the dentin of the teeth.

As you’ve mentioned, porcelain veneers are one of the ways they can be treated. But the work must be done by an expert cosmetic dentist that is experienced in specifically treating tetracycline stains. Your general family dentist will likely not know how to how to successfully treat them.

But, it sounds like porcelain veneers aren’t an option for you at this time. So, here are a couple more affordable ideas to help improve the appearance of your smile. These treatments won’t be as effective as porcelain veneers. But, they will help.

First, the old dental bonding material needs to be removed, if your enamel is still in tact. It is possible that a hygienist could remove it for you, using sandpaper disks. Having a hygienist do the work instead of a dentist would be less expensive. Then, you should have the dentist get you started on a home teeth whitening treatment. You will want to request the strongest formulation that you can tolerate without experiencing discomfort and sensitivity. You’ll want to keep this up nightly over the course of two months. I know you’re trying to find an affordable way to whiten your teeth, but fight the temptation to use over-the-counter whitening products. They simply aren’t strong enough for tetracycline stains.

Also, you may be interested in Zoom whitening or laser tooth whitening from your dentist. Although your dentist may tell you it is much stronger than at home whitening, it will require multiple rounds of whitening in the office. And with Zoom whitening, you will end up racking up the costs very quickly. With take home trays you will end up with similar results over the course of a couple months, rather than having the expense of multiple rounds of Zoom.

The down side of your situation is if the original dentist removed enamel on the teeth before the dental bonding was placed. If that is the case, you really need to save up and have a cosmetic dentist do porcelain veneers. In the long run, it will deliver the best results and you will be happiest over the longrun. In the interim, you could have the dental bonding smoothed out. Having the dental bonding redone every couple years will end up adding up and you’ll be better off saving your money for veneers.

Good luck! Thank you for reaching out. Hopefully this gives you some options.