Estimated reading time: 2 minutes
by Dr Gita Mazaheri, Artful Dentistry, McKellar, ACT
The Philips Zoom Whitening professional kit comes with the bleaching material that is activated by an LED light. There is some preparation to protect the gums so the entire process takes about an hour and 15 minutes.
What’s good about it
The professional kit designed for use by dentists is more powerful than the home bleaching kits and gives a better whitening result. The process involves four 15-minute treatments and patients tend to be excited about the prospect of getting their teeth whitened. There can be some sensitivity during the procedure that causes some patients to get a bit fidgety. Generally, the end result is excellent.
It’s important to follow up with home bleaching in order to maintain the results for an extended time. I usually suggest that patients avoid tea and coffee for around two weeks after the treatment. They should also avoid anything that would stain a white shirt such as red wine, beetroot and soy sauce.
The whitening differs between patients. Some may be a couple of shades whiter while others can be up to eight shades. The results are always better than just a home bleach. While Zoom Whitening is a good product that delivers nice results, it’s important to follow the correct preparation and procedures.
What’s not so good
The process can initially be a little painful and it can make teeth quite sensitive. I always warn patients about this at the start of the procedure. It’s also important to make sure the gums are protected as the bleaching agent can burn and discolour the gingiva.
