Teeth Whitening

Teeth gradually become discolored and stained from drinking tea, cola, coffee, berries, red wine, or from smoking. Natural aging can also darken your teeth. Professional teeth whitening performed by Dr. Gary S Barker is the solution. Here, we use the widely known Philips Zoom In-Office Whitening System. We also offer a take-home Zoom whitening kit for use at home.

In office Zoom whitening is a bleaching process widely used around the world to lighten teeth. The procedure makes use of a special “light” which accelerates the bleaching process and activates the 25% hydrogen peroxide whitening solution. The entire whitening procedure takes about an hour. First, impressions are taken which are used to make custom at-home whitening trays for later use for touch-up bleaching at home. Next, a mouth retractor is placed which will ensure your jaw muscles are relaxed while your mouth remains open at the same time. To prepare the teeth for whitening, a thick gel-like barrier is dispensed onto the gum tissue, leaving only the teeth exposed. A special light is used to harden this material which protects the soft tissue against potential damage and sensitivity. Next, the Zoom hydrogen peroxide whitening solution is “painted” onto the teeth and the Zoom light is activated. The whitening gel remains in place for 15 minutes. Once 15 minutes is up, the gel is cleaned off the teeth and a new layer of whitening gel is applied. This process repeats 3 more times for a total of four 15-minute sessions. Immediately afterwards, a sensitivity-reducing fluoride paste is applied to the teeth.

While sensitivity during treatment is not common, it may occur in some people. Rarely, minor tingling has been reported immediately after the procedure, but always dissipates. You will be given a sensitivity-reducing paste which can be applied at home. We will also recommend the use of Sensodyne toothpaste.

To maximize results, included with the In-office Zoom Whitening session is a home-use touch-up kit which will include custom fitted whitening trays and whitening gel. During your appointment, we will instruct you on how to make the best use of the take home kit. The Zoom whitening gel is sold in our office when you need more.

Another option for whitening your teeth is our Zoom take-home whitening kit. The kit includes custom whitening trays made to fit your teeth and gum line perfectly. Also included is the professional grade Zoom whitening gel. It is important to know that this process does not provide immediate results like the In-office Zoom whitening. Results can take anywhere from one week to one month to begin showing. Depending on the amount of whitening you want to achieve will depend on how often you should use the bleaching trays at home. Once you reach your desired whiteness, you should use your whitening trays once every 4-6 weeks for maintenance. At your appointment, we will discuss everything you need to know so you will leave our office fully armed with the knowledge to safely and effectively whiten your smile at home.

It is important to remember that whitening treatment may not be as effective for some people as it is for others. Call us today at 410-647-4653 to set up an appointment for a thorough examination and we can let you know if you are a good candidate for Zoom Whitening products.