FAQs Teeth Whitening

How does Zoom in chair whitening work?

To prepare your mouth for the whitening procedure, the dentist will first protect your gums with a barrier material layer.

Then the whitening product will be applied to your teeth, and activated with LED light. Afterwards, the barrier material is easily removed and you can see the results of the whitening immediately.

Will it take a long time?

While the length of the visit may vary slightly depending on your specific situation, you can generally expect your appointment to last a little beyond an hour. Don’t worry if your teeth feel extra sensitive right after treatment, this sensation will wear off quickly. We will also give you some sensitive relief gel to help the sensitivity quickly subside.

Am I sure to get the shade I want?

The starting colour of your teeth may determine the ultimate shade you are able to achieve. Your teeth may just be naturally more yellow than they were years ago. If you are looking to change the colour of your teeth more significantly, you may wish to investigate veneering.

Your teeth will be whiter after whitening treatment, and should stay that way for at least a few years. Longer if you continue to maintain it with your complimentary take home whitening kit.

Additionally, this procedure will only work on your natural teeth, not on ones that have previously received special treatment such as veneer, crowns or dentures. Dentures can be deep cleaned by the dentist. Sometimes staining on these dental treatments indicates it is time to replace them. Ask your dentist to recommend a solution to your concerns.

Is it safe? Will it damage my teeth?

Extensive research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth under the supervision of a Philips Zoom trained and accredited dentist not only gives you the whitest teeth, it's also very safe. Zoom is the only whitening formula that contains relief ACP, which actually gives you greater luster and helps protects enamel. As a result, the Philips Zoom tooth whitening treatment has been clinically studied and safely used on millions of patients without harm to teeth, gums and has no adverse effect on existing restorations (fillings, crowns or veneers).

Will my teeth look too white and unnatural?

No. Real teeth can't look unnatural, they just look beautifully white. If you have seen people with ultra-white, fake-looking teeth, these were probably false teeth, teeth with porcelain crowns or veneers that may have been made too white and too opaque. You’ll get the ideal shade that’s right for you.

How can I help the Zoom In chair whitening last as long as possible?

At Boutique Dental Bondi, a complimentary at-home kit is provided to you after your in office Zoom Whitening treatment. You can continue to whiten your teeth after the procedure or top it up later to maintain your desired shade. Whitening treatments help to reduce existing stains, but through consumption of coffee, soft drinks or just through natural aging, your teeth may eventually become discoloured again.  Only Philips Zoom at-home whitening products include ACP, which has been shown to help reduce whitening fade-back. Be sure to practice good oral care each day, and visit the dentist for your regularly scheduled checkups and cleans.

What are the side effects?

The most common side effect is tooth and gum sensitivity. Your dentist is your best resource to
ensure that you are a good candidate for whitening and that you are using the right concentration of whitening formula. Philips Zoom at-home whitening products have two mild desensitizing agents, potassium nitrate and Amorphous Calcium Phosphate (ACP), to minimise tooth sensitivity.

How does PROFESSIONAL At-HOME whitening work?

The dentist will take digital impressions to make your whitening trays first. Then the custom made trays, the whitening gel and instructions are given to you to use in the comfort of your own home. The whitening product contains the hydrogen peroxide (ZOOM DayWhite) or carbamide peroxide (ZOOM NiteWhite).

Will it take a long time?

Tray whitening requires a visit to the dentist for digital impressions so a tray can be custom made for your mouth. The trays will be ready within a few days. The dentist fits the trays and give you the gel and the instructions how to use the trays and the gel. At home, you place the tray for 15-60 minutes a day, for about a week until your teeth are lightened to your satisfaction. Some new products are gentle and effective enough to leave the tray in for 8 hours or overnight, which dramatically shortens the treatment time.

What do I geT in the Take-Home Kit?

You will receive a set of your custom made trays, the box to store them in when you are not using them. Your choice of Zoom DayWhite or NiteWhite syringes (and their application tips). A set of instructions will be included, as well as some sensitive toothpaste for you to use if you start experiencing any sensitivity.

Why are my teeth not bright white?

Actually, teeth vary naturally in colour. A few people have naturally bright white teeth, but more often teeth appear off-white, yellowish, or even almost beige. While these shades are unrelated to the overall health or condition of teeth, a brighter shade may be desired for personal reasons.

Teeth are also susceptible to absorbing colour as they age. Tea and coffee are notorious for leaving colour behind, as is blackcurrant, curries and red wine. Tartar also builds up with an irregular checkup regimen and develops colour. Sometimes antibiotics can stain teeth by leaving residue in microscopic cracks along the tooth surface. Whatever the reason, whitening may improve the confidence of your smile.

How do i do it?

First, brush and floss your teeth. Place the mixing tip on the whitening gel syringe and dispense a 'match head' size amount of the gel on to the outside tooth surface area of the tray. Only place it on the teeth surfaces you want to whiten (crowns, veneers, and fillings will not lighten).

Insert the trays over your teeth and leave in for the required amount of time (15-45 min or overnight depending upon the concentration). Do not drink or eat with the trays in. Don't forget to use a tissue or cotton bud to remove any excess gel from your gums.

Once the time has passed, remove the trays rinse them with cold/cool water and leave them to dry and ready for the next application. Rinse and brush your teeth again to remove any excess gel. Avoid eating and drinking anything that will stain your teeth such as black coffee, beetroot, green juices, curry and tomato-based sauces whilst you are whitening teeth.

Why not just use a Pharmacy/SUpermarket packaged home kit or Smile Bar whitening?

The amount of whitening agent, such as hydrogen peroxide, is much smaller in over-the-counter home kits and at the shopping center based 'smile bars'. The resulting effect on your teeth varies unpredictably between too mild and too abrasive, and could damage the enamel surface. While a home kit may save you money, your teeth are a valuable part of your appearance that deserve the investment of professional service through your dentist. For this same reason, be sure to follow all directions for your professional tray-whitening system, and visit the dentist as recommended for follow up.

Will whitening toothpaste work alone?

Several brands now carry whitening toothpaste. These will not change the underlying colour of your teeth. They tend to be very abrasive. In the short term, they may remove some extrinsic staining, however with long term use they can cause tooth sensitivity.

What is Internal BLeaching?

If you have had a root canal, that tooth can become much darker than rest of your teeth. It may be treated specially with a different product which will be placed directly into the tooth through the filling. This process is repeated until your tooth has reached the desired brightness.

At your next appointment, we can help answer any unanswered questions you might have, and get you started on the smile you've always wanted.

Book a consultation today & start getting your teeth to their brightest.