Dental Bleaching

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I made an appointment the other day to have the "Zoom" dental bleaching thing done - you know, the one-hour "light-activated" tooth whitening procedure.

After doing a little research - which I should have done beforehand, duh - I've put the appointment on hold. I'm leaning now toward the professional/dentist supervised at-home whitening tray procedure (as opposed to the OTC products).

I'm wondering what experiences other folks have had with any of these kinds of procedures, if you're willing to discuss it. How effective was the procedure you had? How restricted were your activities, what you can eat or drink and for how long, etc? How much discomfort, if any?

I'm a constant coffee drinker, so I'm resigned to the fact that nothing I do is going to last forever, if long at all. But my vanity is definitely struggling with the aging process.

Thanks.

 

[Brent]

I had the Zoom done last month, what made you not want it?

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Consumer complaints about tooth pain and burning, as well as controversy about whether it's more effective than other dentist-supervised bleaching other than in the fact that it's much faster (and concomitantly, more expensive). I take it, though, that you had no problems with it?

 

[Warp Coil]

I had my teeth bleached by a dentist a few years ago. It was a two-step process. The procedure that was performed in the dentist's office involved applying the bleach (or whatever it was) to the teeth, then using the light to activate it. Took a couple of hours, maybe. He applied it a few times. After the procedure was finished, I was given trays that were made from molds of my teeth. The dentist gave me some home bleaching stuff to use for 10 days.

My teeth were a bit sensitive and would sporatically hurt (like a real quick pain, then it would go away) for a couple of days after the treatment was done. But it wasn't really that bad, and well worth it.

 

[Brent]

Consumer complaints about tooth pain and burning, as well as controversy about whether it's more effective than other dentist-supervised bleaching other than in the fact that it's much faster (and concomitantly, more expensive). I take it, though, that you had no problems with it?

My sister works for a dentist office, and she got me in to get the Zoom done, and she herself has had it done. She said, the bleaching agent can burn if you move around a lot while they are applying it. As long as you stay still while they are putting the stuff on your teeth you won't get that bleach burn from touching your gums. I stayed still and didn't suffer this.

The other complaint, as you mentioned, is very sensitive teeth afterwards, getting such sensations that are called "zingers" This really depends on the person and their state of teeth. My sister had this after she got her Zoom, she said she'd open her mouth and even air touching her teeth would give her a zinger. However, this went away after the first day. Myself, I experienced no pain or zingers at all. I have a lot of calcium buildup on my teeth, and that protected me from that sensation. Again, it varies from person to person, and it is gone the next day.

Upon first application of the treatment, (it is done in 3 15 minute sessions), my sister came over and looked in my mouth and said "wow, they look way whiter already!" So even upon just the first session, I had a marked improvement. Indeed, after she was done with all the sessions my teeth were noticeably whiter.

 

[Garak]

Let me know how it goes, Dennis, what ever method you use - I quit smoking and coffee a while back and wouldn't mind turning these piano keys white again.

 

[Shatmandu]

Does the same place do that anus bleaching, too, Dennis?

You could get a twofer. God help you if both areas are made hypersensitive.

Joe, appointmented

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Does the same place do that anus bleaching, too, Dennis?

There are those who know me online who would insist that's a full-body treatment for me. Don't think I could spring for it.

 

[Holdfast]

I had Zoom done a few years ago.

It works.

I did have some sensitivity for a few days afterwards - occasional "electric twinges" would be the best description. Not frequent or requiring any sort of analgesia but definitely noticeable. My teeth are generally very healthy (no fillings ever, to date), so I guess if your teeth are unhealthy or sensitive anyway, you might notice more.

I ate a "white" diet for a day or two I think, though the memory is hazy now. No big shakes, it's actually easy to do. I was also pretty religious about using the special mouthwash after meals for about a week and brushing properly too, so I guess I gave it the best possible chance to work and last.

I'm not a big coffee/tea drinker, but I do drink them moderately often. Non smoker but I drink a fair bit of red wine. It's now 3 years later I think, and I guess my teeth could use another treatment relatively soon, though I probably won't bother for another couple of years. So although Zoom is pricey, it does seem to last a long time, at least for me.

Personally, the biggest nuisance with Zoom is that you're effectively stuck in a dentist's chair for about a hour in total which is pretty boring.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well, I have no fillings in my front teeth anyway. And I'll be thrilled if the treatment lasts a year - I don't drink wine or smoke, but I'm a coffee addict. In fact, one of the most unnerving things about this is the idea of doing without for two or three days - I'm sure I'll be popping No-Doz to stave off caffeine headaches.

I've rescheduled the Zoom appointment. I'll probably post before-and-after pictures here for the edification of anyone - like Garak - who like me are interested in the experience of folks who've undergone the procedure. If I do, I'll thoughtfully embed the images in SPOILER tags in consideration of all who are uninterested in close-ups of my mouth.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, all of you.

 

[Botany Bay]

I had it done years ago as a reward for quitting smoking, and I needed to have a photogenic smile for some work I was doing back then.

It was painful (they call them "zingers" - sharp stabs of pain on your teeth while you're in the chair and for a few hours afterwards), and expensive (about $1k back then). I remember also having to have white bread and milk for a few days.

But, despite all this, I say well worth doing, the difference is amazing.

I don't smoke any more, but I love coffee and coke too much for the effect to last forever. It lasted about 3 years. I say do it Dennis!

 

[anti-matter]

Good luck with the Zoom process. Back in the early 90's I had my teeth veneered...it really changed my life for the better. As an aside I was talked out of movie star 'white teeth'...and I'm glad I was.

Had an Army buddy that used an OTC product/device at night for 2 weeks or so with a noticeable improvement too.

 

[Holdfast]

Well, I have no fillings in my front teeth anyway. And I'll be thrilled if the treatment lasts a year - I don't drink wine or smoke, but I'm a coffee addict. In fact, one of the most unnerving things about this is the idea of doing without for two or three days - I'm sure I'll be popping No-Doz to stave off caffeine headaches.

I've rescheduled the Zoom appointment. I'll probably post before-and-after pictures here for the edification of anyone - like Garak - who like me are interested in the experience of folks who've undergone the procedure. If I do, I'll thoughtfully embed the images in SPOILER tags in consideration of all who are uninterested in close-ups of my mouth.

Thanks for sharing your experiences, all of you.

My pleasure.

Good luck with it Dennis, I think you'll find the Zoom is worth the hassle & expense.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Okay, as promised/threatened:

Spoiler: Teeth!

I'm extremely happy with the procedure.

It cost $654.00 US - that includes follow-up, custom trays and gel etc. A little pricey for a cosmetic treatment that won't ever cause anyone to confuse me with Brad Pitt, but the difference feels more striking in the mirror than it looks in the images. It will probably satiate my limitless vanity for...days.

I had none of the discussed side effects - no tooth sensitivity ("zingers"), and no bleach burns (which they acknowledged do happen, and can't be absolutely guaranteed against).

Aside from cost, the other minor downside is the discomfort of the procedure itself which, while not terrible, may be difficult for some - for about an hour and a half you're wearing a kind of plastic lip dilator thing designed by Mistress Ursula and your mouth is stuffed with about ten pounds of cotton wadding. They paint your front teeth with a Dupont industrial waste byproduct (mmm, minty!) and then you hold your head absolutely still for periods of about fifteen minutes at a time while absorbing light of sufficient intensity to guarantee that your kids will either be huge and green and able to throw army tanks or burst spontaneously into flame and soar through the air.

Given that during this period I could neither speak nor post on the Internet, it occurred to me that I might have been able to talk some other TrekBBS posters into at least chipping in. Too late, too late...

 

[Shatmandu]

I await a similar report from your anus bleaching.

Joe, winker

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I await a similar report from your anus bleaching.

Joe, winker

I'll email those photos to your office.

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Your teeth do indeed look a lot whiter! Good job, Dennis! Now that you have that prodent smile; every woman will be at your feet.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

No, that happens after the liposuction, the face-lift, the $#&@ enlargement, several rounds of injectable steroids and winning the 230 million dollar Mega-Millions jackpot this Friday.

Actually, only the last one really would help.

 

[Shatmandu]

No, that happens after the liposuction, the face-lift, the $#&@ enlargement, several rounds of injectable steroids and winning the 230 million dollar Mega-Millions jackpot this Friday.

Actually, only the last one really would help.

A man could look like Dom DeLuise's corpse and the last one would get a 20 year old to sit on his face.

Joe, 36-52-79-54-34-8

 

[An Officer]

That's a massive difference, especially on the front two. Looks like money well spent. Glad you didn't get the shooting pains after all.