What are the Differences Between Laser Teeth Whitening and Zoom?

White, bright teeth are without a doubt more popular and more desirable than ever before. Our natural perception is that those people with white teeth are healthier, more attractive and more successful in their lives than those of us with stained or discolored teeth. Nevertheless, most of us aren’t able to achieve the color teeth that we would really like without a little help.

 

Fortunately, we have numerous options when it comes to whitening our teeth. Two of the most popular are laser teeth whitening and Zoom teeth whitening. To help you decide which is right for you, here’s what you need to know about them including those all-important differences between them.

What is laser teeth whitening and how does it work?

Laser technology has changed the way in which many functional and cosmetic procedures are performed and dentistry solutions are no exception. Laser teeth whitening is an extremely effective way to remove stains and discoloration from the teeth, leaving them whiter and brighter than before.

 

The way that laser teeth whitening works is very simple. Firstly, a peroxide-based gel is pasted onto your teeth by your dentist. Special care is taken to ensure that the bleach doesn’t get onto the soft tissue of the gums and inside of the teeth, as this can cause irritation. Once the gel is in place, the heat from the laser is used to create a chemical reaction that breaks down stains and lightens the color of teeth. The length of this process varies depending on how many teeth are being targeted. This is because the laser only emits a very narrow beam of light, meaning that each tooth must be whitened in turn.

What is Zoom teeth whitening and how does it work?

Zoom teeth whitening is another very popular breaching process that can transform the color of your teeth. Like laser teeth whitening, Zoom is carried out by your dentist in the comfort of their offices. Once steps have been taken to protect the lips and gums, the Zoom hydrogen peroxide gel is applied to the teeth. This gel remains in place for 15 minutes, during which time the Zoom chairside lamp is activated. This lamp, which targets all teeth at the same time, then causes the chemical reaction which lightens the color of your teeth.

 

Zoom is recommended to be applied for three, 15-minute sessions of light activation, totaling a treatment time of 45 minutes. Many patients see such a significant improvement in the color of their teeth after the three sessions that they do not require any further appointments.

Key differences between laser teeth whitening and Zoom whitening

There are a few key differences that you should take into account when deciding between laser teeth whitening and Zoom whitening. These include:

 

Zoom reaches all of your teeth at the same time

This helps to ensure the most even reaction rate and better consistency of results. Meanwhile, laser teeth whitening targets one tooth at a time.

 

Zoom filters out infrared energy

This means that your teeth aren’t exposed to as much heat as they are during laser whitening treatments. Meanwhile, laser whitening does cause extended exposure to infrared emissions.

 

Zoom whitens teeth faster

Studies have shown that Zoom whitening actually produces results more quickly than laser teeth whitening.

 

Laser whitening can be easier to tolerate

Some patients find it difficult to tolerate three back to back sessions of Zoom laser whitening, particularly if they have fairly sensitive teeth.

 

Laser whitening can be more effectively used to target specific teeth

Laser whitening is applied to each individual tooth, making it valuable for patients who only need to have one or two particularly stained teeth lightened. Meanwhile, Zoom affects all teeth.

 

If you would like to discuss the differences between laser teeth whitening and Zoom whitening in greater depth, our team would be happy to help. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our offices.