Teeth Whitening Archives - Allyson K Hurley, DDS

August 10, 2016 by

I got Zoom whitening last week and it burned my lips. Noticeably burned. I was expected maybe some sensitivity in my teeth, which I do have, but no one told me that my lips would burn. They are dark and gray. Is this going to heal? Also I have a follow-up appointment for another Zoom session and I am afraid to go back. Will my lips burn again? My new smile can’t be notices because my lips are burned. I am beginning to wish I had never done the whitening. Is this typical with Zoom or should I dodge my dentist? Thanks. Aaron

Aaron – Zoom whitening shouldn’t burn your lips. Before the bleaching gel is applied to your teeth, your lips should retracted and covered with sterile cloth. Also your gums should be coated with gel to protect them from bleaching gel.

Your description sounds as if your lips were not properly protected before Zoom whitening treatment. Let your dentist know that your lips were burned during treatment. Also express your concern about future in-office sessions. If you are questioning whether or not the burn will heal properly, schedule an appointment with your primary care physician for an examination.

Your medical doctor or your pharmacist will be able to recommend a topical cream to apply to your lips. You can consider asking your dentist if many of his or her patients experience lip burning after Zoom whitening. If there is any indication that this is a common occurrence with your dentist’s patients, you might want to consider finishing your treatment with another dentist.

Zoom whitening is safe and effective. Your experience is not common. Discuss your concerns with your dentist. Periodic touch-up treatments at home will keep your smile bright.

This post is sponsored by top NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

June 15, 2016 by

My dentist doesn’t do Zoom whitening. She only offers take-home whitening but I want faster results all at once. I have a really busy summer coming and I think that I will not be able to keep up with whitening my teeth if I have to do it at home. There are a few local dentists who offer free or discounted Zoom whitening after one or two dental cleanings with them. I am due for a cleaning within the next month, so I am considering switching to a new dentist so I can get my teeth whitened. I am just wondering if this might be a plot to get me to their office. Is it really possible to get free Zoom whitening and is it bad for me to change dentists just to get it? – Thanks Alaina

Alaina – There are different types of Zoom Whitening, including in-office whitening and take home trays. You should ask both dentists which level of whitening is free and if there are any other costs that are included. Take-home whitening takes time to be effective. After two or three weeks, you will get the best results from it.

Often when free whitening is offered, you will have to receive an exam, x-rays, and a dental cleaning. You mentioned that both dentists have requirements that must be met before they give you free whitening. Also consider the dentist’s fees, if the practice accepts your dental insurance, and the benefits your insurance company will pay. Get specifics from the dentists’ office as to what is required of you to receive free whitening.

Also consider your relationship and rapport with your current dentist. Is it worth switching to a new dentist to get Zoom whitening? It is possible that you can get Zoom from a dentist without permanently leaving your own dentist, but you can expect it to cost more than it would if you switch.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

May 28, 2015 by

My teeth were whitened with Zoom 3 weeks ago and they are still too white. I don’t like the way they look and it is too noticeable. I know it may sound strange but I am sick of people asking me if I got my teeth whitened. I don’t want to go back to the original color of my teeth before I got Zoom but I do want to reverse it about 3 shades. Is this something that can be done? The dentist who did the Zoom told me no. Thanks. Nani

Nani – Teeth bleaching is not reversible. The bleaching gel penetrates your teeth and dissolves the stain in them. The stains that contributed to the color of your teeth cannot be revived.

Sometimes patients think they want their teeth to have a certain level of brightness, but when it is achieved, they are uncomfortable with it. As time passes, your teeth will pick up stains from food and drink. Instead of doing periodic touch-ups at home with whitening gel, you can skip those treatments and the color of your teeth will darken.

When your teeth are the shade of white you want, you can start using whitening gel to maintain them.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

March 17, 2015 by

My dental bonding is getting dark. I am wondering of Zoom will lighten it up a little. I can’t get new bonding right now. Thanks Angela

Angela,

Dental bonding can’t be whitened with Zoom® or any other teeth whitening treatment. It will whiten your natural teeth and make the darker bonding even more noticeable.

Depending on the age of your bonding and cause of the discoloration of the bonding, it can be polished to look better. An expert cosmetic dentist can examine your bonding and determine if it can be polished to make it look lighter and brighter.

Otherwise, you may need new bonding. If replacing new bonding is not currently within your budget, it’s best to wait until you can afford to have an expert cosmetic dentist replace it. You’ll have beautiful results that will be worth the wait.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster, NJ dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

July 1, 2014 by

My teeth are very spotty. It is a genetic disorder. My doctor doesn’t do Zoom whitening, only the take home kits. He said that he is not sure if Zoom will help the spots or not but maybe the take home kit would whiten my teeth and make the spots look lighter. He did not sound very sure. Will Zoom get the spots out of my teeth? Rebekah

Rebekah – You should have your teeth examined by an experienced cosmetic dentist, who is also experienced with the use of Zoom Whitening.

Depending on the cause of the spots, whitening your teeth can make the spots even more noticeable. A cosmetic dentist will let you know if whitening your teeth is the answer or if another cosmetic treatment, such as dental bonding or porcelain veneers, is needed to conceal the spots.

This post is sponsored by top NJ cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

April 14, 2014 by

We just celebrated our 25th anniversary and one of the gifts I got from my husband is Zoom whitening. He got it for himself also. Last week, my husband had his Zoom appointment. When he came home his lips were burning and his teeth were really hurting bad. He said that it felt like electric shocks and although it’s better, he is still feeling some of the zinging pain today. I would like to know if this is typical for Zoom because if it is I am going to find out if I can get some other treatment to whiten my teeth instead of Zoom. – Rachel T.

Rachel – When you receive Zoom whitening, careful steps should be taken to limit your sensitivity during the treatment and to protect your lips and gums from the gel. Your husband’s lip may have come in contact with the gel, which can burn the skin.

It is common to experience some pain or sensitivity in your teeth when they are whitened. Some patients experience more sensitivity than others. Your dentist should examine your teeth to anticipate any sensitivity you might feel and adjust the intensity of the treatment accordingly. He or she may recommend that you take over-the-counter pain reliever to minimize the sensitivity in your teeth.

If you really don’t want Zoom whitening, you can speak with the dentist’s office to find out if they will substitute your gift of Zoom whitening with an alternative form of teeth whitening.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

December 26, 2013 by

I am getting Zoom Whitening the 2^nd week in January. My friend got it last month and after her session, her gums were sore and red. Are my gums going to be red and sore? – Bethany

Bethany – You may experience some sensitivity after Zoom!® whitening, but your gums should not be sore and red.

Before the bleaching gel is applied, a protective coating is applied to your gums to keep them from burning from the treatment. Your dentist will address any concerns you have about sensitivity after the procedure.

This post is sponsored by Bedminster dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

May 20, 2013 by

What’s the best way to whiten your teeth at home? Thanks Jamie

Jamie – Although many people use whitening strips or peroxide, the results will be limited.

If you want the most effective way to whiten your teeth at home, get a teeth whitening kit from your dentist.

The whitening from the dentist works better because the bleaching trays are custom made to fit your teeth. With the trays snugly fitting your teeth, the bleaching gel penetrates better. Also, your dentist will provide you with professional-strength bleaching gel that will get your teeth their whitest.

Another advantage of seeing a dentist for teeth whitening is that he or she will be able to determine if bleaching your teeth will whiten your teeth, or make the stains in them more noticeable. Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, whitening them may make matters worse.

If cost is a concern, speak with your dentist about your desire to whiten your teeth. You may be surprised at how your dentist can make take-home treatment affordable for you.

This post is sponsored by New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

February 27, 2013 by

Hi. I have hydrogen peroxide at home. I am wondering if I can swish it around in my mouth and get my teeth white. – Cydnee

Cydnee – Hydrogen peroxide is safe for whitening teeth. But the liquid hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet will have very little whitening effect on your teeth. Some teeth bleaching gels contain hydrogen peroxide, while others contain carbamide peroxide.

Teeth whitening gel from a dentist contains a stronger amount of the whitening agent. In addition to receiving gel from your dentist, you will receive customized teeth whitening trays. The whitening trays fit your teeth only. They are not one-size-fits-all trays that you can buy in a store, so the whitening gel is pressed against your teeth and penetrates them. You will be instructed by your dentist on how long to leave the whitening gel on your teeth.

Another advantage of getting the whitening gel from your dentist is that teeth whitening is not right for everyone. Depending on the cause of the stains in your teeth, whitening them can make stains more noticeable. In some cases, better and safer results are achieved with porcelain veneers.

Your dentist will recommend the right treatment for your case. If the right treatment is to bleach your teeth, your dentist can monitor the progress and make any needed adjustments.

This post is sponsored by New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.

December 27, 2012 by

In an August 2012 survey conducted for the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, 45% of participants said they think that a beautiful smile helps us remain attractive regardless of our age. Eyes came in second at 34%, and body shape, hair, and legs followed distantly—but nothing compared to the value of a smile.

And more than 62% of the participants said they prefer spending money on improving their smile over making improvements to their weight, hair, eyes, or anything else.

So what can you do to improve your smile? One of the most inexpensive treatments is to whiten your teeth. If you want a brighter smile quickly, many dentists offer in-office treatment that will brilliantly whiten your smile in an hour. Take-home treatment is less expensive, and you’ll see results in about two weeks. A dazzling smile gives you a lift and makes you look and feel younger.

If you have teeth that are worn or misaligned, braces aren’t the only way to straighten them. Porcelain veneers—thin wafers of porcelain—can be bonded to the front of your teeth. With help from your cosmetic dentist, you will decide on the shape, size, and color of your new smile.

Cosmetic dentistry offers many options to improve your smile and make you look younger. Visit the online smile galleries of experienced cosmetic dentists and see the difference they can make.

This blog is sponsored by New Jersey cosmetic dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley.