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My dentist won’t use Zoom… can I buy it and use it on my own?

Posted on by smiles4u.

Over the last year, I have gone through a personal transformation of sorts. I’ve lost nearly 100 pounds and I feel great. Now I’d like to tackle my smile. I’ve always wanted to have a bright, white beautiful smile like the ones I see on those makeover shows. When I went to my dentist to request Zoom whitening, he told me that he uses another product similar to Zoom. He called it Kor? I’m afraid it’s some knock-off of the real thing and it won’t give me the results I want. I don’t know how it compares cost-wise, but I offered to pay for Zoom even if it was more expensive. He wouldn’t go for it. Where can I buy Zoom and just do it myself? — Erika

Erika,
WOW… that certainly is a transformation and one you should be commended for! And it sounds like the teeth whitening will just be icing on the cake after all your hard work.

There are several choices for whitening products and oftentimes it’s personal preference which one a dentist chooses. And that is likely the case with your dentist because Kor and Zoom are very similarly priced. He simply may prefer the results he has seen with Kor and wants to stick with it. The product is known to offer very consistent results on tough-stained teeth, and the company also takes great care in preserving the quality of their product during shipment (i.e. they ship in chilled packaging).

Zoom is recommended only under a dentist’s supervision, so doing it yourself should be out of the question even if you can find someone to sell it to you (assuming it’s really Zoom product). You’re dealing with a high-powered, professional strength whitening product that can do more harm than good to your teeth and gums if they are not used correctly.

Give the Kor brand a try. One thing that might help you in realizing your results better is to have your dentist tell you what shade you started at and what your final shade will be. Sometimes you can’t see the difference immediately, but if you can compare the shades side-by-side, I think you’ll be dazzled by the end result.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.

Is my 11-year-old too young for Zoom whitening?

Posted on by smiles4u.

This may sound like a terrible question, but I’m not one of “those” moms. My daughter is 11 and wants to have Zoom whitening done and I support her in it. If it was for vanity’s sake, I might be a little hesitant, but her teeth are kind of yellowish, and her regular cleanings don’t help. Last school year, she was bullied horribly by her fellow students and it really affected her self-esteem. She’s a beautiful girl, a star student and athlete. She doesn’t deserve this. I’d like to surprise her with Zoom whitening over the summer, so that she goes back to school with a smile she’s proud of. Will a dentist treat her at this age? If not, are there other options?  — A Mama Bear

Dear Mama Bear,
Your daughter is right on the cusp of the age when most dentists will give the green light on a procedure like Zoom whitening. Although Zoom whitening is not an invasive treatment, and it doesn’t damage the teeth, most dentists will want to wait until all the adult teeth are present. Some may also want to wait a couple of years beyond that. Check with your family dentist and be sure to explain your situation exactly as you have here.

As far as alternate procedures, it’s a good idea to have a consultation to address why your daughter’s teeth are discolored with the dentist anyway. It could be hereditary, permanent staining, or diet-related, but it could also be a symptom of something else. It could even be a sign that she has very thin enamel. If this is the case, Zoom whitening would probably cause such extreme sensitivity that she wouldn’t find it worthwhile. The results are likely to be mediocre at best as well. It’s also best to stay away from over-the-counter options at this age and work closely with the dentist to solve the problem instead. Your dentist may provide other in-office solutions during the consultation, but if it’s an enamel problem, she may need bonding or porcelain veneers to correct it.

This post is sponsored by New Orleans cosmetic dentist Dr. Duane Delaune. Read more about why many consider Dr. Delaune to be the best dentist in New Orleans.