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Will I get a burn from Zoom whitening if I’m taking Cipro?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I’m scheduled to do Zoom Whitening next week and I’m wondering if I need to cancel it.  I have been taking Cipro (ciprofloxacin) for a week now to treat a UTI. The infection has mostly cleared up and I feel good, but the doctor told me to stay on it for 14 days.

I went out for coffee yesterday with my friend, who is a medical assistant, and I suggested we sit inside so I wasn’t in the sun. The pharmacist was very clear with me that I needed to avoid it while I was on the med. Anyway, my friend and I started talking about the Zoom Whitening treatment and she told me that it wasn’t safe for me to do because Zoom Whitening uses a light that affects people like the sun does. When I called the dentist office, I was told by someone at the front desk that she didn’t think it would be a problem. I insisted that she ask the dentist, so she left me on hold for a bit and then told me we could double up on the sunscreen if I wanted. This is NOT reassuring to me!

Is the Cipro going to be a problem? If so, can I stop taking it now since I’m feeling better? Or, If I need to cancel, how long do I need to be off the med before it’s safe for me to do Zoom Whitening?  — Rachel

Rachel,
You’ve got a smart friend… she is absolutely correct! The light used in Zoom whitening could cause a reaction if you’re on a drug like Cipro that is known to cause photosensitivity. To be clear, this doesn’t mean you’ll just get a sunburn. With Cipro, a lot of people break out in hives or rashes with just a few minutes outdoors. It’s not worth the risk to do the treatment while you’re on the medication. Seriously, save yourself the agony because that rash can stick around for ages.

Going forward, you should not stop your antibiotics. Doctors often prescribe a 10-day course, so if you were given 14, it means the infection was severe enough to warrant an extra-long course. If you stop too early, your UTI may come right back, so please finish all the medications as prescribed. Generally speaking, Cipro will be out of your system within about 24 hours of your last dose. Please double check this with your pharmacist because certain conditions may leave it in your body for longer. You should give yourself a buffer and not schedule for at least a few days after you finish your last dose, but make sure your dentist and your pharmacist know what your plans are and what you’ve been taking so they can give you personalized information for your situation and medical history.

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.

 

Zoom whitening made my teeth look worse!

Posted on by smiles4u.

I recently got my braces off and have very noticeable white spots on my front teeth. My dentist recommended Zoom whitening, so I tried it. I could tell right away that the spots looked even worse, but he said I just needed to wait a few days for the color to even out. It’s been two weeks and my teeth still look the same. What’s going on? I’m thinking about trying an at-home kit to see if it will work. — Sara

Dear Sara,
Your dentist seems to have steered you in the wrong direction. Did he actually examine your teeth before recommending the Zoom whitening?  It sounds like you probably have decalcification. It’s a common problem in which the minerals in the tooth are stripped away as a result of poor cleaning around braces. These areas of decalcification manifest as white spots and it make the teeth susceptible to decay.

Any dentist who is familiar with this problem or who is skilled in cosmetic dentistry, would know that Zoom Whitening or other whitening systems will make the white spots worse. There’s a chance you can add minerals back to those areas, but there’s no guarantee it will work. Products that might help are Tooth Mousse or MI Paste (have your dentist order them for you or you can purchase them online). They are formulated  to saturate the tooth in minerals, in hopes of reversing the decalcification and staving off any future decay. Some dentists will do Microabrasion on the areas, but the end result could make your teeth look creamy – not white. You could also ask about removing the spots and placing bonding on the teeth. That will keep the areas from decaying — and your teeth will be a uniform color. Your only other alternative would be to look at a more costly cosmetic procedure like porcelain veneers.

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.

Does the blue light in Zoom whitening do anything?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I recently had Zoom Whitening done and my dental office made a big deal about preparing me for the blue light. I’m thrilled with the results and my teeth have never been brighter, but I was talking with my boyfriend after the procedure and he laughed it off. He said that the blue light is just a gimmick, and that it doesn’t do anything. Does the blue light used in Zoom Whitening actually have a purpose, and if so, what does it do?  — Shyla

Dear Shyla,
The blue light associated with Zoom Whitening and other systems is highly-debated, and it’s possible your boyfriend stumbled upon some of the less-credible information on the net. The blue lights are LED lights, and each system projects the light at a slightly different intensity. There are basic home systems that like to include a single LED for the sake of show. It kind of resembles the blue light that people are familiar with, and have seen on makeover shows. Sometimes those lights work as a timer, and can boost consumer satisfaction, simply because the individual feels like it’s doing something. On the other hand, professional-strength systems include very powerful lights, that can actually be dangerous if proper precautions aren’t taken. Although similar lights are used in some medical treatments, and have even been shown to impact mood in people who suffer from SAD, lengthy exposure to professional-grade systems can actually burn the skin, just like a sunburn. Therefore, Zoom Whitening offices will take great care to block out your gum tissue, and will give you sunblock and eye protection, too.

Even though the light is cool, it’s very intense, and it triggers a reaction in the Zoom Whitening gel, so that it works even quicker. Studies that have compared Zoom Whitening results with and without the blue light generally find there’s a remarkable difference between the final shades. Other systems don’t fare as well in these sorts of trials, and that has a lot to do with the quality of the lights included in the system. The active ingredients in the prescription-strength gel is effective by itself, which is why your office can send you home with the same product, though usually at a lower strength, and you can do touch-ups at home. However, your results with in-office whitening will be quicker and more dramatic, because of the gel’s concentration and the quality of the activating blue light. Hope this helps settle the dispute!

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.

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.

Had Zoom Whitening… will my teeth darken to match crown over time?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I had Zoom Whitening done in preparation for a crown I needed. My dentist told me that if I ever wanted to brighten my smile, now was the time to do it, because the crown’s color couldn’t be change afterwards. The tooth isn’t visible all the time. It’s on my top, but two spaces over from the front. Anyway, I went in for the Zoom Whitening and had the crown done about a month later. The dentist assured me it would look fantastic. When I looked at it afterwards, the crown was slightly darker than the rest of my teeth. I didn’t get to see it until after it was cemented, so now I’m stuck with it.

The dentist told me that he used the whitest shade possible, and that it only appears darker because it’s closer to the back of my mouth. He also said that it wouldn’t get noticed, because it’s not part of my smile… except it is. I can see it when I smile in the mirror, and I have looked at it in all sorts of lighting. I complained about it over the phone, and the office lady told me that my teeth would darken over time, and it would match. I’m really frustrated. Are they right and should I leave it, or should I insist that the dentist fix it? — Marilyn

Marilyn,
It sounds like your doctor doesn’t have a whole lot of experience when it comes to cosmetic dentistry or Zoom Whitening. You may want to have another dentist handle any of your future cosmetic needs.

First of all, he didn’t use the whitest shade possible. It sounds like he used the whitest “natural shade,” but now that you’ve had Zoom Whitening, your teeth are incredibly bright. Although they’re not a shade that’s seen in untreated teeth, they’re likely a very common shade for whitened teeth, and he should have ordered a lighter color to suit. Therefore, it’s not your imagination- that tooth probably doesn’t match the rest of your teeth, and, given its position, of course you can see it. It’s part of your smile line, and he should have known this and taken extra care when selecting a shade. Moreover, he should have allowed you to look at the crown before it was put on. It’s very odd that he didn’t have you try it in and give you a chance to examine it before it was permanently cemented.

As you acknowledged, you can’t change the color of the new crown, and the individual who told you that the other teeth would “catch up,” was sorely mistaken. Teeth will take on a whole different hue depending on your habits, and there’s no telling if or when the crown will ever match. The real problem, however, is that you paid extra to have all of your teeth white, and to have that crown match, and you should have received what you expected. At this point, the only way to make it match is to have it redone, and the doctor should be willing to correct it for you without hassle.

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 it True That Ancient Egyptians Whitened Teeth with Urine?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I’m trying to come up with low-cost ways to bleach my teeth so I don’t have to get Zoom whitening done at my dental office. I know it sounds gross, but I swear I heard that people in Egypt used to use urine to make their teeth whiter. Is this true? If so, is it safe? — Anonymous

Dear Anonymous,
You’re pretty close on your history. It was actually the ancient Romans who gave their teeth urine baths. Ammonia, which is a common household cleaner, can be found in urine, and does have the ability to brighten a smile. Although it’s effective, it takes some time and the Romans were advised to make it part of their regular regimen. It’s no surprise that, today, most people prefer Zoom whitening because it’s faster, more predictable, and, of course, a lot less gross!

The Egyptians, on the other hand, were more prone to using a pumice mixture. Interestingly, pumice is still found in the prophy paste hygienists use to polish teeth today. Although it can help remove stains on the surface of a tooth, it can’t get stains that have seeped into a tooth.

Either case may be considered a step up from the methods used in the early 19th century. Barbers, who were often the one-stop-shop for all things hair, medical, and dental-related, used to shave teeth down and apply acid to them. Sure, they became whiter, but without the protective enamel, they also decayed rapidly.

Techniques have improved over the years because there was a need for it. Zoom whitening is a highly popular option because it delivers results safely,  quickly, and consistently. If you’re hoping for quality results, but need a smaller price tag than in-office Zoom whitening, ask your dentist about custom-made take-home trays. Take-home systems work in a very similar manner and provide results over a period of days or weeks, depending on how often you use them, the strength of the solution, and how long you wear them. Plus, they do so without giving you ammonia-breath, and your close family and friends are sure to prefer the newer, more professional methods, for that very reason.

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.

Getting rid of white spots…Zoom whitening didn’t work!

Posted on by smiles4u.

I just recently got my braces off. I love how straight my teeth are, but I have very noticeable white spots on some of my teeth. When I asked my dentist about how to get rid of them, he suggested Zoom whitening. I did the Zoom, but for some reason it didn’t work. What went wrong? — Aliya

Aliya,
This is one of the problems that happens when general dentists try to do cosmetic dentistry. Unfortunately, in your case, your dentist doesn’t really know the right thing to do. While Zoom whitening is a very effective treatment, when teeth are uneven in color like you are describing, it simply doesn’t work and neither will at-home systems. As you might be noticing, the spots are probably getting worse rather than better.

The good news is that there are treatments available to help. For the most part, white spots are caused by calcification around the braces due to oral hygiene issues. There is a product called Tooth Mousse that was developed specifically to help re-mineralize these spots. Microabrasion is also an option, but it tends to result in more of a “creamy” look, rather than white.

Direct dental bonding is probably your best option because the softened and de-calcified enamel (which is actually the early stages of tooth decay) is removed and replaced with composite that can be matched to your exact tooth color.

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.

I shop at the mall, why not whiten my teeth there, too?!

Posted on by smiles4u.

I wanted to get my teeth bleached, but I called around to a few offices and it’s out of my budget. A few of them said they’d give me stuff to use at home for a couple hundred bucks, and the offices that did Zoom whitening charged much more. I’ve been checking out a place at the mall and I’m pretty sure it’s the brand name, but they’re offering it for about $100. Is it safe to do and how can I be sure it’s the real deal? — Amber

Dear Amber,
More than likely, the product you’re seeing isn’t really Zoom whitening, because they sell a professional-grade product. It’s designed for a true dental office, in which a doctor oversees the procedure. Since we don’t know what type of bleach the place at the mall uses, it’s tough to say whether the active ingredient is the same. However, the brand name uses hydrogen peroxide, and many others use carbamide peroxide, which works similarly. If their formula uses one of those in a powerful concentration, it’s probably effective.

The main problem people run into with mall kiosk bleaching is that the technicians aren’t usually dental experts. In an office setting, you’ll have the doctor to oversee your treatment, and will have a highly-skilled assistant performing it. Because the active ingredient is super-strong, safety protocol must be followed, or you can wind up with nasty burns on your gums, the equivalent of sunburn on your face, and very sore teeth. You really need an expert to perform the procedure, not just an average mall employee who took a class and may or may not understand the human body, as well as the chemistry and biology involved.

Cleanliness is also a huge factor. These kiosks may or may not have the equipment on hand to sterilize items before you use them and, again, the person responsible for sanitization may or may not have been properly trained in infection control.

Even if the mall company has managed to secure brand-name Zoom whitening, it’s only safe and effective in the hands of someone who is skilled. In other words, it’s really a gamble to have bleaching done outside the dental office and most dental professionals don’t recommend 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.

What Should I Do About Painful Gums After Zoom Whitening?

Posted on by smiles4u.

I had Zoom whitening done yesterday. While they were doing it, I could feel my gums tingling a bit and I told the assistant. She messed with it a bit, but I’m not sure what she did. The discomfort reduced, but never went away altogether. All though the night, my gums really started to hurt and I couldn’t sleep. I looked at them this morning and they’re all white in one spot and they look very puffy, almost like a blister. What went wrong? Do I need to see the dentist again?  -Eddy

Dear Eddy,
Ouch. It sounds like what you’re experiencing is a reaction to the Zoom whitening gel. Dental offices usually take extra precautions to prevent this, but occasionally, the assistant misses a spot when she’s blocking out your gums, and the gel comes into contact with them and causes a chemical burn. As dreadful as that sounds, and as uncomfortable as it is, it’s usually very minor.

Just like a burn that could happen anywhere else on your body, this should heal itself within a week or two. You may notice a blister, and it might even peel, but healthy skin will take its place, and it probably won’t be noticeable to anyone while it heals or after.

In the meantime, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever, like ibuprofen, to help manage the discomfort. You’ll also need to be very careful while brushing. In fact, you may want to avoid brushing at all for a couple of days, followed by very light brushing until it heals totally. If you received take-home trays with your kit, don’t use them until the area is healthy again, and take extra care to wipe off excess gel when you do bleach at home. To speed up healing, most doctors recommend warm salt water rinses several times a day. There’s also some evidence to suggest that using vitamin E will help improve healing and reduce the chance of scaring later.

If you don’t see improvement within a week, or the pain gets worse, it’s a good idea to have it checked out. You should also let the office know what happened so that they can take preventative measures for future patients.

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.

Zoom whitening made my white spots look worse

Posted on by smiles4u.

My teeth have always had little white spots on them, and I was hoping that having them bleached would make them less noticeable. I talked to my dentist about Zoom whitening and decided to have it done, but I am utterly disappointed with the results. Instead of hiding the white spots, they are even brighter. What happened?
— Stephanie in Mississippi

Stephanie,
The white spots sound like fluorosis – a condition that results from excess fluoride while the teeth are still forming. Zoom whitening and other bleaching products typically brighten natural tooth structure for most people, but if you have fluorosis, your dentist needs to use a different treatment.

You need to talk to your dentist in more detail about the results you were hoping to achieve. There are treatments that will hide the spots, but you and your dentist need to determine which one is best for your situation, and more often than not, it will be either using tooth-colored composite material or placing porcelain veneers. The good news is that it’s best to bleach before having restorative work done – especially if your goal was to not only hide the white spots, but overall have a brighter smile.

Also, you can expect it to take about a week for your new tooth color to stabilize, and you may even notice the white spots even less and decide that they look ok. Regardless of whether or not you seek further treatment, let your dentist know how you felt about the results.

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