Cosmetic
Zoom!® Whitening
In-office whitening in about an hour, with trays to take home and hold the result.
Zoom whitening lifts stain that has worked its way into the tooth over years of coffee, tea, red wine and time. A protective barrier goes over your gums, the gel is applied to the teeth, and a light activates it in three or four short sessions within a single appointment.
Before we whiten anything we check that the color is actually stain. A tooth that has darkened on its own can be a dying nerve, and whitening gel will not touch that. Grey shading from old tetracycline responds poorly too. Five minutes of looking properly saves you paying for a result that was never available.
Existing fillings, crowns and veneers do not lighten. If you have any at the front, we plan the order deliberately — whiten first, let the shade settle for about two weeks, then match the restorations to the new color.
Is this right for me?
- Your teeth have yellowed gradually from coffee, tea, wine or smoking.
- Your gums are healthy and you have no untreated decay — whitening an open cavity hurts.
- You have an event coming up and want the result in one appointment rather than over weeks.
What to expect
A check first
We confirm there is no active decay, no exposed root surfaces and no gum inflammation, and we record your starting shade against a guide.
Protecting the gums
A resin barrier is painted along the gumline and set. This is the step that makes the difference between a comfortable session and a sore one.
Three or four gel cycles
Each cycle runs about fifteen minutes. You can stop after any of them. Bring headphones — there is nothing to do but wait.
Take-home trays
Custom trays and gel let you top up later. Whitening is not permanent, and the trays are what stop you paying for the in-office session again next year.
Your comfort
Sharp cold twinges during and after are the common complaint, and they are short-lived — most people are back to normal within a day or two. Tell us if you already have sensitive teeth and we will start you on a desensitising toothpaste beforehand and can shorten the cycles.
Insurance and payment, sorted before you sit down
We take all PPO plans, Medi-Cal Dental and most Medicare Advantage dental plans, and we check your benefits before treatment so the estimate is in writing. If you need to spread the cost, we work with CareCredit, Cherry and Sunbit.
Apply for financing — Cherry Avenue Office
- CareCredit®Apply online in a few minutes. Decision is usually immediate.
- CherryApply on your phone. The pre-qualification check does not affect your credit score.
- SunbitApplied for at the front desk when you come in — takes a few minutes.
Questions patients ask
How long do the results last?
Commonly a year or more, and longer if you use your take-home trays occasionally. It depends heavily on coffee, tea, red wine and smoking.
Will it damage my enamel?
Professional whitening used as directed is not shown to damage enamel. The sensitivity people feel is temporary and comes from the gel passing through the tooth, not from the surface being eroded.
What about my crowns and fillings?
They do not change color. If you have visible restorations at the front, whitening will make them stand out, so we plan replacing or re-matching them into the sequence and quote for it upfront.
Is store-bought whitening as good?
Strips are milder and work slowly, which suits some people fine. What they cannot do is protect your gums properly or account for a tooth that has darkened for a reason other than stain — which is the risk we are checking for.
What should I avoid afterwards?
For the first forty-eight hours the teeth take up stain easily, so avoid coffee, tea, red wine, tomato sauce, curry and smoking. After that, normal habits are fine.
Can I whiten while pregnant?
We do not whiten during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. There is no evidence of harm, but there is also no need to take a cosmetic risk, so we simply wait.
Related services
Thinking about Zoom!® Whitening?
Send a request and we'll call you back to find a time. You'll get a written estimate before anything is booked in the schedule.