Brighter in about an hour, or on your own time.

ZOOM whitening in the chair

ZOOM is our in-office whitening system. We protect your gums and lips, apply a professional-strength gel and use the ZOOM light to speed it up, in a few short rounds. The whole visit takes about an hour, so it works on a day off, a long lunch or the week before a big weekend. Bring headphones or pick something on the TV.

A cheek retractor keeps your lips out of the way and your teeth dry while the gel works. It isn't painful, though some people feel a few brief zings. You walk out with a noticeable change the same day. It's the best choice when you have a date on the calendar.

Custom take-home trays

Prefer to go slower? We take a quick digital scan and make trays that fit your teeth exactly, then send you home with whitening gel and simple instructions. Most people wear them for a short stretch each day for a week or two, depending on the gel and how light you want to go.

Custom trays keep the gel on your teeth and off your gums, which means more even results and less irritation than one-size-fits-all strips. And you keep the trays, so touch-ups later just take a refill of gel.

ZOOM or trays: which is right for you?

Pick ZOOM if you want the biggest change in the shortest time, or you know you won't stick with a nightly routine. Pick trays if you'd rather go gradually, your teeth tend to be sensitive, or you like controlling the pace yourself.

Many people do both: ZOOM for the big jump, then trays for touch-ups a few times a year. We'll help you choose based on your teeth, your timeline and your budget.

Professional whitening vs. store-bought strips

Store-bought strips and toothpastes can help with light surface stains. Professional whitening uses stronger gel, applied in a controlled way, so the change is bigger and more even, especially along the gumline and between teeth where strips don't reach well.

The other difference is the check. Whitening a tooth with a cavity, a crack or exposed roots can be painful and can hide a problem. We look first, so what you whiten is healthy.

What teeth whitening can't change

Whitening works on natural enamel. It won't change the color of crowns, veneers, bonding or tooth-colored fillings. If you have those on front teeth, we'll plan around them, often by whitening first and then updating the older work to match your new shade.

Some stains sit inside the tooth rather than on it: a single tooth that turned gray after an old injury or root canal, white or brown spots from too much fluoride as a kid, or banding from certain medications. Whitening may soften these but often won't erase them. Bonding or porcelain veneers are usually the better fix, and we'll tell you honestly which you're dealing with.

Will whitening make my teeth sensitive?

It can, for a day or two. Whitening gel opens up the tiny pores in enamel for a while, and some people feel short zings with cold drinks. It fades on its own.

To keep it mild, start brushing with a sensitivity toothpaste a week or two before, skip very cold drinks for the first day, and if you're using trays, space out your sessions. If you already have sensitive teeth or receding gums, tell us. We may suggest trays with a gentler gel or a different plan.

How long does teeth whitening last?

Results can last several months to a couple of years. How long depends mostly on your habits, especially coffee, tea, red wine, soda and tobacco. A few things that help:

• For the first 48 hours, go easy on dark drinks and foods like coffee, red wine, soy sauce and berries
• Rinse with water after coffee or wine, or drink iced coffee through a straw
• Keep your cleanings, which polish off new surface stain
• Use your custom trays for a quick touch-up a few times a year

Who should wait before whitening?

Whitening isn't the right move for everyone right now. We usually suggest waiting if you're pregnant or nursing, if there are cavities or gum disease to treat first, or for kids and younger teens whose teeth are still maturing. If you're planning veneers or bonding, whitening often comes first, and we'll time the rest so the shades match.