rebecca's pocket

OMG! The same thing happened to me. I was in bed for the rest of the day. My teeth hurt so badly, I could hardly stand it! My husband had his done the same day but he was fine. It is a very sharp, shooting pain along with an overall extreme sensitivity. By the next day the pain had lessened but was still bothersome. It took 2 or 3 days for it to go away completely

I can deal with pain probobly better than most people but mouth pain turns me into a baby.

I have always hated going to the dentist. Although it isn't so much the pain, it is being lectured by when I can't reply for not going to the dentist more. That and the realization that what I am paying for the priviledge of being lectured is enough for them to make their BMW payment.

As for whitening, I'll put my trust in my Soniccare and Colgate for now. That sounds awful.

I couldn't afford to go to the dentist for so many years that my yearly checkup feels like a privilege to me - so I don't mind at all. It's nice to be able to take good care of myself. But it's whitening strips for me in the future.

I'm actually searching online for anything to help ease the pain and came across your website. I had the Zoom whitening done this afternoon and I keep getting these "zings" of pain in my teeth. I complained to my family today but they dont understand the sharp pain.

Wish I would've found this page earlier ! Glad to know its not just me!

I'm a Dental Hygienist and happened upon your page. What you are experiencing is dental sensitivity. This can happen with ANY product used to whiten your teeth. When you whiten your teeth you open "little pores" on the tooth's surface, these "pores" (as such) when open can create sensitivity with intensity that varies from person to person. Using a toothpaste with fluoride (look for brands that state they are for sensitive teeth) or a fluoride rinse may help with the sensitivity. The sensitivity usually subsides in a few hours up to a few days. Hope this helps.

I also recently had the Zoom treatment and experienced the same shooting pain in my teeth afterwards. The pain became even more intense after using the at home treatment. This pain lasted for days even though I used a prescription strength toothpaste for sensitive teeth. I am now using a de-sensitizer tray at night which has relieved the pain.

I had the Zoom treatment today and haven't quit smiling. I too have had a several sharp zings (it started in the third round of the treatment) but for the most part they don't last long and if you ask me, the results of the whitener far outweighs any pain I've gone through and may continue to go through. My dentist didn't tell me exactly about the zings but he was pretty clear at letting me know my teeth would be sensitive to hot & cold for a few days (to a few weeks) afterwards. My teeth weren't terribly discolored before the process but after years of tea & cola let's just say they weren't the pearly white they used to be and it made me kind of sad (and worst of all made me look and feel older!). I don't care if the pain lasts for another week, it is worth every bit of it to have such nice white teeth. No pain, no gain!

Wow, that sounds like an advertisement.

My dentist told me that some people aren't bothered by the procedure, and I guess you're one of them. But obviously, there are many of us who experienced really severe pain in response to the treatment.

The dental hygienist that I saw today was really pushing the Zoom at $549. I'm not going to get it now that I've read this. I'll try something else maybe strips or whitening toothpaste.

Thanks

Just wanted to know what the procedure costs if you don't mind sharing

I am presently going thru the whitening process. I had 2 treatments in the dental chair for 20 minutes each using a light- short break in between (same day). The pain was pretty bad in some areas.
Then, I have been doing the night trays for 2 weeks with shooting pain from some tooth areas. It is awful. I go in tomorrow for the same second in-office whitening where the dentist uses some sort of light.
I am quite vain and I figure if the actors and actresses can do it, so can I!
I also am having veneers on a few top teeth and crowns of porcelain to replace the old silver ones. My teeth will be beautiful! They aren't bad now but I want to preserve them for my old age.
You must be motivated. All cosmetic procedures have some pain involved no matter what you are having done to your body. It ain't for chickens! I personally would rather have nice white teeth than stained cruddy ones. I'll take the pain.

I just had the Zoom treatment about two hours ago and I have to say that my teeth came out so white that everyone in the dentist's office was remarking at the difference, even people in the waiting room. I'm in my mid '50's and this has lifted years off my appearance. BUT - I have to say that the shooting pain is the worst! It zaps through my teeth and into my gums and is just like when the dentist is drilling and hits an exposed nerver, only worse. There is no warning and it takes me by surprise and the reflex is that my whole body jerks in pain - and then it's gone in a nano-second. Even still, since it was the best cosmetic proceedure at my age for looking younger, I think it's worth it.

My teeth were much whiter, too. I was told not to drink coffee/tea/red wine and the like for 3 days, and I didn't. I could actually see when it was okay for me to have those things again, because I could see the enamel "heal". Areas went from being bright white to being more like my normal enamel color. By the end of the 3rd day, my teeth had a yellowish tinge again, instead of the "dead white" I had left the office with. They are still whiter, but not to the extent they were immediately after the treatment.

The dentist said I won't ever have to do it again, but I have a different theory. Since my teeth have gotten whiter on their own during the times I have drastically reduced my coffee/tea consumption, my theory is that one's teeth reflect one's current tooth-staining habits. And that by the end of the year, my teeth will be more or less the color they were when I had the treatment.

I'll have the dentist check for me when I go in next year, and then I'll know whether or not I'm right.

I pre-paid today to have the "ZOOM" process completed on next Thursday. I decided to search the net to see if there was any more info about it other what the hygentist shared. Now, I am soooooooooo afraid. I wish I'd done the research prior to paying. I've been wanting to do Brite Smile or something like this for a while now, but never even entertained the idea of pain being associated with it. I'm sure I won't be able to get a refund, so I suppose I will go through with it and pray for the best.

It's worth calling your dentist's office to see if you can get a refund. If they won't give you a refund, it's worth asking them what steps you can take to minimize the pain. I think I read somewhere that taking Ibuprofen ahead of time might help (but ask a medical professional).

Keep in mind that some people have very little pain with the procedure, or, in some cases, none.

Good luck!

I had the Zoom whitening 3hrs ago and I am experiencing the painful zings. My dentist didn't warn me of the potential pain until the procedure started. The first "zing" happened during the third 15min. application and it has not stopped. In addition, I have also developed a terrible headache and can only lie down. I used doctor supervised bleaching trays 7yrs ago and achieved whitening without pain. I would not undergo the zoom process again. I wish that I had found this website first.

Ouch! I just got home from having the ZOOM tooth whitening process done, and am also experiencing those sharp pains! My dentist, like many of yours, also didn't warn me about it until it was over. During the last 15 minutes I started to get shooting pain in one area of my mouth, and it hasn't stopped since. I took Ibuprofen before I went, and have taken it again since getting home (even though it hasn't been 6 hrs!), with no relief. I have Biotene toothpaste for sensitive teeth, and am tempted to try it, I'm just afraid to put anything in my mouth now! I have a high pain tolerance, but this is too much! I would NEVER recommend this to anyone.

My wife, who is a dental assistant, had ZOOM whitening done today by her boss. White the results are amazing, she too like many others have reported is experiencing severe pain and sensitivity. This has been pretty much from the onset of the treatment. Now I myself am a Dentist (I practice at a different office than she works at) and personally I have never had experience using the ZOOM procedure on my patients. I do use an in office system called AcquaBrite Deep Bleaching that produces comparable end results as Zoom, but the technique is somewhat different. It involves two in office deep bleaching sessions two weeks apart with a take home solution that is used nightly in between. The in office sessions do not use the UV light, but rather custom trays that hold the hydrogen peroxide solution combined with an accelerator. This is done for two 20 minute sessions on the first visit, and three 20 minute sessions on the second visit two weeks later. Special AcquaSeal swabs are used with every application both in office and at home to practically eliminate sensitivity. Of all the cases that I and my partner have done with this system, sensitivity that has been reported is extremely mild and most patients experience no sensitivity at all. Also there is very little irritation to the gums and soft tissue if the trays are made properly and loaded with the gel properly. This eliminates the need for the barrier that has to be applied when using the Zoom. So while the AcquaBrite procedure take more time overall, the end result is equivalent to that of Zoom, but the discomfort is virtually nonexistent. I am considering myself trying both systems on myself....lets say ZOOM for just the uppers and AcquaBrite for the lowers and compare the sensitivity and results. I suppose that would be pretty much a good controlled experiment. I'll post back with my results if I do it!

hi im having my zoom treatment done next week. does the shooting pain happen to everyone as am reading peoples comments and its scaring me to death. is this a dangerous procedure, and i watched a documentry about teeth whiting and its says it can cause cancer.....please help

Hi Claire,

You should discuss your concerns with your dentist. He may be able to allay your fears, or offer you a different procedure.

It's Pam again.....Thanks for the advice. I will definitely check with my dentist to see if there's anything I can do to eliminate the sensitivity and check for alternative methods. I will post again next Thursday after the procedure has been completed. I've learned a valuable lesson from this and that is: to always do the research 1st!!!

ok... sensitivity after teeth whitening should really be expected. Whitening strips etc dont work.. i am a dental manager and i have had my teeth whitened. they look fantastic and i am constantly praised for them. Zoom! is the best whitening product on the market. aslo can i say that a dentist will study for 7 years of his/her life and carry out a job which helps people, if that dentist wants to buy a bmw, what has it got to do with us? they do a good job and they should be paid well.

I disagree. I expect pain in connection with an invasive procedure, but it didn't occur to me that whitening could be painful. And neither did it occur to any of the people I've told about my experience.

I just had the Zoom treatment this morning and have been in agony the entire day. I would have NEVER gotten this treatment if someone had disclosed this possible side effect. The disclosures said something about mild pain but nothing about being almost unable to function. This goes away, I hope????

It will go away, possibly by tonight. Mine got better with each passing hour and by the next day was gone. (I got my procedure done in the morning.)

I also had zoom this morning. I have sharp shooting pains and a terrible headache but i think the pain is worth it. I do hope the pain will go soon as Im finding it very difficult to cope at work.

I would love to have ZOOM as my teeth have dulled considerably over the years (I'm nearly 50). My concern is that I had root canals on my canines (on each side) and they are somewhat darker than my other teeth. Will they whiten with ZOOM? Thank you for all the feedback from the Dental professionals and ZOOM patients.

Yes, I'm interested in having my teeth whitened as well. I had a root canal on one of my front teeth and then the tooth next to my canine tooth. So my front 4 teeth have a root canal in every other tooth. They are definitely yellowing and show up very discolored in pictures. I do have a few crowns in the back. Will Zoom whitening help even out teeth where a root canal has been performed? I want them to be whiter in general, but I also want a more evenly distributed tooth color for my smile. I read somewhere that they can insert some of the bleach in the tooth that had the root canal. Do you know about this? Please help.

I had the Zoom done at 2:00 and it's 6:30 now and the pain is really UNBEARABLE. I'm afraid to talk or open my mouth or even take the codine the dentist prescribed me afterwards. The hygenist said that I might be a little sensitive to cold but NEVER said that this could happen. If I had read this before my procedure, I wouldn't have done it and I'll never do it again - the pain actually makes me tear up and freeze in pain. I wonder if I can get a novicane shot tomorrow if this doesn't go away?

I got the Zoom Treatment yesterday and on the 2nd rounds, I started getting the "Shocking Extreme Pains." It felt like my nerves were being hit and my whole body shook! It lasted the rest of the day. I was in so much pain! I would have never gotten the procedure done had I known this. This was a pain like no other. I have extremely sensitive teeth and I feel that someone should have warned me of this. Today, the pain is gone in my teeth, but my gums are so raw and they were burnt with bleach! I can't eat and this is a different pain! I would not recommend this if you have sensitive teeth and gums already! I wish that I would have found this website prior to my appointment. I am healing and my teeth are whiter, but the pain that I experienced in the first day was not worth it!

Please don't waste your money with this procedure. It hurts so much, I can't eat or talk, my teeth are so so sensitive. I can't open my mouth at all because if external air touch them, it will make me cry as hell. I can't believe people have to go through all this to get their teeth withened!!! The pain is ridiculous. Don't do it please.

I wrote on the 13th of Feb about having the zoom procedure done. It was an extremely painful experience. I could barely talk for fear of air entering my mouth, my head ache was unbearable infact it was probably the worst pain I have felt for at leats 24 hours. However, that said, I am so happy and would go through the pain all over again if I had to. My gums were also red the next day and my teeth are still sensitive but they look FANTASTIC!! I have always been very paranoid about my teeth and now I just cant stop smiling. If you want white teeth and if it will help your self esteem go for it!! Dont let the pain hold you back. Really, I had my first child three months ago and I knew that would hurt like hell but if it's worth it than it doesnt really matter does it!!

Has anyone tried orajel advanced tooth desensitizer?? I am in a lot of pain...and that stuff says it works!

I previously wrote on 2/8 when I'd only pre-paid for the services, and became extremely afraid after researching. Well, today I had the ZOOM procedure completed, and I am just FINE. I too, am experiencing the sporadic without warning sharp pains, but the magnitude of my pain is not great at all. I voiced my concerns to the dental staff, and I've never encountered such a pleasant group of people in that line of work. My dentist offered to give me a refund after explaining other alternatives to me, and reassuring me that the pain would more than likely subside a day or two later. The dentist further advised she had ZOOM this past Fri and by Saturday she was fine. Like some of the preivous bloggers have stated, I did experience sensitivity in the 3rd round but I think I was one of the fortunate ones. Overall, I am pleased with the results, but thought it would have achieved a whiter color.

I MUST SAY I WOULD DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN!!!!!!!!

Pam, thanks for checking back in. I was wondering about you and how it all went. I'm glad it went so well.

Thank you Rebecca for maintaining such an enlightening website!!!!!!!

Gosh I was looking into getting Zoom whitening, but maybe not! Not only is it super expensive, but apparently painful! I think I can imagine what the pains might be like, the last few times I'd used whitening strips, I'd gotten some pains, but this sounds much worse.

So what is a good alternative? I have been using whitening toothpaste every day since they first hit the market several years ago. I've also used white strips several times. Each time, the whiteness was great but quickly faded.

can you please give me suggestions of what to eat now? i had those acute, shooting pains all night. it was weird b/c i had it done at 1 p.m. and was out of the office at 2:30 p.m. my dentist said i was the easiest and fastest patient he has ever whitened. i did have zinging pains during the end of the 2nd treatment and through out the 3rd treatment. i thought, no pain...no gain. well, i went to work and was OK. around 7 p.m. when i left i had throbbing, acute, random shots of pain in my front teeth, and walked home in below zero weather. i took four more ibuprofen and my fiance stummbled upon your blog. my dentist told me afterwards about the zings of pain, but told me before about sensitivity. i just don't know what i can eat now? i eventually ended up taking some vicodin and it finally knocked me out so i could sleep. my fiance has an appt. on tues. he's petrified as i was in so much pain. i guess it was worth it b/c now nearly 24 hrs later i have only sensitivity. however, i'm afraid to eat anything b/c i don't want to ruin the awesome results. i look like i have chicklets so hopefully it'll tone down a little bit.

any suggestions as to what i can eat besides highly pigmented foods would be great.

I just had the Zoom procedure and spent the entire ride home in tears. I have never experienced pain like this. I too cannot talk or open my mouth for fear of this intense pain. No one at the dentist office told me about this pain, and had I known how bad it would have been I would have walked out. This product should be taken off the market!!! I have undergone other cosmetic procedures, and nothing has ever hurt this bad. Don't do it!!!

any suggestions as to what i can eat besides highly pigmented foods would be great.

Pasta with olive oil/butter/white sauce; oatmeal; leek and potato soup; vanilla yogurt; Mountain Dew (for caffeine); rice; beans, except for black beans; white wine; apples; grapefruit; gin.

Well just got back from the cleaning they recommend 24 hours before hand. Did a google to check further into Zoom which landed me here, Holy Cow ! I have never feared the surgeons scapel before but some of these horror stories have me wondering. I also pre-paid this morning and at my dentist the cost is 440.00, dont know what the going rates in other ares ? I am an outside sales rep., sounds like i may have a challenging day representing let alone eating something ? or anything ? I will let you know of my results on Tuesday. I hope these unsatisfied reviews are a very small percentile of the total satisfied people who have done this procedure.

I had the Zoom treatment done recently and had absolutely no discomfort--and I have sometimes sensative teeth. The process was time consuming but super easy and the results are more than worth it. I've been using bleach trays weekly for years so I've been diligent...but I went up 9 shades of white with the Zoom! I

I had the ZOOM! procedure this morning as well, and am experiencing some of the same pains as many of you. However, to alleviate some of the fears of people who are considering this procedure, the pain is uncomfortable, to say the least, but it is not unbearable. I say this knowing that I really do NOT have a high pain tolerance, so it truly cannot be that bad. As for those who feel that they should have been warned about such sensitivity earlier, shame on you for not doing your research prior to having such a procedure. While I agree that any health care professional has a responsibility to disclose possible side effects, it is also on the patient to be well informed and aware of what they are doing to their own bodies. There is enough information available via the internet that no one should be able to use the excuse that "they weren't informed".

Also, as a side note, I agree with the statement about dentists deserving those BMWs. After all the schooling they go through, and the fact that they have to deal with people's dirty mouths all day, they deserve Ferrari's if you ask me.

What I've learned from this thread is that the pain varies immensely from person to person, and for some people it really is unbearable. For others, not too bad.

It's worth noting that the literature provided by my dentist's office cautioned that there might be some "slight tingling" as a result of the procedure—a deliberately misleading statement if I've ever seen one. If it had cautioned me about pain, I might have done further research, but actual pain was never mentioned in any of the literature that was available. I'm usually a pretty cautious consumer, but, to be honest, I am still astonished that such a procedure even could cause pain.

Since the only other person who offered a defense of dentist's salaries identified himself as an office manager in a dental office, Andrea, I'm wondering if you, too, work in a dental office, or are related to someone who does. No one else has even mentioned it, much less complain about it.

hee hee! no way! i can't imagine a life where 8 hrs a day i was dealing with peoples dirty mouths!!!! and although my aunt is a dental hygenist, she is certainly not sharing in the profits of her dental office...maybe i take some offense b/c i drive a BMW :) but the truth of the matter is that it is a very difficult profession, and dentists work very hard to get where they are, so I do truly beleive that they deserve the fruits of their labor. I just finished 4 years of part time law school so I have alot of sympathy for the difficulty they put themselves through.

okay, it's me once again........I would just like to say that after finding this great site, and discussing the procedure in greater detail before having it completed, I learned that a lot of it has to do with the age of a person & the recession of their teeth. So it may not be fair to guage your pain levels by someone elses. Some have had root canals, and other procedures I haven't had to experience just yet. I am 32 years old...other bloggers may be older or younger... Just wanted to shed some light as I think the condition of your teeth, gums, & prior procedures may really be some factors to take into consideration.

I also agree that one should do his/her research but like Rebecca, I had not an inkling that the procedure would/could involve pain until I stumbled on this site.

I had the Zoom procedure today. I was my cousin Mary's (a dental hygenist) very first patient. I too was weary of the pain beforehand. I am very sensitive and pain intolerant. However, I found the procedure quite painless.
In fact, we went to lunch right afterwards and I ate a tuna sandwich. I got my first zing with a sip of cold water so I am drinking with straws now. I only have had three zings since and it is 9pm. I feel sensitivity to hot and cold but nothing really uncomfortable. My teeth look great thanks to my fantastic cousin. I would definitley recommend this procedure.

Got a Question ? My dentist advised me to have the cleaning one day and 24 hours later the Zoom treatment, has anyone had both treatments in one day ?

Both my husband and I had both procedures on the same day, one after the other.

and having both percedures done at the same time, did you experiance negative reactions ? I think have your teeth scraped and flossed and gums get roughed up a bit that might add to the uncomfortable feelings afterward, what do you think ?

Read the original post. If you have sensitive gums, that might be a problem. Our gums were sore for a few days after the procedure, but that was completely bearable. If that were the only adverse reaction, I'd do this procedure again.

The pain we experienced had nothing to do with our gums. It was sharp, shooting pains deep within our teeth.

Have just had the ZOOM and I too have been getting the ZINGS... the whole point of the ZOOM as suggested by my dentist was that it supposed to be cutting edge and better than older in-office bleach treatments precisely for those with tooth sensitivity... But the zings started on my drive home -- it feels like sudden extreme heat on several teeth -- then goes away pretty quickly... But between the extreme nature of the pain and the total randomness on when it shoots -- the anticipation of the next zing even is stressing me out!... I've been told by the dental office to try applying some Sensodyne... Overall, I have to agree with those who question whether this treatment is worth it for anyone who has even mldly sensitive teeth -- and more importantly why is this side effect not more throughly discussed and acknowledged BEFORE the treatment.

I had the Zoom yesterday. 4 x 15 minute sessions of light. The Shooting pains started on session 2 but I hung in there for my moneys worth. Today the pains have subsided, my teeth are still white but I'm hanging for a coffee.

Ow I'm in pain and have been for the last 10 days. I'm using a slightly different technique for the whitening procedure but the principal of zoom whitening is being used.

I am using enlighten smile which is a home kit using hydrogen peroxide trays for 14 nights followed by a one off procedure at the dentist using the laser light with a more concentrated hydrogen peroxide.

I too am experiencing EXTREME pain from sensitivity and this is only from using the trays. I am extremely concerned about my appointment for the intense treatment at the dentist using the laser following the comments. I am not entirely sure it is worth this agony to be honest, I have been taking tablets to combat the pain and using the swabs which come with the kit but, Oh my gosh NEVER ever again!!!! The pain is intense!

I had ZOOM done today.
im 16 and i guess my teeth are somewhat sensitive. To be honest i made sure to ask about sensitivity after the procedure. They said id only had some slight discomfort.
Cool. Not even close.
Certain pains i can handle, while some i cant. Maybe its just me. But while in the car the pain started getting worse. Getting the "zing" feeling every 5 seconds. id taken 2 advils which did nothing.
Hours later. now. Im in constant intense pain from the "zings". I took a vikiden which has done absolutly nothing. I dont cry often at all, and this has definatly gotten me weeping in pain.

If i had known it would be like this i wouldnt have done it. This is so incredibly horrible. My pain tolerance isnt high, but it isnt low either. I can tell the difference from normal pain and intense pain. this is intense.

this sucks. haha god

I just had Zoom! this morning and wanted to post. I do not discount everyone's statements regarding their experience, as I believe that is what happened to each of you. I just wanted people to know that it is not this way for everyone.

I believe your experience is directly related to the quality of dental service you receive. My dentist was extremely careful to ensure that all areas of my gums and lips were protected. She even went as far as creating a rubber dam to ensure my gums were safe. The first light produced with Zoom! tends to get hotter and patients have more adverse effects. There is a second light that was released which is efficient without the extreme heat.

I have not had a single "Zing" yet. In addition, I did have my teeth cleaned after the treatment. My suggestion is to talk to your dentist in detail about the procedure before signing up.

I hope all of you who had a reaction are well now and love your white teeth.

I had the Zoom done today and the results were amazing. 10 years of smoking, tea, coffee, GONE! But I'm in the same boat as the rest of you with the Zooming pain through my teeth. It's gone in a second but can really catch you off guard. I guess there is a price for beauty. But for those of you who are reading this and getting all freaked out, it's really not that bad. It's an hour of annoyance at the dentist and a few sharp pains in the teeth. It sucks a little but suck it up, nothing worse than the pain after a real workout or a day of skiing.

I was thinking of getting Zoom whitening before my sister's wedding. I'm 19 so my teeth aren't worn out, but now that I hear that it hurts, not only is it expensive, but it causes pain, so I rather not do it. Has anyone else had the AcquaBrite treatment that the dentist was writing about? If that doesn't hurt and it gives the same results I rather have that done. I'm glad I found this website before I had anything done.

Today is March 7, 2007. I had Zoom at 2:30pm this afternoon. At the 11 minute mark of the 3rd 15 minute treatment I felt a very sharp nerve pain(zing)in my front two bottom teeth. My dentist stopped the proceedure to evaluate and we began again. Six minutes later another quick but intense pain. We stopped again. While we were stopped it happened again. And once on the ride home and once at home about 20 minutes after leaving the dentist office. I popped two Advil and nothing so far. My teeth are incredibly white!! I love the results. The brief pain sensitivity I felt is a walk in the park compared to giving birth or battling cancer. To me it is worth every penny. It has given me back a smile that has been tainted because of diet choices and chemotherapy. I would do it again.

Can anybody tell me about their teeth a month or so after the zoom treatment? Are your teeth still as white and are you still satisfied with the results even if the pain was intense?

Thanks

I believe my teeth are whiter, but not nearly as much as right after the treatment. In fact, within 3 days, they had acquired a more yellowish cast, which I believe was the enamel "healing" from the bleaching process.

I don't think there's any good way to predict whether or not this procedure will be worth it to you, the pain varies so much from one person to the other. If I had had only the minor zings described by some of the commenters, I wouldn't even have bothered to post about it. But given the level of pain I experienced, I'll never do it again.

Hi,
I had the ZOOM! done about 24 hours ago and my teeth don't seem that white...they are very blochy (sp?) looking...is this going to get better? I did not have any pain during the procudure but my bottom lip is sore.

I had in-office bleaching done today (not Zoom but something comparable) and I too have had a couple of "zings". Surprisingly, though, my teeth aren't sensitive to hot or cold. The zings are really bad but like others said, they last only a few seconds and are gone. Hopefully tomorrow at work I won't embarrass myself if I get a zing while people are around.

My dentist said that your teeth can continue to whiten for as much as up to 7-10 days after the treatment - I assume this is true? I guess it's the enamel healing like someone said. Right now I am so paranoid about eating something staining, so I'm sticking to mostly white foods and flossing/brushing after every meal (I guess we're all supposed to do that anyway, but who really does?).

So far, my teeth aren't as white as I had hoped, but the dentist said they wouldn't be because mine were grey to begin with.

Hi! I am a dental hygienist and feel bad that so many are experiencing so much pain. I have done many whitening procedures with the Zoom 2 system. Only one indiviual experience "shooting pain in 1 tooth". You really have to inform yourself if you are a good candidate for such a treatment. If you are already experiencing sensitivity to cold or hot, if you have old restorations that are leaking, if you have gingival recession...you might need to take care of these situations first and might not be a good candidate at all and yes your dental professional should let you know regarding this. There are some gels that you apply in your trays to help with sensitivity. Depending on your habits (coffee, smoking, red wine) you might need to touch in 6-12-18 months; it also depends on the initial shade of color you started with. Don't forget that crowns, veneers, bonding do not change color with withening.
Everyone wants to feel better and look better. Do it! My recommendation is always to be informed first. Good Luck!!

I'm thinking about getting ZOOM! I'm not so much worried about the pain, my teeth really need it. But, I was wondering, do they examine your teeth first and let you know if you're able to get it? what prevents you from being able to get ZOOM!? (I guess what I'm trying to say is: Does your teeth have to qualify first?) I have about 2 teeth in the back that are BAD cavaties....is it for me?

Dear Rebecca:

To say my Zoom whitening experience was less than satisfactory would be putting it mildly. I expected some discomfort with tooth sensitivity but did not expect to suffer blisters, sores and swelling on my inside bottom lip. The pain was at times unbearable. It hurt to eat or smile and took well over a week for the discomfort to subside. I was burned literally and figuratively. The miniscule amount of vitamin E gel they send you home with is insufficient to deal with burns of that magnitude.

Nobody in their right mind would undergo this treatment if the possibility of blisters, open wounds and sores was made known in advance as a ‘normal’ part of the procedure. I also checked the Women’s Health Support Forum where there are multiple incidences of open sores and serious blistering of the lip reported after the Zoom procedure. Zoom obviously still has some kinks to work out because customers shouldn’t experience burning that result in open sores and blisters. This is dangerous and totally unacceptable.

Moreover, I question the ethics and integrity of the parent company that runs and owns Zoom. Because I was in such agony, I called the Zoom customer hotline on a Saturday. (I had the procedure on a Thursday, February 22.) I was told by Zoom to contact my local Better Business Bureau. When I asked them who owned Zoom, I was told they couldn't give me that information. Do they have something to hide? I did research on the Internet until I found Discus Dental. In a subsequent conversation with the hygienist who performed the procedure, she alluded to an unsatisfactory response the first time she called the Zoom dentist hotline. She, of course, was concerned about my blisters.

I followed up with a call to Discus Dental the following Monday and spoke with a customer service rep there. I recounted my conversation with Zoom customer service and he said he would speak with them. He, of course, was more sympathetic but I’ve never gotten any follow up call, so I have no idea if he even spoke with them. A good customer service system would follow up with the customer or complainant. All in all, I am left with a very bad impression of their operation. I suspect they’ll play the blame game and blame the individual dentists rather than acknowledge any lack of proper training, deficiency with their product or support to the people who use their product.

Disappointingly, I can’t even say the pain was worth it because the color of my teeth has reverted to what it was originally. I followed post-procedure instructions diligently. Due to the blisters and pain, I didn’t eat as much for an entire week and drank liquids using a straw, thereby avoiding contact with tooth enamel. The initial results, which showed a noticeable improvement, seem to have faded.

I would never recommend Zoom to anyone.

Kerstin

Most dentists recommend that you rinse before bedtime with a flouride rinse for two weeks before having in office tooth whitening. Also, if you grind your teeth or have sensitive gums the hygienist or dentist should block the chewing surfaces with wax before the procedure starts.
I have very sensitive teeth because I brux (grind) my teeth at night and I had my teeth whitened, BriteSmile, with very few "zingers" afterwards. They looked fantastic and you can keep it up with the paint on whiteners.
I think the people who posted here with severe pain may not have been given adequate pre whitening instructions.

I reccomend Aquabrite as the dentist above suggested. I just had my teeth whitened early this morning and I have to say, it was not so bad until the third tray. I was uncomfortable and in pain. Once they removed the final tray and put this foam flouride in, it was in instant relief. And I have had no problem since. Well, there is one slight problem, i am wondering what I can eat. I was told to eat anything white or clear. I have been drinking water, ate oatmeal and popcorn. Any suggestions will be greatly appreicated. Also I forgot do I use the swab after or before I put my trays in at home. (My dentist left for the day)

I just had ZOOM whitening done today and it was awesome. My teeth lightened 10 shades and it was really not so bad. I have sensitive teeth but surprisingly, I have only experienced a little tingling since the procedure. I popped several ibuprofen prior to the procedure just a prevention (since I've heard about the "zingers.") I had braces as a kid and remember that process being far more painful and uncomfortable than this. For those of you who have had a bad experience -- I feel for you -- that's awful but it seems like it's difficult to tell how people's teeth/gums will react. I also had a complete teeth cleaning, x-rays, exam before the procedure to check to make sure my teeth/gums were in good shape.

Barb,

I had ZOOM on February 15th, and my teeth aren't very much whiter either. I was rather disappointed thinking it would have achieved a whiter color also. I don't drink coffee or tea...therefore, my teeth weren't significantly stained...just discolored. My teeth were also a little blotchy, and instead of confronting my dentist office (who appeared to think it worked well), I researched Brite Smile last night. Though I don't want to pay $400 all over again, I'm unhappy. Like you, I experienced little pain. I'm starting to wonder if the pain is associated with the results.

I had the Zoom done on my teeth and towards the end of the process I thought I was going to jump out of the chair. The sharp pains escalated as the day went on - I would actually cringe in pain! I did take aspirin but the dentist gave me sensitivity toothpaste and it really helped.
The things we do for beauty!

I had Zoom last week in Scotland - the dentist warned me about "stinging pain" before it started but I am pleased to report I had NO PAIN AT ALL!! In fact I nearly fell asleep in the chair! My teeth are much whiter and I am using it as a spur to stay away from the cigarettes! My dentist told me had had the zoom equipment for over a year and in all that time had only had 2 patients who complained of these stinging pains. Fear not!

Hi I just wanted to add my 2 cents worth. I have been thinking of doing the Zoom process, but after reading all these comments I am going to have to say no. I tried using the crest premuim white strips after the 3rd day I experienced the sharp pain with them. About 6 months later I went to the dentist and had the trays made for the at home bleaching system. After one day of using them I stopped because I had the sharp pains in my teeth, even though I used a desensitizing gel and toothpaste from the dentist. So this is my advice to any one with the slighest of sensitive teeth---- look for the pain if you decide to do it.

Hi Everyone, I had the ZOOM treatment done today. Procedure started at 1:30 and ended at 2:45. She did 1-10 minute session then 2-15 minute sessions. I had no sharp sudden pains during any of those sessions. The initial results look great! Not sure how they will be tomorrow or the weeks to come?? Hopefully I'll be satisfied. When I returned home at about 3:30 I was starved as I cooked my meal HERE CAME THE DREADFUL SHARP PAINS! ALL I CAN SAY IS OUCH!OUCH! It's now 7:15pm and I've probably had about 10 since they started. I'm sure there's more to come. I also used the sensodyne, didn't help. I just resorted to a vicodin and warm pajamas for comfort. Not sure if I'd do it again?? I'm just glad I chose a friday to have it done and not beginning or mid week. I almost forgot, I did have my lip burnt. I was really puffy when I left the office. It's gone down since. I also had laser hair removel this week and I never thought that would hurt like it did either. I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment! I wish everyone who decides to do this "Good Luck". I'm getting my warm blanket and hoping to fall asleep soon....

Pam,
The Zoom is only a "booster" and you should have received whitening gel and trays to continue the process at home until you achieve a desired shade of white.

Kerstin,
I hope your situation is getting better. As a "Zoom operator" it is my responsability to make sure that my client is very well isolated. Meaning lips, cheeks, face, etc...
with gauze, liquid dam etc...We do receive proper training from a Zoom rep (even a DVD to watch the procedure in details.)But finally it is left to the dental professional to do the procedure properly. What did your dentist say when they saw your situation, please tell me you showed it to them! And by the way I have no personal interest in the company that magnifactures the Zoom light.

Hi, I just had the Zoom Whitening procedure done this afternoon. I must tell you that the result was amazing. But the painful shooting pain still lingers. I tried taking another Motrin to ease the pain but it didn't help at all. Now, I can't stop salivating. My upper lip swelled up a bit, too. I am hoping that by tomorrow, the pain will subside. I really can't bear the pain anymore and I wasn't able to eat either. I like the result but I am pretty sure that I am not coming back for another treatment.

Hi I am thinking about getting my teeth whitened by the latest version Zoom! 3. This version claims to cause less sensitivity than previous ones, and so I'm just wondering whether anyone has tried it. After finding this website, I am terrified about the subsequent shooting pains but still really want to get the procedure done as I really think whitening my teeth will drastically improve my self-esteem. I am 23 yrs of age and experience mild sensitivity to my teeth and gums. Although many of you have posted regarding pain experienced, I was wondering more so whether results were satisfactory or even exceeded expectations...

My dentist gave me a prescription for Vicoden (just 5 tabs) to be filled only if needed.

I was fine until about 3 hours after the procedure. Took a couple, then was back 100% no pain the next day.

It was worth it, but my teeth will always have a natural yellowish tinge to them Im afraid.

I've read this page with a great deal of interest and would like to thank everyone that took the time to post their experiences with Zoom. I would estimate that 80 percent of the postings here are from people who were within a few hours after having the procedure done and are complaining about pain. Rebecca Blood and a handful others have posted more long term results but I would really like to hear from more people regarding their long term whitening results. It's interesting that there aren't too many, it leads me to believe that most people are happy with their results because if they weren't they would be here posting. Us humans love to complain don't we? :)

Please, can we hear from more people about their long term whitening results?

Hi, I just posted yesterday while I was still in pain. This is the day after my procedure and I would like to let everyone know that the pain has subsided. The only thing is that when I brushed my teeth this morning, my gum were a little bit hurting but not too much. My teeth are not experiencing those constant shooting pain anymore. So, I am very very glad.... I hope I get to maintain my bright smile...

All these comments are very interesting. My daughter is 18, has to get a crown redone on a front tooth and the hygenist talked us into Zoom before the crown is replaced. I just postponed her appointment so I could read up on this procedure. My main question is, how long do the effects last given "normal" eating/drinking habits? Saying "long term" to me means upwards of maybe 10 years. I don't want my daughter to have to go through some painful, expensive procedure every 2-3 years just so her normal teeth match her new crown. I'm footing the bill and the procedure costs $400 but the next ones are on her. What is the long term outlook for the effects of Zoom?

Hi Liz,

Two things: first, the color you walk out of the dentist's office with is not the color your teeth will settle into in just a few days. My teeth were bright white - the dentist was thrilled - and in 3 days had acquired a slightly more yellowish cast. (I was avoiding coffee/tea/etc during that time, so it was the actual color of my teeth once they had "healed".)

Second, a month and a half since I had the procedure, my teeth are (I think) still whiter, but not nearly as white as they were. Perhaps 2 shades whiter instead of 5. My husband (who didn't get such spectacular results as I did) believes his teeth have reverted to their original color. I think they are a bit whiter, but probably not as white as they were.

Having said that, I was not able to tolerate the sealant. The dental hygienist applied the first bit on one tooth and I yelled and sat up, the pain was so intense. She wiped it off and that was that.

Even though my dentist said something about this being permanent - reasoning that it had taken X number of years for my teeth to acquire this cast, and would take an equal number to get that yellowed again - that doesn't seem to be the case.

My personal theory is that your teeth reflect your current habits: the amount of staining substances you put into your mouth regularly. I remember, for example, that my teeth became noticably whiter when I was living in a college dorm for a quarter, and stopped drinking tea (it was a pain to boil water in my room). So I expect my teeth to be about the same as they were when I go back to see the dentist at the beginning of next year. We'll see if that's the case.

Now perhaps if your teeth were very darkened with years of smoking or the like, you'd have a much more dramatic - and lasting - improvement.

My theory might be all wrong, but quite honestly, I'd have the crown made to match her current tooth color.

Very interesting discussion. I am a general dentist and have a few bits of information some may find helpful. First thing, the light does nothing in the bleaching process. This has been looked at several times using what are called split arch studies. 1/2 the mouth treated with the light and the bleach, 1/2 with just the bleach. Identical results. The light is a marketing ploy, nothing else.

In office bleaching essentially uses a higher bleach concentration than the tray type systems. This is what gives patients the high degree of sensitivity. But actually you get the best results using a lower concentration of bleach in trays over a couple of week period, and with much much lower sensitivity. You don't have to suffer to get your teeth white!

Lastly I have seen many comments posted here about how the results were initially astounding and then faded over a couple of days. This is another well understood issue in bleaching. The bleach gel dehydrates the teeth (also another contributer to the sensitivity) in the in office visit. This will make the teeth look substantially lighter than they really are. One of the first things dentists are taught is to take the shade of teeth they are trying to match before they start to work because we know after an hour with cotton or a rubber dam in place they shade will change. Try it for yourself. Take cotton and put it between you upper teeth and lip for an hour. You will be surprised. What happens is that after a couple of days the teeth rehydrate and go back a few shades. You do get a bit of change due to the high concentration of bleach, but what you walk out of the office with is not what you should expect to be the final shade, hence the follow up trays.

Bottom line, if what you want is whiter teeth, a couple of weeks with trays will give that to you with a relatively low rate of sensitivity and results as good or better than the in office systems, and likely for a lot less money. In office bleach is fine as a jump start, but probably not worth the extra cost and pain.

I find this whole discussion, and especially Mike's latest words of wisdom, very timely. I'm wondering if he (or others) may have any recommendations on home whitening kits -- for instance, online kits are offered by http://www.whitersmileonline.com and http://www.platinumsmile.net. Are they any good? I just got off the phone with my dentist's office, to request Procera crowns (I have temporaries in now), and I asked about whitening in that context (not wanting to put in crowns matching my current shade if I'm going to whiten). They recommended whitening before ordering the crowns, and said they switched from offering Britesmile/Zoom to offering Aquabrite bleaching. I am floored by the Aquabrite pricetag of $1500! (And that's without any gimmicky equipment!) I would prefer to work with a professional instead of a complete do-it-yourself home kit, especially as I have slightly receding gums, but the price gap seems enormous! I found this Prevention magazine article on tooth whitening helpful (especially the cautions about exposed/sensitive teeth) -- http://www.prevention.com/topic/0,5768,s1-5-89-241-0-0,00.html -- but they seem to have only tested the over-the-counter-at-the-grocery-store kits. Thanks.

I have an appt to get the zoom next week and it's a $1000. I live in the northern virginia area. Just curious as to how much you guys paid as this seems pricey to me. Dentist said i could get 'trays only' for in-home bleching for $500.

Tori:

That's too much. My dentist does it for half that.

Jane-
I'm in the same situation as your daughter. I'm having a crown put on my front tooth and recently had the ZOOM 2 done on my teeth. First off, it didn't get my teeth much whiter. They also told me that I need to get my teeth the shade I want before delivering the crown. So now i'm going to do the bleaching trays at home. My dentist's assisent (who's teeth are VERY white and uses trays only) told me, a little late, that she has never seen the Zoom 2 have very good results in the three offices she has worked in!! Would have been nice to know this before hand!! I would have your daughter just get the bleaching trays. I've been instructed to use them twice a day for 30 minutes each time. I'll post back in a week and let you know what the results are. I would not waste your money on Zoom 2 !!!!!

Hey everyone. I got on this website a few days ago to check out the possible precautions or side effects of Zoom. I have to say I was a little worried!
I know it's different for everyone, but I wanted to say that I had an AMAZING experience today. (I did go ahead and take the ibuprofen ahead of time like one of you suggested and took some more afterwards per dentist's advice. She did warn me that the pain level could get intense.)
My teeth are literally ten shade whiter and I had one zing which scared me more than hurt. I can't wait to show off my new dazzling white teeth! I can't make the decision for anyone else, but for me, the risk of the reaction was worth it. I am soo happy that I did ZOOM!

Oh, and I do have a low pain tolerance, so I don't think it's related to pain tolerance. It must be something with the state of your teeth or the application process.

Had it done today, $450, worked really well, and I opted for 4 light treatments because I wasn't feeling a thing. They usually only do three but I'm cute. And humble.

No pain until about an hour later and then got some of those "electric shock" feelings that people are talking about. Yeah, they're a wake-up call, but tolerable for me.

I'm 53 y.o. cauc male, non-smoker, non-drinker, but heavy on the diet coke, coffee, and rootbeer.

I'd recommend it. Pain is a three to six on a ten scale, but lasts a split second.

I also got mouth trays that they made at the same visit and a take home kit for future home treatments.

My eyes are dry (from the light???) and I wore the goggles the full time. I was also photo-sensitive when going outside afterwards, but sunglasses did the trick.

I'm a registered nurse, for what it's worth, and I was scrutinizing all the meds/proceedures, etc.

Hello:
I had my teeth zoomed in January of this year. My teeth were very sensitive for 2 days. No much of a thrill. My teeth whitened, not as much as I hope, but wouldn't go through that again.

I went for the treatment. They were having a special for $350.00

They took pretty good care of me. They made sure to block off all soft tissue and gums, and gave me the goggles.

I had 4 light sessions. The only pain I felt was my neck and head, and that was because I had to stay still in the chair for such a long time. LOL.

When I got home, I did feel sensitive about 4 hours after the treatment. I felt 2 Zings, but thats it.

I did not experience the type of pain others have described here, so it definitely varies from person to person. Also, you have to understand that most people will not come here to post their "Great" experience. Most people will complain about thier "Bad" experience.

I have had a bunch of friends and family members get the treatment, and I never heard from them that they had un bearable pain.

And my teeth are much whiter! I love it. My teeth were already white, but this treatment made my teeth as white as when I was a kid!!

I would do it again!

This morning at 9:00 AM I got my zoom treatment. Within my third procedure I had severe pain so the dentist gave me something to make the pain go away which actually made the pain even more severe. Well its not 3:00 PM and my teeth are in even more pain. When I say pain im not talking about slamming your finger in a door. Im talking about someone drilling into a cavity. On top of that my teeth are not that much whiter. I do not recommend throwing $500 down the drain.

Vincent G you said that you had the special done at $350! Where was it done?

I just got the Zoom treatment yesterday at 2:00, I got some of the zinger pains for the next few hours, but only a few times. All night my teeth have been sensitive, couldn't sleep well. It's the next morning and all my teeth are very sensitive had to miss work, just took 1/2 a oxycodone and Tyelnol still not much relief. Don't think I would do it again, I have done trays with good results and only got one shade whiter with Zoom, don't think I would do it again. Hope the pain goes away soon I am starving!

I just had Zoom done, and my teeth look HORRIBLE!! My teeth werent a bright white before but they didnt look bad. My teeth are different shades on the same tooth. Today is my second day. They said it will tone down but I'm not seeing it. I am so upset and I dont know what to do because they say its supposed to be immdiate results.

In response to the question about at home kits. At home kits that you purchase over the counter like whitestrips and that sort of thing will work to a degree, but the issue is how well the solution is delivered to the teeth. Whitestrips or boil and bite type trays likely won't fit you all that well so you won't have great contact of the bleach to the teeth, so you can get spotty results.

Your best bet is find a good dentist (ie one who isn't trying to sell you very expensive bleaching with a light he/she knows doesn't work)who will make you a well fitted set of bleaching trays and supervise the process for you. The dentist can help get the correct concentration of bleach (people with hx of sensitive teeth need to use a lower bleach concentration), and monitor the health of the tissues. Once you have the trays you need to touch up now and then, but you'll already have the trays and only will need to purchase a relatively inexpensive touch up kit. Rule of thumb is that for every week you bleach initially you will need that many days of touch up once or twice a year. It does vary a bit on your diet and just how white you want your teeth to be.

I would avoid any of these internet deals for bleaching kits. You may be able to get a name brand bleach, but the critical factor is trays that fit well. And that requires a trip to the dentist for impressions. No way around that. Hope this was helpful.

I just had Zoom done this morning and I'm in agony. I've even gone so far as to take a RX pain reliever with no relief. If I had known then what I know now, I would never have done it. Can anyone suggest anything I can do to make this go away??? Thanks. Anne

TWO FULL DAYS OF AGONIZING PAIN, I WOULDN'T RECOMEND THIS TO MY WORST ENEMY, THE BLEACH SOAKED THROUGH THE GAUZE ON THE LAST 15 MINUTE PROCEDURE AND BURNT ALL OF MY BOTTOM GUMS. IF YOUR GOING TO DO THIS MAKE SURE YOU HAVE SOMEBODY THAT KNOWS WHAT THE HELL THEY'RE DOING. SOME OF THESE GUYS LET ANY IDIOT DO THE PROCEDURE. PAIN PAIN PAIN!!!!!!!!! SHOOTING PAIN!!!FEELS LIKE SOMEONE IS RIPPING MY TEETH OUT WITH PLYERS!!!10 VICODIN AND A BOTTLE OF ADVIL WILL DO THE TRICK.

OMG!!!!!PAIN PAIN PAIN!!! I WENT THROUGH A BOTTLE OF ADVIL THREE AT A TIME. THAT DESENSITIZING CRAP DOESNT WORK. RIGHT WHEN THE ADVIL WEARS OFF, THE SHOOTING PAIN COMES BACK THREE FOLD. IF YOUR GONNA DO THIS GO TO "BRIGHT SMILE" WHERE THEY SOLEY SPECIALIZE IN THIS TYPE OF TREATMENT. THESE DENTISTS LET ANY SHMO DO THIS ZOOM TREATMENT. IT LITERALLY FEELS LIKE SOMEONE HIT ME IN THE FACE WITH A BAT THEN TRIED DROWNING ME IN ALCHOHOL!

3AM...40 hours after my treatment.....still agonizing pain. The tooth sensitivity is nothing to put up with. Its the MISSISSIPPI burning gums that is worse than getting all 4 wisdom teeth out without getting knocked out or novacaine with household plyers. hot liquids seem to be helping, (screw what they say about the coffee and tea..DRINK IT, it's soothing) morphine drip, vicodin and a side of advil might work out fine. STAY ON TOP OF THE MEDICATION, when it wears out it's like someone's pounding on your face with a real deal commercial meat pounder. I FEEL LIKE A REAL SUCKER. If i'm not better by morning, Dr. Dentist is getting ALL his tires slashed nice n early monday morning.

I had an in office ZOOM! treatment done yesterday (morning), and I was seriously disappointed. My teeth had been discolored since I was in the 3rd grade due to uncontrollable vomiting until I was about the age of 9. I am now in my early 30's and after years of being ashamed to smile, and open my mouth fully while speaking I was excited to get the ZOOM! Well, their was almost no difference, except the amount of pain that I suffered for HOURS afterward. I was in labor for 6 days, had my labor induced, and had an epidural that did not work, so I KNOW pain, and that is exactly what I felt after the ZOOM! and even today as I type this. The dental assistant who performed the procedure told me that my teeth will continue to whiten (since my teeth are still not any shade of white now, she should've said lighten) for at least the next two weeks, and I truly hope so. I hate to throw away money, and I feel that is exactly what I did. After the procedure the dental assistant suggested Sensodyne, and "Crest Whitening Strips"......total rip off!

I am an athlete and I am used to intense pain and injuries and I can assure you that the pain I experienced through the Zoom tooth whitening is the worst I have experienced. It only lasts for about 2 seconds at a time, but they are the most intense 2 seconds you will ever remember. Your body contracts in shock and it is uncontrollable. I was scared to death because I had to drive home and this pain came in about 5 times in teh 10 minute drive home from the dentist. I had to take over 10 "very strong" painkillers during the day in which I could do nothing but lay down and hope it went away. The day after I was groggy because of the painkillers and I also wasted it. If I had known about this I would have never done it (even if the resutls are good). My dentist did not make me aware of the situation and I believe this is malpractice. He only told me I would experience "some" sensitivity. Comapring the pain I suffered to "some sensitivity" is like comparing a tap with Niagara Falls... If in doubt DON'T DO IT.

I caution everyone about the teeth whitening liquids, after a while they weaken your teeth and increase the amount of sharp pains inside your teeth!

I had Zoom whitening at 11 am. It is 3 pm now. I haven't been in much pain at all, none of the zingers that people are describing although my lower lip is swollen and a little burned (I guess that would be the best way to describe it).

I'm not very happy because my teeth only lightened a little. At $650 I think I should be seeing better results, especially the first day. From what I gather reading these posts even the limited whiteness I've achieved will start to fade within the next few days... what a bummer.

Does anyone know if it's safe to use Crest Whitstrips or something similar a few days after having Zoom?

What an amazing thread. Thanks Rebecca. My dentist is pushing me towards the ZOOM treatment as my teeth are fairly badly stained after years of tea & smoking. 2 get 2 the point, he's using ZOOM 3. Very few posters here have said which generation they used. I'm obviously worried sick after reading the amount of horror stories here. I think I'll stay away from this ZOOM unless ppl write in saying that ZOOM 3 is the bee's knees and no probs. I felt ALL your pain (industrial meat pounders!!...Mississippi burning gums...yikes)

I have that Zoom 2 thing scheduled and this website is scaring me to death. Should I do the trays then? I do not wish for frigidaire white teeth anyway. Gosh, you guys are scaring me. But thanks anyway for that good info. I think people should be told the good and the bad before making such an expensive decision that insurance does not pay for.

I've read all the postings here and I understand the cheers and jeers. I am the Resolution Consultant for a company that sells the Zoom (1) for $169 / (3) for $338. Most of the calls I get are from people needing to switch to a Dr. closer to their home or work. Only 1 person out of 1000 got burned, and I truly believe that was the dental hygenist fault. The product itself is safe and effective. If you have sensitive teeth and gums, then it comes down to how bad you want your teeth whitened versus how painful it might be to get that done. Any questions can be directed to me at stevus38@yahoo.com.

Hi Steve,

Just to clarify, there have been a few complaints about (minor) tenderness to the gums after the procedure, but most of the people here aren't complaining about their gums being burnt—they are complaining about SHARP, SHOOTING PAINS inside their teeth, which apparently are caused by the bleaching solution itself.

I just had ZOOM done today and was searching the web about the pain afterwards. Glad I'm not alone. I thought something was wrong with my teeth. I hope it doesn't last long! YIKES! Some of the zings leave me hanging by my nails from the ceiling! I will try the toothpaste and other stuff to lessen the pain! Thanks all!

I just had the Zoom procedure done today. I found this site yesterday and I was terrified to go in today. After reading everyone's responses yesterday, I called my dentist to see if there was anything I could do to prepare myself. He suggested that I rinse with floride the night before and to take whatever I use for a headache before I come in. I had three sessions done and they were quite painful while I was under the light. As soon as they took the light away, there was instant relief. My teeth are a little annoying right now but I feel fine. I had to sign a release form before my procedure explaining all of the side effects that could occur. I feel I was well informed of the pain I might have and that not all people achieve great results. Did anyone else not have to sign it? My dentist explained that if my teeth were very sensitive, maybe this procedure was not for me. I am very happy and my teeth look great.

One of the attorneys I work for underwent the Zoom treatment yesterday. He said that after the procedure, the dentist said something about the "light leaking". This morning, he was having problems with his gums. I'm not sure what medical professional diagnosed it, but he was told that he had 3rd degree burns on his gums. When he came into the office later today, his gums were black! He is concerned about losing his front teeth! I have read about some gum sensitivity, but I didn't see anything similar to this incident. Have you heard of this before? Thank you for the other interesting information you have provided.

I got the Zoom procedure done exactly a week ago. I experienced the "zings" allll day afterwards and for a little while the next day. it was so horrible that my entire body would shake. it went away.... but my teeth are still really sensitive. i'm really scared now that it'll last forever.
i had some pretty bad tetracycline stains and they got way lighter.... my teeth look great. it just hurts to smile so no one's even noticed. :\

I had this done yesterday and had some sensitivity but I was warned by a 3 page document that I had to sign. When I started to feel some sensitivity in one tooth that had a cavity starting, she placed some desentizer on it and it stopped. At the end I was given trays and a tube of Relief tooth desensitizer to use if I needed it. I used about 3 hours later and before I went to bed and today there is nothing. My teeth are thinning in some places and it was told to me that it could hurt a bit. I have to say that maybe the dentists needs to be questioned before hand. I didn't read all of the posts but from what I did read I didn't hear anything about the paper I signed or the follow up tubes which are required according to my dentist if you use Zoom 2
Other than that it was worth every penny and would suggest that the ones who are having issues should contact the dentist and ask about the follow up tubes etc...

I had the Zoom Whitening done today also. The dentist office I had the procedure in is the same dentist office that I have worked at for many years. Vanity got the best of me and I decided to try the Zoom system. Due to prior tooth sensitivity and gum recession, I was extremely concerned about sensitivity. I was assured that there would be precautions that I could take to LESSEN the sensitivity but that some people did, in fact, have a really hard time with it. Several weeks prior to the appointment, I started brushing with a special toothpaste given to me in the office. I also took Ibuprofen in advance. My provider was meticulous in her preparation of the mouth and gum area. She used a "liquid dam" on my gums and on the teeth where recession was an issue. She put a "sunscreen" on my lips and placed guaze all around the retractors and on my palate. I had 3 15 minute sessions and felt nothing until the last 5 minutes of the 3rd session (hello zing!!!). We stopped with the light 3 minutes early. The provider then applied a flouride gel which stayed on for 5 minutes (to lessen sensitivity). Then she explained about the zings!!! She gave me a "relief gel" to be applied in trays 3x today. Tomorrow eve, I will start with the 3 part at home follow up whitening.

The results are truly amazing and several of the people who work in my office thought so too. I had several "zings" which lessened significantly as the day went on, although also as the day went on, the teeth became generally more sensitive. (That's what led me to this site!!!!). The girls in the office assure me that the sensitivity will go away in a few days. Although my own motto is "it hurts to be beautiful", I would think twice about doing it again. I will check back in a few days to let you all know if the sensitivity has subsided. It may be like the pain of childbirth in that the result was so worth it, that sometimes you forget how bad the pain really was.

A few things I know about Zoom:

1.) It is NOT for everyone. Before anyone has this treatment, he/she should have a consultation with his/her dental professional to determine whether or not he/she is a good candidate.

2.) Not everyone will get his/her desired results. Some shades (yellow) are easier to brighten than others (gray). Dental work, such as crowns, bridges, or bonding is not affected by this procedure. In addition, in some cases, our office will do the Zoom procedure a second time (session) if the desired results are not achieved.

3.) There is NO reason anyone should be suffering with tissue burns (gums, lips, cheeks). If your provider has properly protected the mouth, this will not be an issue.

4.) Several people (employees)in our office experienced the Zoom procedure. Mostly the results are great. Comfort level varies GREATLY by patient. Two people had a significant amount of discomfort afterwards. The rest experienced some level of sensitivity. All reported that the sensitivity diminished after a period of time.

5.) Zoom has a LONG waiver to sign and anyone who is undergoing the procedure should read this and know the risks.

6.) What the previous gentleman said about dehydration is also true, so drink lots of water after the procedure. (Lukewarm of course!!)

6.) My last word of advice, ask how long the dental provider has been doing the Zoom and how many patients he/she has seen. In our large office, only one person administers the procedure and she is not only an expert in the clinical area, but she has the knowledge now of the effects Zoom has had on her patients.

I've been thinking about getting Zoom, my dentist told me that some peoples teeth are more porous than others and this is why they absorb the whitening product deeper and it is more likely to come into contact with nerves. Also, people with receding gums are more likely to get pain.

He recommended a product called Tooth Mousse to use for two weeks before the procedure and after to reduce the sensitivity.

MAN, IF I READ THIS BEFORE I PROBALLY WOULDNT HAVE GOTTEN THIS PROCEDURE DONE! BUT IM GLAD I DID, TODAY I HAD ZOOM DONE, MY DENTIST KEPT COMING IN LIKE EVERY 10 MINUTES ASKING IF IT BURNED OR IF IT WAS TOO SENSITIVE, THE ASSISTANT STOOD BY MY SIDE THE WHOLE TIME, OVER AN HOUR I WAS UNDER THE LIGHT. I AM FINE, NO PAINS, NO BURNING, NOTHING. I LOVE MY TEETH NOW, I CAN ACTUALLY SMILE AND FEEL SO GOOD ABOUT MYSELF! I DEF/ RECOMMEND THIS ! NO PROBLEMS AT ALL!!!!

I have Zoom remorse too! I had just started my 3rd treatment when ZING, a sharp pain rang through 2 of my teeth. We stopped the treatment. I was told about the sensitivity but not the sharp pain. My teeth are sensitive to begin with, so I should have known better. I'm home now 2 hours past the treatment and the pain is brutal. It's off and on every 1 to 2 minutes. Mostly in my lower teeth thankfully. I will update you tomorrow. If you are looking in to Zoom, make sure to inform yourself with everything there is to know about.

Has anyone had any side effects with Brite Smile?

Ok, I had Zoom done yesterday and today I feel much better. If you read my post from yesterday, I was going to try something for the pain. Well, I found the best product. It's called Theradent Oral Rinse Medicated
8 OZ. It works great and fast!!! I woke up this morning feeling 98% better, no zings and very very little sensitivity. TRY IT!!! It runs about 8-$10 but worth every penny. And my teeth look great!

I had my zoom done today at about 12:00. I had 3 20 minute sessions. I was going to do 4, but after the third one I told them no. I could not take lying there anymore in that chair. I had a few quick sharp zings, but that was all. I walked out loving how white my teeth were. Within an hour and a half, I was in agony. I called the dentist and she called in tylenol 3 with codeine. That is barely taking the edge off and its now 8:00. I've already taken more than the prescibed dosage. I've just taken my 3rd one and its only been 3 1/2 hours since my first pill. This really hurts. I hope that it gets better soon. i don't know how i will brush my teeth tonight and floss. I went through the treatment fine. My dentist had me do flouride treatments every night for the past two weeks with my custom trays. I wore them all night. Thats probably why I was able to take the treatment. I could never have imagined the pain afterwards though. I am almost glad that I didn't find this site before. I probably would not have done this treatment. But, now since I did I have white teeth. I gave this to myself as a gift for going almost two years of not smoking. I can only hope that this pain goes away soon.

I had Zoom done yesterday at 4:00 PM. It is now 1:36 am and I awoke from sleeping in horrible pain. My teeth are throbbing and I cant sleep. I am really ticked off that NO ONE in the dental office mentioned this type of pain to me! This is unreal. Not to mention that I cant smoke or drink coffee as well. It would have been NICE for them to let me know all of these things BEFORE I did the Zoom!!!! I have to spend the next few days in agony AND withdrawals from coffee and cigarettes cold turkey. I cant believe that some of you on here actually got pain killers prescribed to you for after the Zoom! Holy crap. That says it all. I am going to go wolf down some advil and HOPE to God that this pain subsides soon. I will NEVER do this again. Stick with the trays people.

Hi

I had my teeth whitened on tuesday by the Zoom whitening system. I was so worried after reading your posts, especially as i have really sensitive teeth.
But i needn't have been, it was actually a pleasurable experience, i had blackets and pillows, while the process what happening, i watched 'Devil Wears Prada' on a screen within the goggles, there were candles all around and the dentist and hygienist were very attentive. At the most i felt the slightest ping, which was so slight it could not have been described as painful. I took painkillers afterwords, and my teeth were a bit more sensitive that usual for the following day (i had it done in the afternoon), but apart from that i am delighted with the results, it looks so natural.

I would also mnetion that the Dentist, when he asked if i had sensitive teeth, suggested i use a colgate toothpaste for cavities, which you leave on rather than rinse, so i used that for a week before, not sure if it made a diffrent.

Thanks

OK,
I had Zoom done at 11:00am this morning -- 3, 15 minutes sessions with the light. The dentist's office personnel were some of the nicest, most competent people I have encountered but my teeth hurt! I also did not know anything about the lingering pain I would experience -- much less those little shooters! I'm glad I did it but DANG! I'm ready for the pain to go away. It's temporary, right? I'm ready to fight the pain the old fashion way--with a shot of whiskey!

This really hurts... it is the worst tooth pain I have every experienced.

I would NOT do it again!!!

Hello again,

I reported that I had the Zoom whitening done on Tuesday in the dentist office that I work in. Fear not, those of you in pain, it does subside!!! (My fears are what led me to this sight!!). Day two showed a marked improvement in pain over day one. My teeth were still somewhat sensitive but so much less than the day before. I did take ibuprofen once about mid/late day on day 2. I started the bleaching trays day 2 eve and had no problem. I did them again this morning and had a little more sensitivity but nothing I could not handle (it's all relative, right??? LOL!) I am now doing the tray for the third and last time. So far, so good, we'll see when they come off. I am very happy with the result. Would I do it again?? I would really have to think about it.

Hang in there, zoomers in pain, it will subside!!

By the way, I suffered terribly from the caffeine withdrawal headache. Today I took the recommendation of an earlier poster and had a bottle of Mountain Dew (through a straw, of course!!) and it worked like a charm!! I just wish I hadn't waited for the headache to get so bad!!!

Well..my wife had 3 sessions of Zoom whitening performed on her today. She is in an amazing amount of pain. She has taken >1600mg of motrine over the last 6 hours and she still can't sleep. I feel bad and would like to help the pain stop...but after reading this blog it appears that the pain will go away in time. How come we weren't warned of the pain? Does anyone know how long the pain lasts? I am getting ready to roll her a "doobie" and see if maybe that will help?

Here I am in the middle of the night looking for a solution to this beastly pain that is keeping me from sleeping.
When I underwent the initial Zoom whitening two weeks ago for two 20 minute sessions I suffered only a few zingers and a dull ache that didn't keep me from sleeping that night.
The two weeks of over-night whitening gel in the trays didn't trouble me much either.
But this afternoon's three twenty minute sessions with the UV light have left me in agony. The zingers struck, particularily on my bottom teeth, for about five hours afterwards and a persistant pain has set up in all my front teeth that is unlike anything I could have imagined. Ibuprofen and ACT flouride rinse are helping not at all.
From a post above I learned about the Theradent Oral Rinse Medicated, but the local pharmacies that sell it are closed at this hour. I am holding out hope that this pain will subside in a couple more hours so I can get at least a little sleep.
With 20-20 hindsight I realize I should have researched this procedure more, even though my dentist didn't warn that there would possibly be pain. And if they have access to the Relief gel I would have liked to have been informed.
If I had it to do over again I would stick with the whitening gel trays even if I had to wear them for a longer time; this misery isn't worth it.
I just hope and pray my teeth haven't become permanently sensitive.

I got this treatment and my lips and face blew up. My Dentist told me to just let it go ot's course. 5 Days later, I have gotten 1 cortizone shot and been on a every 4 hour Benadrel dose because the Zoom light was new and I got over exposed.

A follow-up to my post above: I ran out the first thing this morning (since I didn't really sleep last night due to my misery) and bought the Theradent Teeth Desensitizing Oral Rinse and what a relief! It knocked down the lion's share of the pain. Now I feel only a vague ache that I would hardly notice if it wasn't for the agony of yesterday's pain. According to thier website this product can be found at Brooks Drug, Cub Foods, CVS Pharmacy, Discount Drug Mart, Duane Reade, Eckerd, Wakefern and Woodmans.
I also learned that there is an Opalescence product called UltraEZ Desensitizing Gel that can be used in the whitening trays to alleviate the pain and/or sensitivity cause by the whitening procedure.
If I knew then what I know now....

I had this treatment today, like others, to improve the color of my teeth before having some crowns done. Cost (DC area) was $600. I experienced the painful zings in two teeth during the last five minutes of the procedure, and now, twelve hours later, my teeth are still somewhat sensitive but zings have largely gone away. Dentist soaked my teeth in flouride solution for five minutes after the procedure to mitigate sensitivity, and I am taking advil. I was surprised by the pain as it seemed to go beyond "sensitivity" but it was not terrible and the zings themselves just last a second or two. I chose this whitening option because I wanted to get it over and done with as quickly as possible, and zoom is less complicated than trays or other options. Teeth look good now, but I think it will be more interesting to see how they look in a week or two when things settle down and I can drink coffee again.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH THE ZOOM WHITENING WAS THE WORST THING I COULD HAVE EVER DONE. I,M SUFFERING IN SO MUCH PAIN I HAD LESS PAIN IN CHILD BIRTH. ANYONE THAT IS THINKING OF DOING PLEASE DO NOT DO IT, THEY SHOULD OUT LAW THIS PROCEDURE, THIS PROCEDURE SHOULD BE ONLY ADMINISTERED BY LICENSED PROFESSIONAL AND NOT A HYGENIST THAT ATTENDS A TRAINING COURSE, IF I HAD READ THIS SITE BEFORE I MADE AN APPOINTMENT THAT MY HYGENIST HIGHLY RECCOMMEND TO BE TOTALLY SAFE I WOULD HAVE CANCELLED MY APPOINTMENT, AND WOULD NOT HAVE HAD THIS DONE EVER.THE ZOOM COMPANY SHOULD BE FORTHRIGHT AND HONESTA WITH THE PUBLIC. I PAID 600.00 DOLLARS TO BE BURNT ON THE TOP OF MY LIP, THAT SWEELED UP SO BADLY I HAD TO GO ON MEDICINE,VISIT MY DOCTOR THE E.R. AND HAD ALOT OF PAIN AND SUFFERING BECAUSE OF THE ZOOM WHITENING SYSTEM. I WILL CONTACT THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND OTHER AGENTIES TO INFORM THEN OF THIS AWFUL EXPERIENCE

:( :( :( I am loving my new teeth but the pain is unbearable :( I had it done at 1.30pm today and its now 8.30pm and I am SO uncomfortable. I had a darvocet 30 mins ago which has had NO effect. :(

Just a note... I too had terrible pain... and after about5 hours of suffering I went to the drug store and got some Ambesol EXTRA STRENGHT for tooth pain...

It helped a whole lot.

Today. Day 3.... all my tooth pain is finially gone.

I would NOT recommed Zoom unless they put some novicane on your gums.

Hi Rebecca,

My name is Wyman Chan, and I am a dedicated teeth whitening dentist in London, England. I research into teeth whitening techniques, materials and side effects, like those ZINGS being described here. I know the Zoom teeth whitening system very well because I introduced it to the UK five years ago. I have used and researched many teeth whitening systems in the market, including the tray home whitening and the in-office power whitening. I sympathize with many of the writers of this severe pain because I suffered the same pain from many systems, which led me into research to avoid inflicting this type of severe pain on my patients.

I am please to read some good comments from Mike, the dentist. It is not surprised that so many people suffered from severe teeth sensitivity after the 'one hour in-office' power whitening treatment. Zoom is only one of the manufacturers providing this type of treatment. One of the indepedent comprehensive studies carried out by Clinical Research Associates (CRA), www.cranews.com, in 2002/2003, a dental Institution testing and evaluating dental products to make sure the manufacturers' claims are substantiated. In this study of eight well know in-office systems in the market, 100% of the subjects suffered from teeth sensitivity either during and /or after the treatment. up to 80% of the people reported from many clinical studies suffered from sensitivity with the tray bleaching.

The biggest problem is poor training and the lack of knowledge of power whitening within the dental profession, as stated by some of the writers. There are a lot of science behind this procedure, and if not performed properly, can inflict severe pain to the patients. These manufacturers of power whitening systems want to sell their products in vast quantity and overlooked the importance of proper training of the operators who are going to carry out this procedure. Most operators were trained by sales representatives who are not dentists, and do not have enough knowledge to PREVENT the teeth sensitivity side effect. Instead, they are leaving the dental offices to deal with symptoms of this severe discomfort to the patients. These poor dentists/hygienists also have no clue as how to deal with this massive side-effect problem.

I think it is time to put pressure on these manufacturers to invest money in training the operators so that these symptoms can be avoided by removing the causes. If these operators were not properly trained and they BELIEVED what these sales reps told them about their new product, the public is going to suffer. (The creation of this website)

I run teeth whitening workshops for dentists in my clinic in London, where I teach Zero Sensitivity techniques in teeth whitening. I have taught over 600 dentists in the UK on these techniques.

I hope this helps. I will write about the 'fade back' after the power whitening treatment in many instances mentioned here in the near future.

Best regards,

Wyman

It's 3:05 in the morning and I can't sleep. I had the procedure done last night around 5pm. I'm in an extreme amount of pain. My biggest complaint with the process is about 10 minutes into the first session I complained to the hygenist that my lips were burning. She put vasoline on both my upper and bottom lips. She asked me if I wanted to stop (after paying a lot of money I was not going to quit just yet) When I was all done with the procedure I couldn't believe my eyes. My lips were so burned! They swelled up like you wouldn't believe. All the employees in the dentist office were laughing. They had never seen this happen before. Not sure why they used vasoline and not some kind of sun block. Anyone have a similiar experience or could give me some kind of advise? Thanks!

Well, I wrote in on 3/20 and said that my procedure was no big deal. I spoke too soon. The day after my top gums turned black and I had an extremely upsetting week. After the swelling finally went down yesterday (5 days later), I can see that I have permanent gum lose between my two front teeth and around the tooth just to the right of them. I used Vitamin E to help me through this to try to sooth them. Whiter teeth in the least of my concerns right now. I just want my gums back!!!!!!!!! It's not worth it.

I've had the zoom treatment on the 25th march.
Although it was a little uncomfortable overall I'm extremely pleased. So you know I had bad tooth pain before and had 9 teeth removed(rear molars+ premolars) I still have some teeth and wanted them to be whiter. The difference from the start was about 6 shades lighter( they had a scale of whiteness mine was off the scale! ) I did get the zings but just bit the bullet. I'm quite surprised at some of the comments with pain, but I suppose everyone is different. I recommend it but if you have senstive teeth be warned. Cheers

I thought these messages were very helpful and guided many of my questions prior to my appointment. I was told about the potential tooth pain and the indicated that they would take every precaution to prevent that from happening. They know of people who have had pain in the past but to their knowledge it only lasted about 1-2 days at most. They also said that because everyone's teeth are different they can't know for sure if my teeth would become sensitive. Well I have a reunion this weekend so I decided to give it a go. It took a while before the actually whitening took place because she painstakingly covered all of my gums but made sure not to cover my teeth. I appreciated that a lot and didn't mind the extra time in the chair. I "whitened" for about 1 hr 30/45 mins. I figured why not take the extra time if I paid for it ($500). I didn't have ANY pain at all and my appointment was at 11 AM today. I've been able to drink cold beverages without any problems, so I'm hoping I will continue to feel this way. My teeth were not super yellow (actually I was told they are more in the gray scale rather than yellow...crazy at 28!), so I didn't see the AMAZING results that are always advertised. definitely whiter....but I was looking for borderline veneers! With that said they convinced me to get the trays and I can probably whiten 2-3 more shades, which at this point I'll gladly do. Especially since I can keep using them forever and keep up my bright(er) smile! Who knows maybe someone will notice :-\

I just wanted to post my experience for those still considering getting the zoom treatment, I'll try to update after I use the trays too (I'm picking them up tomorrow morning).

I am please to read that some operators actually took time and care to prevent inflicting pain on their patient in this treatment. To do a good isolation on the teeth to prevent teeth sensitivity takes time.

Here are a few basic tips to avoid teeth sensitivity and sore lips when you speak to your dentist.

1)Do not take painkillers before the treatment
2)Ask your operators to BLOCK OFF ALL THE EXPOSED DENTINE, those area on the teeth give you short sharp pain with ice cream.
3)Make sure your top and bottom lips are covered PROPERLY with the sunblock and a 2x2 gauze provided in the kit. The mistake made was that the lips were not TOTALLY protected from the strong UV and heat from the new Zoom lamp, causing burn on the inside of the lips which are thin and sensitive.
4)Your operator should protect all the exposed soft tissue with the dam material provided to prevent the strong bleach from getting on the soft tissue accidentally, which can cause severe pain and ulceration. This also shields them from the UV and heat coming from the lamp.
5)When you experience the first ZING, tell your operator immediately and treatment should be stopped to avoid severe pain later on. If you stop in time before too much inflammation inflicted on the nerve tissues, the pain is less severe and should subside within 12-24 hours.
5)When you experienced the Zing during treatment, ask for 500mg of Aspirin or Ibuprofen and swallow them immediately. Ask for two more doses of 500mg and take them four hours after the first and second dose
6)If you are lucky enough to be given a set of customised bleaching trays, ask your dentist/hygienist for some sensodyne toothpaste, warm it up (cold will trigger the pain sensation), fill up the bleaching trays with this and wear for 30 minutes. The pain usually subsides after this.
7) Avoid anything hot, cold, acidic and citrus for 24 hours, and NO tray bleaching until 48 hours later.
8) Most bleaching trays are the causes of teeth sensitivity due to their design. I have designed a bleaching tray that does not cause sensitivity to the teeth and gums. Hundreds of dentists are using this design in the UK, and thousands of patients benefited from this tray design. (www.smile-studio.co.uk)
9) Tray bleaching is the best way to get your teeth white due to the long contact time of the bleach with the teeth.

Finally, Rebecca, I must congratulate you making me to contribute to this site. It upsets me so much every time I hear a patient suffered so much pain from this treatment, which can be prevented in the first place. Regarding your teeth were not as white as they were immediately after the treatment. Your teeth were dried out during the isolation of your teeth, and dried teeth appeared WHITE AND OPAUQE. If the bleaching effect by the gel is not as great as the drying out effect of the teeth (I published this formula in the Dentistry Magazine in October 2005 in the UK), the saliva will wet the teeth after the treatment and will take THREE DAYS to totally MOISTURISE or rehydrate the enamel again. That's why your teeth appear darker three days later!! Enamel is usually translucent when wet, and the underlining colour of yellow dentine is showing through again. I have carried out many tests using the Zoom and other systems, and I have never achieved the 8 shades claimed by most manufacturers without combining the power whitening with home tray bleaching, or a good maintenance kit.

Wyman

We both just had the zoom treatment in Mexico this last weekend. Great results and only one or two sharp pains. We are both near 50 +- and the results are remarkable. No problems at all.

I had ZOOM done about a month ago($450) and was expecting some sharp pains after having read this column. Although my teeth are healthy without any cavities, they have yellowed after wearing braces for a couple of years. So I was willing to do anything to have my teeth whitened. The whole process took about 2 hours with 4 15 minute sessions under the light. The sharp pains started in the 3rd 15 minute session and continued through the 4th session. It was the most painful period especially since the dental assistant had not warned me about the risk of loosening my bite on the mouth guard. As soon as I'd relaxed my bite, some of the bleach went into my gum line and burned the flesh. As a result, that area was very painful and sensitive for the next couple of days although the color of my gumline changed back to pink from white after a few hours.
And the worst part of the whole ordeal was that my teeth only lightened about 1 or 2 shades- there is almost no difference even though I avoided all colored foods for the next 1 week!!

Hi~
I'm wondering what Dr. Chan thinks about the Deep Bleaching technique as an alternative to Zoom?

I just had the Zoom procedure done and I started experiencing the intense sharp pain in my 3rd 15 min session which literally made me jump in the chair. It happened again during the 4th session and brought tears to my eyes.

The hygenist told me it was rare to have such pain but gave me flouride toothpaste to use at home to supposedly help with pain.

Well its been 3 hours and the pain just keeps coming. Its like ultra intense 1 second long bursts of the most insane pain i have ever felt. It literally makes me jump every time because theres no warning.

I paid $500 and i specifically asked if it was painful because i said i have very sensitive teeth but i was told that the zoom was not painful (yea right).

My results are noticeable but nowhere near as good as i had expected. I would NEVER do it again nor would i even have done it in the first place if i had known about the level of pain. My wife was going to have it done too but i refuse to let her go through with it and after seeing me suffer she doesn't want to do it anymore.

To any dentists or hygenists out there- you people should be ashamed of yourselves for doing this procedure, it should not be done to anyone unless the patients are made to fully understand that MOST people seem to have the painful after effects described on this website.

DON'T HAVE THIS PROCEDURE DONE OR YOU MIGHT REGRET IT!!!
BELIEVE ME!!

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone has tried other methods of teeth whitening besides zoom. Initially I opted for the zoom treatment, but after reading the posts, I have since researched other teeth whitening procedures. I am currently considering Ultrasmile because they claim to give you a complete refund if you are dissatisfied with your results (it MUST work for them to be this confident don't you think?) I care more about the results than I do about the pain. I want WHITE teeth, not LIGHTER teeth. Another procedure I am considering is Britesmile. Has anyone undergone any of these treatments, or know of anyone who has? What are the results/side effects and where you satisfied?

I have read all the comments with much interest. I have made a booking for Zoom whitening 3 but now have reservations. Not so much about the pain involved but how my teeth will look a year done the road. If I continue with poor habits developed over many years will my teeth look the same as they do now? (I am not a smoker and brush at least daily. I do like sweets though) One always wants to improve on daily teeth cleaning rituals but too often old habits return.$600 is a lot of money for a year of pearly whites! Will someone out there who had their teeth whitened at least a year ago comment. Thanks.

Hi, I was wondering whether anyone has tried other methods of teeth whitening besides zoom. Initially I opted for the zoom treatment, but after reading the posts, I have since researched other teeth whitening procedures. I am currently considering Ultrasmile because they claim to give you a complete refund if you are dissatisfied with your results (it MUST work for them to be this confident don't you think?) I care more about the results than I do about the pain. I want WHITE teeth, not LIGHTER teeth. Another procedure I am considering is Britesmile. Has anyone undergone any of these treatments, or know of anyone who has? What are the results/side effects and where you satisfied?

I tried a different system called the Smile Quest system and found it relatively painless, the therapist gave me some sensodyne toothpaste to rub on my teeth afterwards which either worked well or the system itself is painless, hope this helps anybody looking for an alternative to use the zoom system, I was put off that myself by friends who had it done,

I had the Zoom treatment done yesterday. I'm not having sensitivity issues with my teeth but my gums are very sore and I'm pissed about it. I guess the "dams" were not postioned properly or my movement caused the bleach to leach onto my gums. After the treatment, the gum tissue between 4 teeth on the lowers were bright white and two on the uppers. In addition, my lips are also sore and I can feel a deep painful coldsore coming on. The color on my gums was restored pretty quickly but they still hurt and the tissue look distressed. This is my biggest concern at the moment. Did the bleach effect the long term health of my gums? Does anybody know?

I would not do this treatment again and would not recoomend it to others. I'm a little angry at myself for not knowing better........

I just had Zoom! treatment this morning. It wasn't until I was in the chair reviewing the authorization paperwork that I found out that there could be sensitivity, but it was downplayed. My teeth are usually pretty sensitive to cold, so I anticipated some discomfort. Now, I've had a root canal, a temp crown and a full deep cleaning under the gums recently - all of that pain was so well managed that I barely felt a twinge during or after those procedures. Zoom! however, does not utilize any real pain management (anaestetic etc). I had one tooth go sensitive in the first cycle, a couple more in the second, and in the third, most of my teeth were pretty sensitive. Now, an hour and a half after my treatment was completed, most of the shooting pain has subsided and I've taken an over the counter pain reliever to help, so I'm pretty comfortable. After years of neglecting my teeth, I think this temporary discomfort is bearable to achieve a more attractive smile and a more professional, well-kept appearance. I would like to see the Zoom! procedure evolve to include some sort of sensitivity testing or the standard use of anaesthetics to manage this discomfort. If I have this procedure again in the future, I may well ask for the anaesthetic anyway, just to minimize the level of stress throughout the process.

I am having the zoom procedure done Monday and I am soo scared. I mean I can take the pain but Im scared about the results..can anyone tell me how long they last and are they even noticable?? Thanks

First I would like to say that my teeth looked absolutely gorgeous after the Zoom procedure! Totally beautiful!
Now, having said that a long 12 hours after the procedure, I would like to take a pair of pliers and pull out each and every one of my new pearly white teeth one by one.... Ouchhhhhhh! This Zoom is hell on earth!
1 broken arm, 1 slipped disc in the back, 2 knee surgeries, 2 titanium screws drilled in my leg, a dry socket when my widsom teeth were removed, braces, a pallet expander that was bent into the roof of my mouth during a jelly bean incident at easter... and these pains DO NOT EVEN COMPARE with what you will feel after the Zoom procedure! The zings are torture! I read the comment about the Theradent Oral Rinse Medicated, ran out to get it, and it does not help. Neither does the fluoride rinse. Neither does the 1600mg of ibuprofin. If this is the first 12 hours, I can only imagine what the next 12 hours will be like. Make sure that somebody drives you to the dentist, because the zings of pain that you get afterwards have potential liability if they strike when you are driving. You want to yell and jump out of your skin everytime they hit. I had maybe 4 zings during my last 15 minute treatment, then I had "sensitivity" for an hour after, then I had full on consistent ZING PAIN which still continues. Is it worth it? In my opinion... NO!

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. Only pain I had with the ZOOM was having to sit in a chair for a few *hours* :o). I was telling the hygenist that in the ZOOM commercial on their website, the women sits in the chair and is done in a few seconds. I hope I'm more of the rule than the exception.

Awful Awful Awful... I had the ZOOM procedure done this morning at around 11am, and now 12 hours later, I am in horrible pain. I have taken advil, and my gums are just contstantly pulsating.

On another note, I hardley noticed a difference in color. I am really dissapointed with the whole situation. I just want the pain to go away. You'd think they would perscribe some vicadon or something.

This was so not worth it. If you haven't done it yet, please do your research!
OUCH! IT HURTS!

I had Zoom done 2 days ago, in the morning. I had 4 sessions of 15 minutes. I didn't feel any pain or zings until afterwards, when they were getting all that crap out of my mouth. These zings are truly the worst pain I've felt in my life--they feel like someone is stabbing an ice pick through your teeth into your jaw. They are unpredictable--it's not due to hot or cold or breathing in. Sometimes they just happen with your mouth closed. They only last 1-2 seconds, but they really take your breath away and make you flinch when they happen. I came home around 1 and had probably 5 or 6 of these over the first hour. Here's what I did that helped:

- I brushed my teeth with Crest Sensitivity, like 4 times. Crest Sensitivity is better than Sensodyne because it has more fluoride in it.

- The dentist gave me bleaching trays and 22% peroxide gel to use *that night* (yeah right!!) BUT they also gave me this stuff called Relief ACP (made by Discus Dental, the people that make Zoom). DON'T LEAVE THE DENTIST WITHOUT DEMANDING A TUBE OF THIS STUFF. They gave it to me in the chair after Zoom was done, but I asked to take the whole tube home. It has fluoride and potassium nitrate in it, like Sensodyne but at a higher concentration. I put my trays in with that stuff and let it sit for an hour. This really helped.

- Just to be safe, I also had a tube of Oral-B STOP fluoride gel. (I bought this from a different dentist a few years back; most dentists sell it. Ask for it before you leave. It's like $10 but they don't sell it at a drugstore.) I applied this and let it sit for a while.

That made the zings go away. I didn't even bother with ibuprofen because the pain was too much and also due to the pores opening in my teeth. (Also, be careful with that stuff--you shouldn't be taking 1600 mg (or even 800 mg) regularly--you'll give yourself a stomach ulcer).

By the evening, I had a generalized achy sensitivity, but thankfully no more zings. My teeth were sensitive to hot and cold at this point, but nothing NEAR as bad as the zings.

The next day I didn't have any sensitivity. I brushed with the Sensitivity and applied fluoride gel twice, and was fine.

My gums were fine--no burns. To prevent gum burns, I would ask for a mirror to see the dams before they start the Zoom--if they're not covering your gums properly, tell them to fix it. If you do get burned by the gel or UV light, try applying vitamin E oil, it should help.

Today I did the 22% peroxide gel for an hour with no problems. (The moron at the dentist told me to do this *overnight!* even though the box clearly states don't use 22% for more than an hour. Read the boxes people!) I'm going to do it for another week, until my tube runs out.

Results: right after the Zoom, my teeth were much whiter, but blotchy as heck. I had bright white spots all over them. Today, two days later, my teeth have rehydrated, they're not as blotchy (also fluoride helps with this), but the white has faded significantly. It's nowhere near what they were at the dentist. It's still whiter than before, but not a whole lot. I hope the peroxide gel with trays they gave me will help that.

Overall: Don't waste your money! If I could do it over, I would do trays with peroxide gel over a couple of weeks. They're cheaper, seem to work better, and don't induce those zings.

Hi,
I had ZOOM done a couple of days ago. Yes, I had that pain in my teeth, but it's nothing comparing to the pain in my lips. I don't know how the hygienist applied protectant on my gums and lips... buy my upper inner lip burnt and inflamed and it hurts like hell. I can't eat, I can't really talk normally... and it's weekend:(...
I'm going to the office on Monday! I can't eat! Whenever you eat - that lip just burns SO BAD!!!... It doesn't mean you can't have zoom - be aware that that kind of thing may happen to you too.

I had ZOOM! done today and i'm 18 years old. I didn't really know what to expect, but i thought it was really painful and my upper lip is so swollen i cant even look at myself its horrible. I really regret it as my teeth look pretty much the same, and i was so angry about the swelling and pain i've already started smoking again! Definately not worth it. Did anyone else here experience severe swelling of the upper lip?? Ive been in tears all day its so sore and looks so awful!! :(

Ouch. I had the whitening at 8AM this morning. I wish I had been told the pain would wreck my day. I would have had an afternoon treatment instead. As is I missed work today.

I had Zoom done this morning. During the 3rd time under the light, I had one shooting pain through one tooth that hurt like crazy! After that, I felt no pain at all. That was 8am, but about 4pm and still right now, my teeth are definitely sensitive. If feels like when you have sensitive teeth and you suck in air. That stinging sensation is how my teeth have felt, without a break, for the past 5-6 hours. Pretty annoying. I took some aleve (that was all I had) and it didn't do anything for me. The dentist said that people usually experience some sensitivity during the 2nd time under the light and a TON during the third. So, it is indeed the norm.

With that all said...although it has been annoying today (not unbearable in pain) I LOVE the results. My teeth look great and I can't stop looking in the mirror!

I had ZOOM! yesterday at 4pm. My dentist gave me 2 pain pills yesterday before the procedure. I think that really helped me to relax and caused less discomfort. I did have some "zingers" but it only lasted while I was on my way home. They were not too bad. The most uncomfortable time I had was having my mouth propped open for 1-1/2 hr. My jaw was really uncomfortable and hurt while they were treating me. I did not notice a dramatic difference like I thought i would. Has anyone gone back to their hygenist and requested a touch up and did they charge extra for it?

Well i decided to get the Zoom Yesterday around 4pm and as similar to many of you, I started to experience the pains towards the end of the 2nd session. I pressed ahead with the 3rd since I had paid the money and OMG was it painfull!! I have had a child and sat through 10hrs of getting a tattoo and this tooth pain for me was agonizing! On my way home I continued to get sharp fast pains and started quickly regretting the procedure. I got home and took tylenol with codene didn't even take off the edge and by this time I had a headache that was horrible. I couldn't fall asleep and at 130am last night I found this website full of the exact situation I was painfully going through!! It did give me hope that it should end soon!! I finally feel asleep for a few hours before I had to go to work this morning and as today went on the pain decreased and now it's not bad at all I'm just TIRED!! LOL! Thanks for all the info too bad I didn't see this before hand, I'm still unsure if I would have pressed on to did it if I would have known about the pain- At least I knew there was light at the end of the tunnel and my teeth are white :) P.S. My note to fellow on lookers if your thinking about doing the procedure take pain killers prior and make sure you DO NOT have any obligations for at least 12-18 hrs after so you can kill the pain with OTC drugs if need be and lay at home!!!!!!!!

I had the Zoom treatment today at 11 AM. My dentist told me there would be some sensitivity for a few days. Sensitivity is not giving birth. My God, I've had several root canals, two childen, a broken leg and a recent hysterectomy.....none of which compare to the severity of the pain this evening. I've paid this asshole over three thousand dollars in the past few months to correct crowns and root canals. I had a tooth extraction as well. I was given hydrocodone after the root canals and extraction. He told me to take a couple advil for the zoooooom treatment. I called his emergency line in tears and waited for a call with no luck. Finally I reached his partner who did an oral surgery for me and he called me in a few pain killers to get through the night. It's been two hours and four advil and one hydrocodone has barely put a dent in the pain. Finally, my dentist called and told me to use special toothpaste and further told me his grueling experience after he had his own treatment. I now think he's a money hungry bastard and plan to dispute the charges. He should have never taken any risks considering I've been in his office for months having dental work. He even recommended my thirteen year old son get the treatment who has baby white teeth. I think the lesson is this. Don't let your family dentist think he's competent enough to push cosmetic procedures. Did I mention he insisted I get luminiers because the enamel was worn off my teeth. I couldn't cough up the money for the eight thousand dollar procedure so he opts for the Zoom. After speaking with a family friend who's a dentist, I was not ever a healthy candidate for the zoom. Not only is he incompetent, but fully aware my husband is a lawyer. I hope that sociopath gets a kidney stone in the middle of the desert. I plan to file a complaint, write a letter to my local newspaper and sue him for complete negligence.
Of which I'm going to donate to some Oprah fund for kids who desperately need dental attention. My teeth weren't that bad to begin with. I whitened barely two shades. I guess I'm as vain as he is sadistic. There are other methods you can try. I learned my lesson.

I had the Zoom treatment yesterday and about 1/2 an hour after it was finished, I began to experience the most intense pain that I was afraid my teeth were going to fall out. It felt like every tooth in my mouth was being drilled at the same time without any anesthetic. The pain was seering, stabbing and unrelenting for 6 hours until I remembered I had some Demerol. My upper lip is swollen and numb. More than anything, I am very disappointed in my Dentist - I have a lot of respect for his ability and am surprised he did not warn me of the potential risks and side effects.

Hello,

I'm glad I found this site so I know what to expect. I have never had sensitive teeth or issues at the dentist so I think I may be OK. I also have a little stash of Vicoden. :)

I have only seen 2 post with prises. How about some cost informations? I am looking into having it done in Cabo.

I had the Zoom process done 2 weeks ago. I was given the follow up trays first and told to use them for 4 days before the in-office procedure. I was told they had better results doing it this way. After the in-office experience my teeth were very sensitive for approx 3 days and very blotchy. I was never given any follow-up whitener and avoided all staining foods for the required 3 days. I was very dissappointed with the results and after 2 weeks the blotchy is gone but my teeth are the same yellowish color they were before I wasted $500. I am still experiencing some discomfort in my teeth when I chew gum (feels like Im biting down on tin-foil) I definately do not recommend getting this procedure done. EVER!

I just had it done an hour ago. My dentist repeatedly asked me if I was in any pain whatsoever. I kept saying I was fine. (well, aside from having your mouth propped open for over an hour, but that goes with the territory)

I've never had any cosmetic work done and my teeth haven't been professionally cleaned in 10 years.

My teeth are now extremely white and I am experiencing no discomfort at this time.

Jeff

I am really surprised by some of the bad experiences on this page. I admit it did hurt, and the Zoom website was not forthcoming about that. But having said that, my teeth look awesome. Its been a day and a half, and I have noticed a little bit of fade back, but not too much yet. I wonder if some of the people who had bad experiences really didn't need the procedure. For example, I can't imagine that most 18 year olds really need it. If you really have stained teeth, the pain is a small price to pay for the fabulous results you may get.

I had the ZOOM procedure done today. And decided to post because I wanted to empathize with all of you had the ZINGING pains shooting through their teeth. OMG!!! Not worth it at all.... Futher while most of my teeth took on a little improvement, my main front teeth are still multiple shades darker than the rest of my teeth. There's absolutely no way that I would endure this again.

Hi All

Well I had zoom done today and the pain isn't that bad.But during the 3rd 15 minute session I started to feel the zings.Only felt 2 or 3 zings but they were sharp.This was at 3pm and now it's 2 am.I've taken a nap and now I'm awake but not because of pain,I just woke up because I'm a bit hungry because I haven't eaten all day.
I have some sensitivity but not much and I've already brushed my teeth today since having zoom done.My bottom front teeth are a bit sensitive but other then that everything is fine.Here in Toronto it costs $700 for the zoom procedure (it's a bit too much IMO) I'm 41yrs and figured I'd whiten my teeth,well I would do it again as the pain isn't that bad and my dentist told me to brush with sensodyne for a month before having the whitening done.Maybe this is why I am in very little pain,oh and I did take a oxycocet pain killer when I got home so maybe this is another reason that I'm in no pain

Best of luck to you all and I hope you feel better

I Just had the ZOOM Treatment today...I Love the results of the color of my Teeth, dont get me wrong, They Look Fabulous...But NOW I HAVE A HUGE PUFFY LIP! it was just a little puffy afterwards, i asked if it is normal, they said yes and put this greasy stuff on it... Vitamin E... and said it should go down. I had the procedure done at 1:00 pm it is now 2:45 am and i am awake, in pain and lip that sticks out almost past my nose! Does anyone know what i should take or do for the Puffy Lip!? I intend on giving my dentist a call as soon as they open back up. but how long will my lip be big, and puffy? what can I Put on it other than raw vitamin E to help the pain and puff? HELP!

It has been 24 hours since my treatment and the zinger pains subsided over night. I, like several people who wrote in, have the HUGE PUFFY LIP. Rebecca, have you found out the cause. Is it the chemicals, light, . . . ? How long does it last? I plan to go into my doctor today to see what I can take/do for the Puffy Lip. Thanks.

I had Zoom done march 13 because i was replacing two crowns that happened to be my two front teeth because i wanted then brighter. well my dentist office did the zoom proceeder. It went fine my teeth were really white for the very first time in my life. The dentist told me to wait three days to come back to match the new crown shades to my newly whiter teeth. went back in three days they match the shade and schedule me to return to put in the new crowns. I returned on april 3 for my new crowns nevertheless the crowns and my teeth were no longer a match my teeth that had been zoom went back to the yellowish color that they were and always been.
I am so disappointed that this system is not long lasting, I don,t smoke and reframed from drinking any coffee for seven days I only drink a cup a day and brush right after i drink my coffee because i never really had white teeth, i tried hard not to make a bad situation worse. For what Zoom cost it should last longer. very disappointed.

I had the zoom treatment this morning, and had to stop the process on the start of the thrid treatment. I will go back to finish the treatment, however, my hygenist gave me vitamin-e oil to brush on my teeth that came with the treatment, it helps a lot but I still get small zaps of pain, nothing I can't handle though. For all of you that were in pain, you have to admit, your smile is whiter. I recommend this procedure for any one that wants a whiter smile, just be prepared for a little pain...Pain is Beauty...so they say...good luck to all...

got zoom 2 done on my teeth today in Louisiana. it hurts like hell and there is little to no difference in the shade of my teeth. can't talk or eat. it also appears that one of my teeth got chipped during this procedure: there is a little piece of tooth missing from my canine. definately not worth it. don't do it! i wish i had come across this site before i had the procedure done. i'm afraid the pain will never subside.

I found this site while looking for info on Zoom whitening for a friend. VERY glad I did not use that method after reading all the horror stories here. A few have mentioned the Deep Bleaching AcquaBrite process and I can help with info because that is the process I used. I went to Dr. Rodger Kurthy last December because I wanted whiter teeth(don't we all). Enter RODGER KURTHY into Google and his website will come up. He is the dentist that developed the Deep Bleaching procedure(click on 'bleaching' at the bottom of the home page). There is complete information, plus before and after photos.

I am in my 50's, have never had good, strong teeth, all my molars are crowns so I was just concerned with whitening my front teeth. Found out from Dr. Kurthy that my teeth are VERY porous, so dehydration became a problem because I have one crown next to my upper front tooth. That crown had to be replaced, but only after the complete bleaching process and then waiting a couple of weeks for my teeth to rehydrate to the final shade of white. My teeth were already quite white(for natural teeth)so I wasn't going to get that much whiter. I did have the natural yellowish tinge at the base of my teeth (I was told by my previous dentist "nothing can be done about that") which I did not like. This process has lightened the base.

I paid $1500 and I was hesitant at first, but now glad I went ahead with it. There was an initial 'conditioning' process with the bleaching gel and custom trays that lasted about an hour. I did take 2 ibuprophen about an hour before and may have taken more that evening, before starting the two weeks of bleaching at home. Used the desensitizing swabs the first few days, but quit when I realized there was no discomfort. After the two weeks, back to Dr. Kurthy for the final hour process which uses a stronger gel solution. When the tray and gel was put in for the third time, I did experience some burning right at my gumline, but no zings or zaps. That was it...was cafeful brushing for the first few days because of slightly sensitive gums.

I'll do a touch-up at home once a month or before a special occasion. My teeth ended up lighter than the shade scale for natural teeth, so I went to the dental lab for a custom coloring of the crown that had to be replaced. I was told this process will last a lifetime, with periodic touch-ups, so that made me feel more comfortable about the cost.

I agree with others that the best and least expensive alternative is going to a good dentist, have custom trays made, use the bleaching gel from the dentist for a couple of weeks and then continue with touch-ups.

Further to my first comment April 5 2007, I went into my doctor yesterday and he said my “HUGE puffy LIP” was either due to the chemical or that it got sunburned with the light. He said that all I can do is to let it run its course but to come back if it becomes infected.

My dentist called me today to see how I was doing (for that I was very thankful) and she said she has suspended ZOOM treatments until they figure out what happened. She thinks that because the gauze got wet (from my saliva) that some of the chemical soaked into the gauze and irritated my lip. Anyway, as of this morning my lip has improved but still puffy and the Vitamin E does make it feel better.

It has not been long enough to give my opinion on the effectiveness of the whitening (you can't really see my teeth because of my lip). I plan to do the at-home touch up tray treatments once my lip is healed in about a week.

I too got Zoom done Tuesday (April 3rd)... and I am still in pain!!! My lip got burned on the inside by the UV light apparently (at least that is the only thing that my dr thought had happened) and it is so raw I haven't eaten since then, I can't talk or laugh without wincing in pain, and the sharp stinging is completely unbearable, and that says a lot on its own since I have really high pain tollerance! My lip is now raw from what I can feel and it feels like I have a hole in the middle. The minute I walked out of the office, Angelina had nothing on me... my lip was completely disfigured and swollen 10x. Completely miserable... can't eat, can't brush my teeth, vitamin e soothes but it is so temporary and does nothing more than to alleviate the pain for 2min. and keep it moist. Can't even tell how the teeth look since I can't lift up my lip without wanting to cry.

I had the Zoom procedure done this morning and the pain was bad already in the first 15 minute session. I had to stop after the second session. My teeth are whiter although not dramatically so. I did want a natural-looking result, rather than the neon-white, so I don't mind that the the upper teeth are not that much whiter. But the bottom teeth look a bit strange. The top edges whitened a lot more than the rest of the teeth. So to me, they look yellower than before, because there is more contrast between the top half and the bottom half of the bottom teeth. Fortunately it doesn't show that much because of the way I smile. The pain is still there after 6 hours but it is bearable. Overall, for me this was not worth it, considering the expense, the pain and the low quality result.

Zoom's light also exposes you to UV rays, not a good thing.
I have researched which treatment is safe, and I have found Britesmile is safe and not as painful. Its still zings a bit after your treatment BUT nothing like Zoom. It has less hydrogen peroxside in the gel.
And the light does not expose you to UV rays.

In the same way as zoom, after some time your teeth do yellow again, but it does a great job of getting out all stains,

hi my doctor recomended zoom whitening but never explain to me,his assistant did it and the pain was horrible and l had burns and blisters on my lips and mouth,my lip was 3 times the size and l can't eat it was 4 days ago and they are one of the best doctors in my are l have to go to another doctor tomorrow my lip burn is getting better but l am afraid l got more damage than that.dont take a chance

I had the ZOOM whitening done on April 3, I experienced the zingers others have referred to and burned gums. My gums hurt the most, they were swollen and purple, the oxygenating gel they give you helped some and my teeth are whiter but OUCH -severe pain. When I called the next day to ask about the purple pain and if they could prescribe anything for it they told me I would have to drive back out there for the dentist to look at it because severe pain wasn't normal. Well, I feel if the dentist had checked them before I left, he could have done something right than, but he only spent 1 minute with me, asking if I was ready to have my teeth whitened, told me to bite down than shook my hand and left. While the procedure was being done, I dept asking the girl if this pain was "normal" and she said yes. If I could drive I would have but I didn't sleep at all the night before and feared I wouldn't be able to see through my tears to make it the 30 minute drive to them. She told me to take tylenol and ibuprofen to lessen the pain. Well it is now the 9th I am still in pain and my gums are now a yellowish white, swollen and sore. I am going to drive back out there and see if they have been permanently damaged. Hopefully they will tell me the truth, than I am going to see my regular dentist after he gets back from holiday to confir what they said. I will keep you posted.

I just got Zoom done two hours ago. When the technician started the proceedure she told me that I should call for her if I felt any pain. During my last round, about 2 minutes in, I suddenly got a sharp pain in one of my lower front teeth down by the root. I started snaping my fingers and making noise, it took the technician what seemed like an eternity (probably 2 minutes) to notice and come over and turn the system off. The pain went away and then came back randomly every few minutes. Now its getting more often and stronger and other teeth. I'm really PO'd that I wasn't warned about this. DONT GET THIS PROCEEDURE. I'm talking about 8 out of 10 pain here.

The worst part was that after I was done and bitching up a storm about pain, the technician and then the receptionist told me that they couldn't the proceedure because they had tried and it was too painful.

Dont do it.

I am just after gettig the Zoom treatment done, and i am in so much pain, i know some people said that it depends on the age of peopl, well imn only 21, my teeth are a bit whiter, but the black part i wanted to get rid of is still there...im after flushing 600 euro down the drain...and for what this kinda pain.., please all think about what your doing..i have to take the rest of the day of work...doesnt look good to my employer,,and it also means i loose a days pay...so consider doing it maybe at the weekend, where you can lye in bed for the rest of the day and cry with the pain...

Hello all,
Thank you for this website. I am very nervous to get my Zoom! done. My teeth are very white I'm told by many, but I feel some are dingy yellow and would like that bright white. After reading these posts it sounds like most people's teeth went back to their original color, is this true? Also, what are your long term effects? Who has gotten Zoom! a while ago and how are you feeling now? The dentist I'm going to gave me flouride toothpaste to brush with two weeks before my Zoom! which is next Tuesday. I'm nervous I'm going to be in pain and what's up with the burning of the lips? I read that the UV light isn't supposed to be hot! My dentist has Zoom! 3, I guess it's supposed to be better than 1 and 2, does anyone know? Feedback would be great, thanks so much!

Renee

i thought zoom is just one session? isn't? how much is the total expense? i really wanted to have a whiter teeth and im very much willing to be in pain for a week and keep smiling for several months :) i always have a strong-yellowish teeth and my dentist told me that it's normal.

Hi, I have been contemplating getting Zoom done for a while now. I tend to think that sometimes I'm a baby and that my teeth are sensitive. I had tried to do a whitening system at home from my dentist with the trays and I experienced pain from those. With all of the testimonies I am hearing now, I am absolutely terrified to get the Zoom treatment done now. I really want my teeth to be whiter but I don't want the pain associated with it. Has anyone experienced pain for more than a couple of days? Thank you!

Hi Renee,

I'm getting Zoom3 done, and emailed my Dentist with the concerns on this website (and horror stories!). This was his repsonse regarding Zoom3...

"There is 3 series of the Zoom technology that has now been released. The original Zoom, the Zoom 2 and now the Zoom advanced power (Zoom3).

With the original Zoom, honestly, it wasn't fun to do! Patients were getting very sensitive and there was a lot of pain! So they brought out Zoom 2. Zoom 2 was great! No sensitivity or pain, however, the results weren't as good as the original Zoom. Zoom advanced power 3 (which is the zoom we will be using on you) has no sensitivity and the results achieved are better than the original zoom.

Since using the Zoom advanced power, we haven't had any cases yet of patients in severe pain or sensitivity."

Apparently the pain and sensitivity also has a lot to do with the Dentist you go to - the more experienced and careful he is, the less likely you'll encounter problems.

I'm going on Friday, so will let you know how it goes.

Ab

I just had ZOOM whitening this morning. Instead of the usual 3 rounds, my dentist did 4. That last 4th round was the worst of the 4 rounds although I will say that the pain is bearable and a bit uncomfortable as around that time, I am having a saliva shower already. Anyway, My biggest discomfort was from my gums. Right after the treatment, a few areas became white, they looked "drained of blood" white. the color resumed though after a few hours. I was told that I have to use my bleaching tray for 7 days. My gums feel raw and they looked kinda swollen so i know it might be painful once i use the bleaching tray. I tried using the tray on my lower set of teeth first and I swear, i can only do it for a few seconds. My gums were really burning. I took out the tray and i saw a white film on the edge of my gums. I didnt even try using the tray on my upper teeth coz thats were my gums are swelling the most. Ill try it again tomorrow, hopefully I can bear it this time coz I really wanna maximize this whitening experience.
I am just bothered coz it seems like im the only who has experienced "stinging"gums. Can somebody please help me with this.

I bought a home tooth whitening kit with 35% Peroxide, OMG it hurts like hell, I get pings in certain teeth, I thought maybe I needed a filling or something because it hurt so bad but if everyone else says they're getting the same then it must just be the gel!
Why do certain area's/teeth hurt more than others though?

Wow... I had the zoom procedure done yesterday afternoon. I too felt an occasional zinger since then but I guess I'm lucky that it hasn't been worse. I can't say my results are spectacular but very pleasing. I wonder if the results will last.

I think the competency of the staff performing the procedure is the key to preventing complications. My technician seemed to take forever to prepare my mouth. I thank her now because I now see that properly protected gums and other surfaces minimized my discomfort. Ihave not suffered any burned gums or lips. As far as doing it again? Uh, I'm on the fence on this one.

I just got my teeth whitened this AM using the Zoom system. It was 375.00.

I would not do this again.I was told I may have some "gum irritation and sensitivity". I really wouldn't have minded that. I now have PAIN that loves to surprise me. Its like having a random toothache hit hard in different places in your mouth.

As for the whitening, they do look bright... but in places where the gel was not applied such as near the gumline it is yellow. I hope that blends in later. Ill let you know.

I doubt anyone will read this being that there are a million other responses but I had the Zoom process completed yesterday morning.

Midway through the second session I had a few zings. By the beginning of the third session I took the light off and called it quits because the zings were becoming more frequent.

I had zings through the rest of the day but was fine the next morning.

My issue is that the center of my teeth are not white like the edges are. Kinda sucks because that was the whole reason why I wanted the process done.

Hopefully the home treatment will help. All in all, it was worth it.

I had Zoom done at 1:00pm and it's now 7:45pm and I'm in more pain than when I had gum grafting. I was told that there would be sensitivity, but this is actually pain. Nothing seems to help and I'm even having a hard time typing this comment. Wish I knew, I would never do this again.

I had my Zoom teeth whitening two days ago. I got it done because my dentist suggested that it was a good idea so that the two front caps I will get today on my front teeth will match nice white teeth rather than put dull yellowed caps to match dull yellowed teeth. I have bonding on my front teeth which he said would not bleach. Well, I dont see much difference at all, just maybe a couple shades lighter. my two front teeth are not really noticably yellow unless you are looking for it. People tell me they cant notice much change. So that tells me my teeth werent as yellow as I thought OR the Zoom doesnt work as well on some people? and the pain? I was in TERRIBLE intense pain afterwards for the day--shooting pains in my teeth that just stopped me in my tracks. Then yesterday my upper lip was swollen and raw on the inside with 3 like big sores--must have gotten burned. i called my dentist and begged for pain killers and he suggested motrin. I had a vicodin put away for an emergency--and it was the only way I could sleep that night.

By the way, Renee--the Zoom was the Zoom Advanced Power (3). So, about that dentist that said that that Zoom doesnt cause pain--WRONG. I felt the pain progressively worse with each session. And the person who did it on me said that some people like to take a nap while the light is on. How on earth could you take a nap while your teeth are baking and it hurts so much. I read the disclosure that said that it may cause some sensitivity and even pain and when I asked the dentist about that before I signed the disclosure she said that is very rare. From reading these posts, its more like common than rare. She took care covering my gums, but I still have burns on the inside of my upper lip.

I am scheduled to have the zoom procedure next tuesday. I was really excited because I have been saving to have my teeth done. But I am a little worried. I have the whitening next tuesday and then a gum line surgery the tuesday after that. I am getting a couple of crowns and I want my teeth to be as bright as possible. Will my mouth be too sensitive to do the gum surgery a week later? My teeth in the front are pretty white but on the bottom and sides my teeth have yellowed at the base from my stupid braces. I really want to have a nice smile. Should I cancel? My dentist said she would give me a shot so it wouldn't hurt. Won't it just hurt later? What if I am getting burned?

Katy,

If your dentist is reasonably competent, I think you should be fine in a week for gum surgery. ASK her. See what she recommends.

But, honestly, at this time I would recommend take-home trays over the ZOOM procedure. 4 months after ZOOM, my teeth have very nearly faded to the color they were before it was done. They may be a shade or two lighter - but by the end of the year, they will be the color they were to start. With the trays, you can at least touch up at home as you need it.

I had the zoom treatment today. What kind of sick sadistic joke is this crap! I was not even warned about "zingers" until the light was turned on. Even then they were not explained to me. So, round one, not to bad. Near the end of the round 1 had 2 mild, quick "zingers".

Round 2, "zingers" much more frequent and painful. I thought I was going to push the light away, but I really wanted white teeth. The three minute warning beep went off and I could hardly wait. At this point the pain was like getting your front teeth drilled to the nerves without novocaine.
The hygenist asked me if I was OK. I lied and said not to bad. Just a little pain (big lie!!!). She was getting me ready for round three with another application of the gel. I kept flinching in pain. she turned the light back on and I lasted about 4 minutes and had to tell her to get this crap out of my mouth. The pain was so bad that I wished I could passout!!!!!

So now I'm bummed out that I couldn't stand to finish the treatment because the whitening from the first 2 rounds was pretty good and I spent 500.00 for the Zoom. Really the whitest my teeth have been since I was a small child.

The last part of the treatment is they make a mold of your mouth to make a tray so you can do a few touch up treatments at home. I could not do this. I could not even open my mouth or speak. About all I could do was sweat and cringe in pain. It will have to wait until I no longer want to take a shotgun to my head (yes, the pain is that bad).

I went home and took some leftover vicodin I had. Two pills to start. Then one more, then five advil. Was a waist of good medicine as the pain was only getting worse with new "zingers" in different parts of me teeth. Then I spent some time on the couch in a fetal position. The pain was not getting better. Then I went on the web and found this site. I read about the Theradent. As soon as I cound get up the courage to getup and go to the store I did. I'm home now typing this and I can tell you that the Theradent does nothing for this kind of pain. Most likely the other people writing about the Theradent do not live two seconds from a drug store like I do and their minor relief if any was placebo effect and the passage of time....

It has been now five hours since the treatment and the "zingers" are slightly milder now. ONLY SLIGHTLY!...

I just went to the freezer and poured a glass of vodka with about two shots worth in it. I'll have to wait for it to warm to room temp before drinking it. I chose vodka over whiskey because I cannot have any food or drink with color in it according to my hygenist.

In a couple of days I hope to be able to do things like open my mouth without fear of a "zinger" from exposing my teeth to the air. Also, I want to go back to the dentist for my mouth tray and follow up gel. Yes, even though I'm in all of this pain I still want to finish this because my teeth relly do look great! Would I ever do this again? NEVER!!!!!!!! Would I recommend it to a friend? No way! They would not be my friend after sending them in for what feels like surgery without anesthesia. Well, that sums up my Zoom experience. I am going to check on my vodka. Also, I hope this helped anyone who was smart enough to read up on this treatment before diving in.

I commented back on April 9 about my experience; I have since been back to see the dentist 2x and I knew something was wrong when the dental tech took a look at my whitish yellow swollen upper gums and said she had never seen anything like that; the dentist came in and said I must have had an allergic reation to the whitening gel; gave me some more aloe salve and antibiotics, took a picture and said he was sending it to ZOOM; I just got back from my 2nd f/u and he said they were looking better BUT I am still in pain; my gums are still burning and my teeth are still sensitive to temperatures, citrus and spicy food and I had the procedure done on the 3rd. I think my top gums are receding, I think I am going to see my regular dentist tomorrow to see what he says. Has anyone had the burned gums and sensitive teeth reaction gotten better or am I doomed to this forever? The dentist said I should be ok in another week!

Had it done today at 3 p.m. I am in terrible terrible pain. My bottom teeth hurt like nothing I have ever experienced. Took Advil PM, now I am just very tired and in pain. If you have ever experienced any sensitivity while using the strips, DO NOT do this. I am not sure it was worth it. I also have white "patches" on my teeth. The hygenist said it is due to the fact my enamel is thinner in some places, whatever. I hope it goes away, along with this pain. I am sorry I had it done.

JUST SAY NO

Oh my GOD.................:(
I had the ZOOM yesterday at 11AM...talk about torture.
It was like being awake during a root canal.
I had to pay 600.00 for this and I have a bottom lip full of burn marks and a bump on my gum infromt of my tooth.
Whiter??
I'm not even sure if it's that big of a deal.
I won't be telling people to do this,until I recover.
He gave me 6 vicodins,and told me to rub vitamen e right on my gums,can you frikkin imagine what thats going to be like??
I'm in sales,and talk all day on the phone...
can't do it today. TGIF cause I'm going to the pharmacy and then home to bed.
Damn..I'm the least VAIN person I know,but at 48 felt I should get the coffee off my teeth,I don't smoke...but was feeling like my teeth had sweaters on them!! lol
Now, they may be whiter,but I very well may need an antibiotic....
I live in The Hamptons in NY,and was charged more than anyone else I know who has had the treatment.
They also have 100 off if you go to their site..wish I would have been more proactive about this...
The pain is a killer...
thanks
Judian from Sag Harbor

It has now been almost two days since I had the Zoom procedure done for $500. I had three 20-minute sessions. My dental assistant explained that mild irritation and some sensitivity was normal, but that I should let her know immediately if I felt any burning. Apparently the assistant did a good job on isolating my gums, because burning was not a problem.

The first "zingers" hit in the middle of the second session, which made me want to jump out of my chair. When I indicated that I was having waves of intense pain in my lower front teeth, my dental assistant did not seem all that concerned saying again that sensitivity was normal. However, I must have jumped too much in response to the pain, because the protective seal along my lower gums had creacked. After having the seal repaired, I endured another 20 minutes of hellish pain. During the third session, the "zingers" continued in my lower teeth and began to occur in my upper teeth as well. My whole body was shaking from the pain (and I am typically good at toughing out pain). The zingers continued for all of the first day, but seemed to stop after one night's rest.

My dental assistant gave me a single tube of concentrated bleaching gel (22% carbamide peroxide), and two-weeks worth of a less concentrated bleaching gel (16% carbamide peroxide). She said to use the more concentrated gel for the first 3-4 nights, then continue with the less concentrated gel.

I endured my first at-home bleaching session using the 22% gel. The gel instantly caused a burning sensation in my mouth. I endured the pain for one hour, the maximum session time indicated on the package. Perhaps I foolishly endure the pain, because the gel seriously burned my gums, causing them to appear grey and dead. Later they turned white along the edges and some of the skin sloughed off. They still look chewed up and a little recessed, but are gradually healing. I won't be trying the at-home bleaching again until my gums heal more fully. I will also be looking for ways to reduce the exposure of my gums to the bleaching solution.

In the end, if I had known that the pain was going to be this bad, I would NEVER have gone through the procedure. I may also cease the at-home treatments if I cannot find a way around the gum damage.

Hi,
I have used the whitening trays at home from my dentist. They worked very well... just a long process. I thought about doing zoom and found this site; Very interesting... I think I will stay with the trays. I experienced a few zings the last time, I thought maybe zoom would be less painful. But from the sound of it, it will be the same, if not worse. Considering zoom is a stronger bleach, I am sure the pain will be more. At least with the home trays you can take them off immedately. I just wanted quicker results. Funny, all the dentist I have approached over the years have only recommended the trays, they must know something. Happy smiles to you all :)

Wow, I'm so glad I found this site. It's been so informative. I have an appointment for Zoom this next week but now I will cancel it. After reading what Dr. Mike said, I think doing the trays is the way to go. Does anyone have experience with the at home bleaching trays from the Dentist?
As a side note, my Zoom II treatment was going to be $249 in the DFW area.

I cancelled my appointment after reading all the comments. I'm a pain sissy. Zoom sounds horrifying and I don't suffer torture very well. Many thanks for this site. I will look differently and lovingly at my old, yellow teeth from now on and appreciate that they don't hurt one bit and would soon be yellow again anyway. I can't imagine what you all went through with the burns and black gums. I'm grateful to have found this info before I inflicted this cruel ordeal on myself. I would be going to a dentist I never met before and the only one in a 100 mile radius who offers Zoom. They offer $100 off for the month of April, for a total of $299.00. I think I'll buy myself a new bike instead. The receptionist in my regular dentist office never even heard of Zoom. Zoom sounds like something you might encourage your worst enemies to have done.

I got the treatment done yesterday for $600 NZ dollars (about $300 US) and must say Im really pleased with the result. I have had 4 15 minute treatments done and only experienced a few zings during the treatment. The pain (for me) was not lasting and though intense for a brief period (like .5 second) disappeared as quickly afterward. Since then in the following 24 hours I have had the occassional zing which really should be called a zap - it hits a random tooth each time and is just as quickly gone afterward. Being that everyone has different sensitivity and pain tolerance I dont think you can really predict your own reaction to this off someone elses experience. Basically , yes it can hurt, but the result is pleasing and the pain goes away. The pain is also to be expected if you consider the harsh treatment your teeth are actually receiving - dehydrated, bleached, heated, cleaned - and repeated 3 to 4 times. Of couse they are going to hurt - its the nerves way of telling you somethings not normal. I was recommended to use a desensitising toothpaste for 2 weeks before the treatment (sensodyne whitening) and 2 weeks after - maybe that works better for pain relief?

I just got ZOOM whitening done this morning and didn't feel any pain until after I left the dentist. I am very pleased with the results but the pain is unbearable. I hope this tylenol works!

I had the Zoom whitening done at 130, it really hurt during the whole process, when i told the dental assistant the pain i was feeling, she told me she had never heard of there being pain like this before. The 1st and 3rd Session hurt for me, but it was not till later at around 630 that the pain started to kick in , shooting pain, here i sit with a luke warm cloth in my mouth, and it really doesnt help, but i did have some relief when i filled my mouth up with saliva and let it sit in front of my teeth. I know this sounds gross, but it sems to be the only thing that is working...try it out...hope it helps

i had zoom done yesterday and i regret it more than anything..i left the office with a bump on my upper lip-i was told it would go away within a few minutes, that it was a result from my mouth/lips being stretched open.
anyway 4 hrs later this "bump"got much bigger.it almost looked like a blister
today my lip is so swollen--horrible--ive been crying all day..i look so ridiculous and according to the dentist and his colleage--nothing can be done...time is the only way to heal it-i was told it in isnt a blister but in fact edema---and i have yet to get an answer on how or why it happened...they dont know..the only risk or side effect i was warned about was tooth sensitivity.
i am very upset and will be requesting a full refund...
not only am i an emotional, physical mess but i am also missing work--there is no way i could ever go looking like this...
not to mention-the tip of my tongue is sensitive and has white bumps on it/
has anyone heard a story like this?

Today is Tuesday 4/17/07, I have an appt to have my teeth whitened with the "Zoom" procedure scheduled for Thursday 4/19/07, I believe I will cancel and settle with other less painful routes of teeth whitening.

Thanks for the site Rebecca; I’m sooooo glad I ran across your site.

I had the Zoom 2 advanced power procedure done today at 1pm, it cost me AU$800.00 (extremely expensive considering it was a dental assistant that preformed the procedure and not an actual dentist.
I endured three fifteen minute rounds of the zoom UVA exposure with the 25% peroxide gel, my mouth was well protected and i did not recieve burns to my gums etc, i felt my first zings in round one and thought that was a sign of worse to come but although slightly unplesant, the zings which increased slightly in round two and three, would disapate very quickly and since the procedure i have had several zings which have been easy to ignore it's now 5:30.
One thing i noted was the zings mainly happened in a tooth, front bottom, that had a slight chip in the top, i have read that the senstivity is more likley to occur if your enamel is thin or chiped in places, exposing your dentin underneth or sometimes cracked teeth can also leek bleech directly into dentin then into your nerve resulting in the zing.
My advice would be only do zoom if you have strong resistant teeth, a strong pain tollerance, like Rebecca i would also recomend take home trays over zoom anyday zoom is simply a often painful expensive quick fix. I do beleive better results can be acheived with the trays although they take longer to work they are far less expensive therfore much better value.
As for results my teeth were quite white to start with so i didnt get too many shades lighter they look bright but are not yet as white as i want after 48 hours I will start the nite brite 22% at home gel, why other people, like poor Jennifer, have been recomended to sart the gel straight away is beyond me and everyone reading DONT do this your teeth need at least 48 hours for the pores in your teeth to close or it'll be zings galour.
As for the burnt gums people be careful how much gel you use just a little dot right in the botom of ur tray for each tooth if its burnning your gums take it off.
After reading all this this feed back and still deciding to go through wit the procedure my final advice is dont waste your money unless you really need that instant result and dont expect a miracle, you still have to use the at home gel and trays to get as white as you can go.

Hi
I found your web site at the weekend thanks for all the info. I had an app yesterday to go see the Dentist regarding Zoom 2. Anyway I went and he checked my teeth said I would be ok to have it done. I told him about some of the concerns and problems that id read on here and he assured me that he had not had any real problems with his clients, some slight sensitivity was about all. Thing is im getting married in 3 weeks and this is the reason for me getting it done only now im terrified!! Apparently the one he uses is Zoom 2. I soooo dont know what to do!! ive also ordered Crest supreme whitening strips anyone know anything about them?? Thanks x

I am shocked at the similarities in this thread. It seems like a lot of folks were warned of mild pain and then actually had shockingly intense pain.

I had this Zoom procedure done this morning at 7:30 and have suffered through the worst day of my life. I've taken several Vicoden, which I did not get from my dentist but felt very lucky to have had left over from a recent knee surgery. This pain was the worst I can remember feeling in my life, if only because it lasted all day. I'm still in intense pain.

I'm fairly young - 31 - and have never had a cavity or any teeth sensitivity. I regularly go to the dentist and have no problems with my teeth or gums. If there are risk factors for this side effect, I can't figure out what they are. As for the pain, I am an athlete and think I can handle pretty good levels of pain. I dislocated my knee recently and can say confidently that this pain is much worse, both in intensity and in duration.

I'm not sure I would have done it had I known. More than that, I feel like I was misled by my dentist and his staff. From this thread, these intense pains are a fairly common side effect. I think I should have been told so that I could have decided whether to take the risk.

Good luck to everyone suffering through this. I only hope it's gone or at least less intense by tomorrow.

I had the ZOOM done at 10:30am with the three 20 minute sessions. It cost me $350. I didn't feel any pain until about 3 hours later. It started all of a sudden,, the zings, and it is 12am and I'm still in pain. I went out to CVS and bought the Theradent rinse. I didn't think it would do anything, but I was desperate. I used it and it did help with some of the pain. It is $10 a bottle, well worth it for a little pain relief. I wouldn't refer this to anyone.

I had the zoom 2 done today and did not know what to expect. I had not done any research on it besides researching for a dentist. She told me that my teeth would be extremely sensitive afterwards and to take tylenol. The first and second 15 minute sessions were fine. The third session I didn't feel any discomfort just a few tingling sensations. The fourth session I started to feel couple of zings but not painful though. It was not until I got out of the dentist office that I started to feel the extreme sensitivity and pain. That is why I ended up on this site, I was trying to read testimonials to see how I could ease the pain in my mouth. I took asprin, it doesn't WORK! I can stand a lot of pain, but the pain is different when it comes to your mouth. My teeth or should I say my whole mouth hurts so bad right now that it has caused a bad headache. I am satisfied with the results, my teeth were slightly yellow and now my teeth are pearly white. I would not recommend it, but if you want white teeth in an hour in an half and can stand the pain then go ahead. Don't say I didn't warn you though!

Hey guys,
Thanks for the feedback. I decided not to get ZOOM. My teeth are pretty white already but I really wanted them whiter. I thought doing ZOOM would be better than the trays but hearing comments on white gums and blotchy teeth, I'm very nervous. I still am contemplating it so anymore feedback would be great. Thanks for all the comments. I would like to know about the whiteness, does everyone who got ZOOM feel their teeth are extremely white? Or are they going back to their natural color? Thanks.

Renee

I had the Zoom treatment this morning at 9:30 and it is now almost midnight and I am in quite a bit of pain but completely worth every bit, I have had constant pain since before the procedure was over but I am staying tough for the most part. I love the way my teeth look and I know they will only get better, I went in a week ago and was fitted for custom bleaching trays to use after zoom to aquire the desired shade before I get veneers put in. I want a great smile, and I am willing to endure the pain associated with getting it!!!!

I had ZOOM (advanced power) done yesterday in Hungary (I live in Viena, Austria).

I am very pleased with the results.

Zings/discomfort are worth every euro.

I am in sales, so I feel way much better now talking to people. It is a very small superficial thing having whiter teeth, but makes me feel better, and that is what is important.

I cannot neglect mentioning I was already a babe magnet before, now it will get just crazy :) so guys, do not think twice.

Dr. told me my teeth will get a little whiter in the next couple of days after the treatment. I am supposed to eat only white foods (white ketchup anyone?)

I hope they do not fade back to the previous colour, i will be a bit sad after having a shiny smile.

I am 38 coffee drinker and occasional smoker. I have before-after pics where one can see the big difference. I hated seeing myself every morning in the mirror with a rainbow of yellow teeth.

What was cool is that i have a root canal on one front tooth, i broke it as a child playing soccer. about 20% of the tooth has been restored with some sort of ceramic paste.

About 9 months ago my dentist here in austria put a Veneer on top of the darkened tooth, you know, to cover up a bit.

Well, even the veneer got whiter with Zoom, the doctor was amazed! I will be changing the veneer eventually to match the "good old new white color"...will see...so far so good

i did notice that the back teeth do not get treated. Dr. told me that the problem is the zoom light, it does not reach the back-teeth, and no similar product does either. Only trays.

I am quitting coffee for good, it ruins your teeth and enslaves poor people in 3rd world countries (making richer the rich along the way). Smoking (tobacco) is not a healthy habit either.

If anyone should be sued should be starbucks, not your dentist trying to help you out.

Dr and Assistance were very careful, although noone said about getting those Zings almost everyone here talks aobut. The Dr had Zoom done on her and mentioned nothing about zings.

Zings lasted for a few hours, but it was not really pain, but discomfort. I could eat, drink, brush, with no problem. I drive a convertible, even coming back from hungary with car top-down and smiling away was not a problem.

I was finished with the procedure at 1.30pm. Went to bed at 10pm and woke up at 5am with no pains/zings whatsoever.

I just noticed my top front gums are a bit red, and if i touch them HARD they will be sensitive. Am sure will go away in a couple of days.

I guess people are different. I have gone with absolutely no eating for 3 days with no problems, others will actually die after missing the first meal. :)

I would recommend the procedure, but not to whiners.

DO THE ZOOM!

JoséLuis
Viena, Austria
jl@mail.austria.com

I first had the procedure done in Dec. I was not happy with the results. I did not have any pain or side effects. I went in for a check up & even the dentist stated that it did nothing for my bottom teeth. He said he would do it again for free- so I of course took him up on his offer. I went in yesterday. The agonizing pain is unreal. I had to keep holding my mouth with my hands-trying to protect it from any air! Really though, I could handle that because I knew the pain would eventually go away, but what has me bothered the very most is my BIG FAT SWOLLEN UPPER LIP!!! I am freaking out. I look like somebody off the Simpsons! I am not kidding. I have been doing research all night & morning to see what the cause is. Nobody EVER mentioned this as a side effect. I can't even go out in public. It's swollen all the way up to my nose. Has anyone else ever had this happen? How long did it last? Any cure? My dentist is not helping me out here at all. Be warned!

I had Zoom on Tuesday (four days ago). During the second 15 minute round I experienced my first "zinger" - it hurt. The gel had seeped onto my gums and they too burned. None of this had really been discussed in great detail prior to the proceedure. I made it half-way through the 3rd 15 minute round when the burning on my gums was too much and asked to stop. After the proceedure the "zingers" were intense. The burning on the gums decreased. I stopped and got some oralgel q-tips and placed the liquid on all the teeth that were zinging and it eliviated it almost immediately. The gums were and are still a little sore, four days later. Makes biting into things difficult - but not chewing. Main important factor to remember - we have this done for cosmetic reasons - to look and feel better - and it works. It was worth the tiny moments of discomfort to flash that gorgeous smile!

I had ZOOM done this morning. It cost me $425 canadian which included the procedure and custum fit trays with an at home kit.

I made out really well with the procedure. I had 2 short zing pains in the same tooth during my 3rd and final 15 minute session. I did not experience any other pain. I have had probably about 5 zing oains in that same tooth and it is now a couple of hours later. My teeth are not temperature sensitive and I am eating fine.

My teeth look fantastic. Just as I hope that they would turn out. I do have sensitive teeth - and I did very well! Go for it!

I had the ZOOM! procedure done this morning and was not warned about the "zings" until I had my first one as an Assistant was putting some gel on my teeth. I went through three and a half cycles out of four since I couldn't bear the intense pain any longer. The results are amazing. Although, the pain is unbearable. Apparently the intensity of the pain varies from person to person, but after 2 Vicadins and a tad of Nyquil, I still feel like someone is yanking on my teeth with plyers and pouring acid on them at the same time. I guess some of us have it worse than others. Did I mention it's my bday today. I should have done my research. Good luck to those considering it.

My sisters friend is a dentist and he said if you're going to get ZOOM, get a flouride treatment right before, that will eliminate the pain.

DO NOT USE ZOOM! I had this procedure done 3 days ago - my gums were severely burned - I am still drinking from a straw. These people must not certify their "dentists" well enough. And to top it off, my teeth only changed about one shade. I had Brightsmile 3 years ago - with excellent results - at least 6 shades - and no side effects. I called both the place that did the ZOOM procedure, and ZOOM headquarters - they both suggested vitamin E oil on my scorched gums - which is totally ridiculous - that is certainly not going to relieve the pain! I'm still waiting to hear back from either party - but I'm not holding my breath!

BTW-the sharp shooting pains in my teeth were nothing compared to the gum pain!

I happened across this page as I was doing research for my younger sister who is in tremendous pain after her ZOOM procedure this morning. The dentist has been of no help so she called me crying for suggestions. All the "marketing" material advise of possible "mild to moderate" pain shortly after. However, they fail to tell you that there is a risk of SEVERE pain nor provide suggestions on how to handle it. At this point, there doesn't seem to be anything that can be done other than wait it out (with over the counter pain reliever or left off prescription meds...) which is dreadful. I would encourage all those folks to write the FDA, BBB, etc. to force this company and dentists to really discuss the real risks involved.

AHHHH! I have NEVER been in SOO much pain! It is unbelievable. I am so tired and want to sleep and can't. I had the Zoom procedure done today at 10:00 a.m and left in so much pain. Like so many of you the 3rd round, 15 minutes each, had the zingers that nearly knocked me out of the chair. I had to stop her after the 3rd round and tell her I couldn't take anymore. I had 800 mill of tylenol at home and took one every 3 hours and NOTHING happened. I literally couldn't do anything. I was so mad they never said I would suffer any pain and failed to tell me about any side affects. The hygenist kept saying no turning back and she was too scared to do it but wouldn't say why. I have now taken 4 Vicoden and literally called my dentist 5 times within 15 minutes and made them call something in to make the pain stop. It just kept getting worse. I am still in pain but not a 10 anymore, it has lowered to a 6 or 7 on a scale but can hardly eat and my days activities were shot. I am so mad and have a 2 year old and 9 month old son that I literally couldn't communicate with. My step daughter had to take care of the little one's today. It is horrible and I can hardly tell a difference. I would have black teeth then to suffer this pain. I am still unable to sleep and still in pain. Please for your own sake don't do this to yourself. It truly is unbearable and I have been told I have a very high pain threshold. I appreciated all your feedback and felt somewhat better knowing there was more of us out there but praying we will all feel better soon. Terrible Pain!!!!

Hi all. I had zoom done in Dec but was hoping for better results. I have had no problem with sensitivity. I have been using the 22% gel and trays once a week but am a little confused by you often I should be using them. Should I use them nightly for 2 weeks and then have touch up once a month or so? Or should I conitnue with once a week? My aim is to get my teeth as white as possible, but I don't want to overuse as I have heard of peopple getting blue teeth!!! thanks for your help in advance.

I'm back from my Zoom appointment and of course..I wait until now to look Zoom up on the net. Now I am siting here waiting for the pain to start :( I had 3 -15 min sessions with the light and no zings but I doubt I can be lucky enough to completely miss them later on tonight. My cost was $450.00 and that includes the trays and one box of the whitener for home use. Big bucks but they look really white now...hope they stay that way

I am getting the ZOOM treatment done on Monday. I heard from a friend that when you whiten your teeth with some procedures, you are told not to drink any coffee, or alcohol or anything acidic like orange juice. Is this true?

Okay, I went ahead and got the procedure done even after reading this website. I went through the whole procedure without any pain and my front teeth are usually sensitive to temperature. It's 3:20 and I had it done this morning and I didn't have any pain or sensitivity . So I was happy about that. My teeth are pretty healthy and I drink alot of water so everything was properly hydrated.

But so far I am not so impressed with the color. My teeth only got a half of a shade lighther and that's only my front teeth. My side teeth are still yellowish. Now granted, my teeth are not terribly discolored. I started at like an A2.5 and now I am an a2, the highest is A1.

They also told me it should get whiter becuase I can use the take home trays. But to be honest I am really happy there wasn't any pain because I was really scared. I just hope they get whiter than what they are now.

Zoom = Torture!!!!

I had my Zoom appointment yesterday and it was like being bound and tortured. I was waiting for Jack Bauer to come into the room and start interrogating me - I was ready to admit being the key architect of 9/11 AND the attack on Pearl Harbor!

There was no mention of pain when they were selling me the treatment and I was quite suprised when my it started zinging 3/4 into the first round (i had 4 rounds). Every time they put the light on me I would be in excruiciating pain 1/2 way through - it was like someone was burning your mouth with a heat gun.

When I finished I was completely exhausted! Never felt so sick in my life, no question about it - it was the worst dental procedure I've had in my life (worse than pulling 4 wisdom teeth in 1 appt). Slept in till noon the next day.

My teeth are definitely whiter, will see in a few days (I will repost at that time). Paid about $350 US. I have to say, I would probably NEVER do this again. I don't think i would be so dramatic about it but I just had no idea it would be that painful.

Thank you for providing this information, it sounds like it's needed by many! Matching these experiences with my brief experience today sure makes me think there is potentially some misleading going on out there about Zoom.

I started with a new dentist today. Liked him, in general he seemed thorough and thoughtful. But I am not sure about part of his plan of action for my dental care, and have a couple specific questions re: whitening for you/the bloggers and particularly for the dental pro's that have contributed.

In today's visit the dentist asked what my concerns were if any, and I mentioned some sensitivity (bleeding gums after flossing and possibly some teeth sensitivity), and wanting to repair a small chip on one front tooth and improve a previous repaired chip to the adjacent front tooth. In general I have a pretty good smile and slightly yellowish but not bad looking teeth. He checked me out and planned to do some periodontic work (receding gums) and the whitening (they use Zoom) on one day, then a couple weeks later do the bondings matched to the whitened teeth. After reading everything on this site I am definitely not going to do the Zoom. But I do have one question: how necessary is it to do some form of whitening before a bonding of front teeth? In other words - if I don't whiten, will the bondings stay at one color (matched to my current color) while my teeth get yellower over time, or will the entire bonded tooth be uniform whether it gets yellower or stays the same? Conversely if I do whitening (something other than Zoom), and the bondings are then matched to the whitened teeth, will I potentially have some issue of the bonding eventually not matching the teeth b/c the whitening fades over the long haul? These are questions I can and will ask the dentist now that I've considered this a bit more, but I figured I'd ask since you guys all seem so knowledgeable. Thanks again for providing this info to the public!

I had the Zoom Whitening a week ago at Dr. David Butler's office in Palm Harbor, Fl. The hygenist took great care to prepare my mouth, covering the gums, etc for 45 minutes. I suspect that the problems that others have encountered are in part due to the fact that some offices might not be as careful. The total time in the chair was two hours. There was no pain, no discomfort and a great result. I would do it again with no hesitation.

I bought the Brite smile bleaching home kit about 18 month ago but due to the pain stopped using it. I am now concidering starting to use it again. Does anyone know how long they last for (the gel) Had planned to do a proper zoom instead but now I will definetealy not do that.

I saw your blog and felt compelled to write you. I work for a teeth whitening company that has come out with brand new patented technology for teeth whitening that address' tooth sensitivity. This product is across Europe and is just being introduced in the US markets. We do not see the sensitivity problem with our products. I personally would not want to sell something that causes that much discomfort and pain to the client/patient. I also am concerned that this side effect is minimized at the point of sale: the dental office! Our product is now being brought to the US market. Look for this to be offered in salons and spas near you. I have personally whitened hundreds of clients during demo's, and at beauty shows. I did not have ONE complaint of pain or sensitivity. I have salon clients that are using my system and no reports of pain or sensitivity have come to my attention. I am sorry you all experienced discomfort with your ZOOM! procedures. I think the European manfacturers recognized this as a problem. It has been addressed, and new products are on the horizon for you. I do not work for ZOOM! or a dentist. These products are totally different and will be offered by personal aesthesticians, or beauty and tanning salons. I did not state the name of my company because I wanted to let you know the problem has been addressed, I did not come here to sell my product. Any one who has ZOOM! or uses trays that are in the mouth with peroxide on the teeth for days, or even white strips, can experience extreme tooth sensitivity and pain.

A few important facts I forgot to mention:

The whitening will be offered at half the price of the dentist's office and half of the time. You will get a very professional result in less than 30 minutes.

i was really excited to see there was an alternative to having crappy teeth.i am 24 and had been bulimic for 10 years.i used to have beautiful teeth and wanted to get compliments on them again instead of being embarrased to smile in public.after reading this i am afraid not only of getting zoom but that i will be doomed with ugly teeth the rest of my life.is there any other options.do crest strips work.im kinda desperate.

I had the zoom process yesterday and wow my teeth are white - but I don't think I would do that again. I had to come home from work because I had a terrible headache, and my teeth hurt. I also felt a little nausea - weird, just for wanting my teeth white. Just think about it before you do it. I don't recommend it!!

I am in the middle of a course of Aquabrite, which will take 4 weeks (two weeks top, two weeks bottom teeth). So far, so good and I'm not finding it painful. I have two queries. First, although I've given up staining foods I still smoke my usual 3-5 cigarettes a day (although am trying to give up altogether). It says in the instructions that smoking should be kept to a minimum. I'm presuming therefore this is ok but wondered if anyone has any experience of smoking a bit during treatment. Secondly, its costing me £800, which is a lot I feel, so wanted to check if anyone knows whether this includes after-care treatment i.e. further Aquabrite syringes to top-up the whitenging every few months.

This is to Sarah with Bulemia. Sarah, please visit your dentist to determine the health of your teeth prior to doing whitening of any kind including over the counter products such as white strips. If your tooth surfaces are damaged, as often is the side effect of bulemia, it is very important not to put peroxide on your teeth without getting a complete check up with your dental professional. Whitening procedures are for people with healthy teeth and gums. You will not be doomed with bad teeth, as there are other alternatives for you. Veneers, and bonding are some other alternatives for you.

I walked out of the dentist's office 1 hour ago, and I am a grown man damn near tears... I was fine after 2 sessions, the tech came in & prepped me for the 3rd and I got a little twinge, after the 3rd session I now feel like someone is shoving sewing needles through my gums & into the roots of my teeth, then pounding them with a hammer. I really wanted to do a 4th session to get maximum whitening, but I just couldn't do it - I've broken several bones, NONE of them hurt ANYTHING like this. SO - if you're thinking about doing this, consider all your options first!!!!

Hi all: I stumbled on to this site.. I really want to whiten my teeth but I have to be honest... I am little scared after reading about some of the experiences.. And also concerned because I want them to be movie star white.. lol I keep hearing dont do it.. but the reality is the white strips dont get them white enough for me.. any advice..?

Hi all. I had zoom done in Dec but was hoping for better results. I have had no problem with sensitivity. I have been using the 22% gel and trays once a week but am a little confused by you often I should be using them. Should I use them nightly for 2 weeks and then have touch up once a month or so? Or should I conitnue with once a week? My aim is to get my teeth as white as possible, but I don't want to overuse as I have heard of peopple getting blue teeth!!! thanks for your help in advance.

OH MY GOD. I had zoom today and I am in agony. My dentist gave me shots to numb my mouth and even that didnt kill the pain comletely. Now the numbness has worn off , and I have the worst pain of my life. I took vicodine and 800 mgm of ibuprophen and I am still in agony. I would NEVER do this again. My teeth didnt even get white. They are just a lighter shade of yellow. Ugh. What a waste of $500.00. I pray this horrible pain goes away soon.

Update: I had my Zoom on Tuesday and had no problems. I was waiting for the pain and was happy when nothing happened. No shooting pains or headache. The lady did pack my gums really well and maybe that is the difference? Someone asked about what you can't eat afterwards..they told me nothing with color ( like cherry pie..anything red etc) and that was for 48 hours. They did forget to tell me to use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth for a week before the treatment..but luckily..all went well with my Zoom treatment. I would do it again. It really helps to have an Mp3 player with you. I listened to an audio book the whole time and that helped take my mind off of that mouth full of stuff :)

I had Zoom! done earlier today, on a whim, after seeing a lot about it on TV and reading quite a bit about of teeth whitening options. It was incredibly fast, a little under an hour, and at a much lower price then most other people people have reported ($179). Initially my teeth were a scary shade of white, and I felt the first zing in the last 15 minute session. After the second zing i moved away from the light for the last minute. The dentist assured me this was a completely painless, and it certainly wasn't. I was in imense pain for about 3 hours after, but now the pain has gone down considerably. My teeth cartainly don't look extremely white anymore, but I have been aprehensive to open my mouth much, so as not to enhance the sensitivity. I hope I will be satisfied with the results.

I had Zoom done a couple of days ago. Nobody warned me about the sensitive teeth and I didn't research it before hand! They are finally feeling a little better.

It wasn't pleasant - but I have to say - my teeth look AMAZING.

I am getting married next weekend and I really wanted a brighter smile. I would not do this treatment regularly - but for a special occassion - it was TOTALLY worth it!

I also decided to get my teeth whitened because I'm getting married. For me, the pain was definately NOT worth it. The dentist recommended I go with Zoom instead of traditional peroxide because I tend to have sensitive teeth and Zoom is not supposed to cause as much sensitivity. I am now in excruciating pain. I don't even know if my teeth look any whiter because I can't open my mouth for fear of air increasing the sensitivity. I understand everyone experiences different levels of sensitivity, but this is ridiculous. The hygenist said she had never seen anything like this before, but obviously, from reading the comments, it's at least somewhat common. I encourage everyone to tell their dentists about their pain and that others have experienced similar problems so other patients can make informed decisions. My dentist was completely taken by surprise. I was given advil, a flouride wash and even some special topical (Vicor??) and not allowed to leave the office for an hour after the treatment I was in so much pain. To top it all off, my top lip has been burnt and it's now red and swollen and also quite painful. I look like I've been punched in the face. Zoom is definately not worth it.

Will my teeth color go back to their natural color? Answer, YES. ZOOM will not give you 8-10 shades whiter like they advertise maybe 1 shade. At first you will see about 4 shade difference that day only!!! Yes, my dentist who charged me $700 for this procedure NEVER once mentioned the pain involved! Also, he sold me extra night white and after a night or two of that the SAME PAIN comes back as the original office procedure. Has anyone else had any pain free beaching using Zoom night trays? ZOOM is a RIPOFF and I wish I could get my money back but my dentist had me sign a four page document saying it may not work 2 minutes before my procedure. Please let me know how I can get my money back from this ZOOM SCAM. Please don't waste your money on ZOOM!!!!

Will my teeth color go back to their natural color? Answer, YES. ZOOM does not work and will not give you 8-10 shades whiter like they advertise MAYBE 1 shade. At first you will see about 4 shade difference that day only!!! Yes, my dentist who charged me $700 for this procedure NEVER once mentioned the pain involved! Also, he sold me extra night white and after a night or two of that the SAME PAIN comes back as the original office procedure. Has anyone else had any pain free beaching using Zoom night trays? ZOOM is a RIPOFF and I wish I could get my money back but my dentist had me sign a four page document saying it may not work 2 minutes before my procedure. Please let me know how I can get my money back from this ZOOM SCAM. Please don't waste your money on ZOOM!!!!

I have an appointment on May 24 for Zoom (not the actual procedure but like a pre-procedure). It didn't cross my mind that having your teeth whitened could hurt. I'm glad I came upon this discussion, because now I know what to ask my dentist and what to check for. I will most likely go ahead with the whitening, because it's $169, but I really hope it doesn't cause as mush pain as a lot of you are describing.

I don't think the amount of pain has a lot (if anything) to do with your pain threshold. I think it has to do with the experience that a dentist has and the care that's taken with preparing your mouth for the whitening. Well, I sure hope this is the case. I feel terrible for those of you who have experienced such horrible pain.

A lot of you say that you have zings during the third or second session of whitening. I'm thinking of doing it in three 20-minute sessions, but on different days (or even weeks). Will this make any difference in terms of pain? Will it have the same whitening effect? Will I have to touch-up between sessions?

Also, I've had a root canal done on one of my teeth. Will the whitening not work on that tooth? And does it just whiten your "smile" (the fronts of the teeth), and not the back teeth at all?

Thanks for your answers, and I'll make sure to write again when (if) I do zoom. Maybe they named it that because of the zooming pain it causes. Horrible.

Best wishes to all!

I had Zoom, NO PAIN....very easy. My teeth are pearl white. Dentist did say that some people get sensative for 24 hours, but would provide meds. I did not have any problem with it! Some people over react!!!!!!!!

Well, it's been a few days since my procedure and I am definitely happier with the color now. I have been using the whitening trays they give you afterword and now I can't stop smiling at myself! I guess I was a little overzealous with it the first night because I burned my bottom gums. I felt it bubbling but I just thought it was the peroxide cleaning my gums out, but no, sizzling gums are bad when whitening your teeth. But anyway, the trays definitely work, just don't put too much gel in the trays, in fact put in less than what you think to be safe.

I had gotten the Zoom treatment at 9:30am which was about 12 hours ago... I have to say .. it really hurt my mouth with the zings that eventually shoot through my jaw. About half way in my 2nd session, I started to feel the zings which by the 3rd session I really tried hard enough to bare the pain to get the whitenening. I felt my top lip burn or get really hot.. and that resulted 4 hours later with a HUGE looking blister which pussed out but still huge. My mouth is so sensitive and I need to go to the store to help it but embarass for others to see my lip! After reading this post.. I hope my teeth stay white without going back to my previous color.

I would like to know where the people live that paid only $169.00

are the zoom trays as sore?

ZOOM WHITENING: WORSE THAN CHILDBIRTH, EVEN WITH REPUTABLE, CAREFUL DENTIST. I had a very similar experience to most of the posts. I had the Zoom 2 whitening, and was only aware of 'mild sensitivity.' I had NEVER had tooth sensitivity before, and had even been told that I have a very high tolerance to pain. I don't think that having a good dentist affects whether or not you'll have pain at all. Although, I do think that they're responsible for making sure your mouth is properly covered to avoid burning. I had no burning, but the zinger's (the first I even learned of the term 'zinger' is this site) started at the end of my first 15 minute round. I couldn't continue as the 2nd round started, the pain was too much! I was SO disappointed, because I really wanted that perfect white smile. The 'zingers' came without notice, like someone stabbing you in the nerve, and it hurt to the point of a full body convulsion (basically a shooting pain, that makes your forehead perspire, your stomach turn and eyes tear up, all in about 1 second). I had these 'zingers' every few minutes, coming out of nowhere. About 2 hours later, it became one long zinger, constant pain, so bad I felt like I might pass out. I called my dentist, who was very concerned and prescribed Vicodan (he called for the next 4 days to check on me, and said he would contact Zoom, I also referred him to this site). The Vicodan didn't stop the pain, but made me woozy enough to sleep a bit. This was THE WORST PAIN OF MY LIFE. I was in pain for two full days, no work or errands. It was hard to describe it to anyone, and I was so very lucky to find this site and realize I wasn't just some baby who couldn't handle some 'mild sensitivity.' Luckily, it did slowly fade over the next few days, and went away completely after a week. I wouldn't recommend Zoom to anyone, or ever do it again. My teeth are a bit whiter, but not enough to make it worth it. I can see how people would be curious, and think they can handle the pain in order to get perfect teeth. But the reality is, if you want movie star teeth, they all have porcelin veneers and at $2000 per tooth, it's pretty pricey. It probably doesn't hurt as much to Zoom veneers since they aren't real teeth, with no pores that allow the bleach to get to the nerve. If you just want a whiter smile I'd stick to OTC whiteners, which get close to the same result with no pain. Good luck to all, I hope that your pain goes away quickly, and that potential Zoomer's are forewarned :)
Thank you,
Rori

Rebecca, Thanks for providing a place to vent about ZOOM. I didn't know that ZOOM could cause PAIN . All I knew was what my dentist told me...I'd get a great WHITE smile and maybe feel a bit of sensitivity. HA! I was in complete agony for at least 18 hrs after the procedure. I took vicodine, 800 mlg of ibuprofen and it didnt help at all. I have a very high thresh hold for pain. I tough things out, but this pain was unbearable. To make it worse, my teeth were a lighter shade of yellow immediately after the procedure however, the next day, my teeth started changing colors and became a mottled looking mess of colors. I didnt tell anyone that I had ZOOM and waited to see my friends and familys reactions to my new smile. When I smiled , I had more than a few people that know me well say "whats wrong with your teeth???? My teeth look horrible. At least before ZOOM they were all one color, now they are blotchy and mottled.Its horrible. I went back to the dentist today and was told.."oh well, it happens." He suggested I get veneers to cover it all up. He also said I could just wait a few months and hopefully they will go back to my normal yellowish color and maybe wont be blotchy anymore but he had no way of knowing. If I had KNOWN that after spending $500.00 and experiencing the worse pain of my life ( way worse than natual childbirth) I would end up with teeth that are MUCH uglier than I had...there is no way I would have considered doing it! I wish I had googled ZOOM and PAIN before I got the procedure! If you are considering having ZOOM.... DON'T DO IT!!!!!

I cancelled my ZOOM and had bleaching trays done instead. Well today is the 7th and last day of treatment and my teeth are 5 shades whiter. Only had to use the trays for 1hr per day for a week. No pain, no bleeding gums, no complications. So for all the people who are afraid of the pain of ZOOM, trays are a really good alternative.

The amount of pain that I currently feel after having the Zoom procedure is unbelievable. I took a very strong pain killer that I had left over from a major surgery and it didn't even make a dent in the pain. Remeber braces - multiply that X 100! The fact that I was not advised prior to the procedure that there may be some pain (let alone this type of pain), is unconsionable - especially given the number of people who have had the same problem - my dentist may as well have hit me in the mouth with a wrench!!!

I just had my Zoom done here in southern CA for $500. I love my dentist a lot. They were very clear up front about the potential complications with sensitive teeth and the form they made me sign was clear to that effect as well.

The change in tooth color was very "dramatic" as they promised me. I was actually embarrassed to smile at work today. My bondings and some fillings look rediculously yellow now in comparison. I've actually made an appointment already to have a composite filling replaced with a whiter shade. I will say I'm slightly aprehensive though because I'm sure my teeth will return to a less white shade over the next few weeks. My denstist warned me of that as well. Although my before/after photo was not that dramatic (polaroid lacked good color to begin with) the fillings I have are a great gauge for how white they are now.

Yes, I too got the pain and almost jumped out of my chair. Thanks to this page I was expecting it though. At first I thought you all were cry-babies, but I was wrong. For the weak-at-heart I would highly recommend thinking hard about going through with it. I cranked some wicked rock on my ipod and made it through. Now, some 5 hours alter the pain has subsided to minor zings every 10 minutes.

They did give me a little pill afterwards which didn't seem to help that much. Ironically some extremely hot soup hurt like hell at first but then actualyl made everything calm for a couple hours- not sure if this is for everyone though.

Maybe LA has gotten to me already, but I'd do it all over again though :)

thank you all for your honest posts. i found this site accidentally and would have not known about the side effects. (i had just been searching for price). also, windy city whiting rep, would you plz contact me. i am interested in your product (as I have Rosacea, and after reading, i think it is a bad idea to put myself under the zoom light., as i am very photosensitive). thank you.

OH MY GOSH!!! Had Zoom 2 hours ago and I want to die, even Vicodin is not helping. Teeth look great but I don't care right now!!

Let me just clarify to those of you who describe this a a minor discomfort...you are experiencing a different kind of pain than the rest of us. I had mine done this morning at 8:30 am. It was the "Rembrant" in office system with the light - just like Zoom. It is now 7:30 at night. I have taken 10 Ibuprofens - 3 Aleve's - 4 tylenol and am getting ready to suck down some Vodka. This pain is EXTREME! Besides the "zings' you all describe, my entire mouth and jaw are in intense pain. I have a high tolerance for pain - I have delivered 2 children, have a torn ACL, a slipped disk in my back and suffer from migraines and all of that is nothing compared to this pain! If I am still in this much pain in the morning I am going to go back to the dentist and he better have some Morphine and a couple of shots of Novacaine - not to mention 2 days of Pay for the time I had to take off of work. They sent me home with a tube a flouride gel in case in experienced some discomfort. Ha Ha! This is not minor sensitivity -this is pain of the worst kind! I am so ticked off because I discussed the fact that I have sensitivity with them before this and was not told about this pain!!!! If you are considering it - don't do it! It is not worth it!

RORI -

When I had the ZOOM done I had the same problem with bloches. My dentist gave me the bleaching trays (included with my zoom purchase) and after about a week the blochiness went away. Try doing the bleaching trays and see if it helps.

Anyone have this problem...My teeth feel grity and chalky,and the shine is gone too.Does the shine and smoothness ever come back???

Anyone have this problem...My teeth feel grity and chalky,and the shine is gone too.Does the shine and smoothness ever come back???

I am having the zoom done on tuesday, i went to my dentist today to discuss it and so he could review me to see if its right for me , he said i will experince dis comfort and increased sensitivity, he said if i cant take it he will remove the thing and thats it. But im very nervous now after having read these posts im condisdering not doing it, i have my wedding though in 3 months and desperately want to whiten my teeth.

Shannon,

Based on my experience, unless you significantly change your eating/drinking/smoking patterns, your teeth will be nearly back to their regular color by the wedding.

I avoided all colored foods the first three days after the procedure. Then I went back to my usual habits: I drink coffee every morning and 1/2 glass of red wine many nights; occasional tea, I don't smoke, and now, 5 months later, I'd say my teeth are maybe - maybe - a shade whiter than they were when I had the procedure done.

If you're going to do it, I'd advise you to wait until a month before the wedding. Better yet, get started with the trays now instead.

Hi Malinda,
Windy City Whitening Rep here. I would be happy to help you. Obviously don't want to post my e mail address here, REBECCA, Can you please send Malinda from May 2, 2007 2:48 am my e-mail address? She asked me on this forum to contact her, I don't quite know how to go about that without posting my address here.

For anyone getting married or wanting this procedure, I will be happy to explain our process, and educate you on our products. If you are in the Chicago area I will whiten your teeth myself. We do not experience burned gums, fat lips (never!) or tooth sensitity. Certainly no pain at all! We bring you up 4-9 shades, the price is quite reasonable. (half or less than Zoom!) in only 24 minutes. After the treatment your teeth GLEAM. I have nothing but happy clients, no one has ever called me with these problems. If you have a wedding or an event, you are perfectly safe having it done the day of, or a few days before the event. NO PAIN! AT ALL! Just a beautiful gleeming smile. I am not saying your teeth will be movie star white, but it will take off all the stains, clean your mouth, gleam your teeth, and bring you up 4-9 shades. Never any gritty after effect. I must say, just so you know, teeth whitening doesn't last forever. I cannot give you a time frame on how long it lasts because everyone is different. I will never tell anyone it lasts for years, or forever because that is not the case. Dentists call this "relapse", and it is well known in the industry. These are the FACTS. All teeth whitening is stain removal with peroxide.
We are starting our business just now .... so it is not readily available, however I will help you in every way I can to find someone in your area. Thanks very much.
WCWR

Hi All,

Oh my! This is completely depressing! I am scheduled to have Brite Smile done on Monday and I am anxiety ridden after reading this! I am speaking at a conference and would so much like to have my teeth whitened. I have very sensitive teeth - even crest strips make my teeth ache after the third session. Does anyone know if Brite Smie causes the same zinging, nerve pain as Zoom?

Also, is the product /procedure mentioned by the Windy City rep. available in South Carolina?

Thanks for this post!

Wow. I got the Zoom treatment about 3 hours ago. When my dentist mentioned there might be some pain and discomfort afterwards, i never expected this. Some people describe their "zings" as once in a while..my mouth seems to have turned into a zing factory. I've never experienced this kind of pain before and hope it goes away soon. Granted, my teeth look amazing but all in all I feel as though the aftermath isn't worth this treatment.

Hi everyone,

I just had the Zoom 3 procedure yesterday. I had to stop the Dentist after 2 15-minute sessions due to a burning sensation. I ended up with a very swollen and edematous upper lip and had to take a day off from work. I didn't experience any zings of pain since I never made it to the 3rd session. My dentist only took 15 minutes to prep me for the procedure and never informed me of any complications or risks. I regret having it done and will instead look into getting impressions of my teeth done for home bleaching. I'm using ice since it feels good on my inner upper lip, keeping it moist with chapstick and vitamin E, and letting it run its course for lack of anything else to do. I was suppose to return for 2 more sessions of Zoom next week to complete the course, but I am not going to.
I am very interested in the Windy City Whitening Rep's procedure..thanks!

For Michelle,

I am not sure about the "in office" Brite smile treatment but I bought the Homekit trays from them & they hurt a lot. After just 2 nights I had to stop using them as the pain was unbearable.. And I dont usually suffer from Sensitive teeth.

i'm having zoom whitening done tomorrow as a graduation gift from my parents. tomorrow is may seventh and i graduate on the eighteenth. to be honest my teeth aren't terribly discolored, but they photograph incredibly yellow for some reason and i just want to look like i brush my teeth in my photos.


i'm not at all concerned about the pain, but i am concerned about the tissue damage and the fact that your teeth revert to their original color. first, is there anything i could say to my dentist to make sure all bases are covered to prevent as much tissue damage as possible, without being insulting? i'd rather not give him a reason to want to hurt me. and since i don't eat/drink any highly pigmented substances, if i continue to use a whitening toothpaste and mouthwash, could my results stay longer than others have published?


i'd just hate to have my family waste so much money on something that has no chance of long term results.

Well, you could print this thread off and just show it to him.

Honestly, if I were you, I'd spend my appointment tomorrow getting fitted for trays instead, since you can use them over time for more lasting results.

Rebecca,

Thank you for this informative site! I've been reading for two hours and have decided to cancel my Zoom appointment next week. My teeth are hurting just listening to these horror stories.

I do have trays that were made at the dentist's office years ago. Can anyone recommend something very mild for at home use?

I would also love to hear what the Windy City Whitening Rep. has to offer. Tell us more! How can we contact her? I am not near Chicago - I am in the Los Angeles area.

I got the ZOOM! done and started to get some zings in the end of the 3rd round. it wasnt painful enough to stop though. after i left the office i continued to feel some zings and they got worse. the dental hygenist told me to just take what i do for head aches and i did. the zinging pretty much stopped and i was completely fine by the next day. ive been using the at home whiting trays they gave me and im really happy with the results. i did notice though that the zings hurt less when i wasnt talking, and i mostly got them in the teeth that my permenant retainer is attachted to which could have been the reason. if you are thinking of getting it i would, everyone reacts differently to the procedure.

I just had ZOOM done yesterday. I have very sensitive teeth so to prevent any major pain my dentist put me on a strong toothpaste to help. Today i have a very small amount of sensitivity in my lower teeth. nothing that is unbearable by any means. My teeth are super white and i'm very happy with the results. I had actually saw this site yesterday before my appointment and to be honest you all FREAKED ME OUT. i told my dentist of my concerns with the horrible pain, damaged tissue and burns that i had read about earlier in the day. he assured me that none of that would happen. it's horrible that a lot of you had such bad luck with the treatment. however i think each person and each dentist is different. if you have a team that is good at what they do i think anyone would be very happy with the results of the ZOOM treatment.

Hi all, just completed my zoom yesterday around 1:00pm. Same with most third rounds of the zoom i started experiencing the jump out of your chair zings! Just want to let you know as much pain the zings were all day yesterday I layed on the couch and tried to sleep through much of the pain with 800mg of Motrin every few hours. I woke up this morning 5:30 am with minimal soreness to my bottom gum where i think the bleach irritated maybe broke through the seal. The zings are well worth it if you can be tough for a day! Make sure you make your appt on a day you have nothing else to do! The next morning you will wake up ECSTATIC about the results my teeth are gorgeous white my kids cant stop looking at my mouth. Good Luck!

I had the ZOOM treatment done yesterday after reading all of these horror stories. I was apprehensive, but I was pleasantly surprised that nothing was as bad as is described here. The light was hot, but not scalding. The zings started during my last cycle, and we stopped then. I had them every 20 or so minutes for probably 5 or 6 hours, and yes they were painful. They didn't cause me to cry or anything, but they definitely weren't something I would want to deal with on a constant basis! This morning my teeth are mildly sensitive but again, nothing to cry about. I have TERRIBLY sensitive teeth as a rule, and I made it through the procedure JUST FINE. The worst part of the whole thing is avoiding my diet dr pepper for 48 hours!

I had the ZOOM procedure done today at 10:30 A.M. It is 11P.M. and I have had absolutely no pain at all.
I have a wonderful dentist's office and they really know what they are doing. For 7 days prior to the procedure I had to brush my teeth (2x) daily with a desensitizing floride toothpaste. One hour before the appointment I took 600mg of Motrin. After the mouth piece was put iin my entire mouth, gums lips etc were covered with gauze and they put sunglasses on me so there was no burning. I went through all four applications with no pain. I continued Motrin every 4 hours and they gave me a floride relief gel which I usesd twice. I am going to sleep now and don't even know I had anything done to my teeth today except they are beautifully white. Megan's right the worst is I can't have coffee for 48 hours. I bought an Amp to get me through.

Just an aside my dentist said sometimes younger people have more sensitivity than older people. I am 52.

Everyone Obviously has different kinds of pain associated with this. I am one that is in Unbearable Pain. But mine seems to be Different. I am not having "Zings" of pain, i am having Constant Extremely Intense Pain.
The color of my teeth are B1, which is pretty white, but i wanted them to be Extremely white. Which i have managed to Accomplish, but its NOT WORTH IT. THE PAIN IS JUST TOO MUCH!!.
I got the Procedure done at 8:30 am today, was finished up by 10am. My pain started around 11am. The Procedure went Beautifully. I felt a zing of pain only for a few seconds in the 1st of my 3, fifteen minute sessions. But i pulled the light away and it diminished so i put it right back into place. And i had no more pain throughout the Procedure. But an hour later is when it kicked in. It's now 10:30pm, and my pain is still as intense as it was when it started in on me at 11am.
I took 3 advil with 1 hydroco and the pain didnt budge. Then i took another 3 advil and 1 hydroco a few hours later, the pain still didnt budge. Then i went to the drugstore and got some sensodyne, which gives me a tiny bit of relief for a few seconds,but it seems to burn the inside of my lips. Btw, they were extremely swollen when the procedure was finished but have gone down considerably since earlier. The inside is quite raw, as i think either some bleach got onto them, or the light got on them somehow. The dentists made very sure they packed around my teeth and lips so that i wouldnt get a sunburn.
But at no time did anyone tell me i would be in this much pain. When i say im in Pain, i mean its EXTREMELY INTENSE...
My teeth in general seem to go bad quite often, and are very sensitive. I've tried the Crest 3 day whitening, and my teeth hurt Unbearably for the entire day. And that was just after 1 thirty minute treatment back in December of last year. Havent had the courage to try it again since then.
My Zoom Whitening Results are Great, but how can i be happy when im in so much pain?.
I didnt think this was going to be
anything like the Crest strips. I thought the Ultra Violet Light was going to make them lighter, i didnt realize bleach was what was going onto my teeth!!!.
If i had known it was going to hurt this much, i surely wouldnt have done it. It cost me $300 if anyone is wondering, but that was because i had a coupon for half off. I live in Louisiana.
But word the Wise, try the crest 3 day white strips first to see if your teeth hurt and can withstand bleach. Besides the whitening strips are only about 29.99 and the Zoom is typically around $500-600 dollars.
~Shantell

where do i start... wish i found this site yesterday. did the zoom three hours ago zing!zing! i wanted a brighter whiter smile and thought this was the only way to go. like they say only your dentist can get your teeth their whitest save your 600 bucks wish i did.

hi rebecca,i am having the zoom2 on may 16,even with all the pains you guys talked about ,i will still have the procedure.i quess it all depends on your dentist and maybe the state of your mouth or teeth.so i will see.and it makes no sense to me to go back to things that stained your teeth in the first place.i can give up all those tooth staining things for nice white teeth.your mouth syas alot you.so we will seeon may 16th what happens,thanks

I too wish I had seen this site a week or so ago! Thank you Rebecca for having this site. Maybe we can all inform some other consumers.
I had my braces off last Wednesday and immediately asked the dentist's office for an appointment for Zoom. They looked at me crazy and asked where I had heard of it. I said their old office [they had moved about 6 months ago] had posters up. One of the girls behind the desk suggested I do trays. I told them I had had severe pain the last time I had tried at home trays. They told me I might have trouble speaking afterwards and that my teeth would hurt for a few days. Apparently I misunderstood their word hurt for something bearable!!!
I was not given any written information about the proceedure. I looked it up on Google earlier this morning and read that it was 3 15 minute gels. That's about all I knew before I got there.
I should say...my son is almost 3 and has been with me at every dentist and orthodontist appointment since his birth. I made arrangements for my husband to stay home from work to hang out with the baby while I was gone. I expected to be home in an hour...since the website said it took 45 minutes.
When I got into the chair they took impressions. I questioned this, since they had just done them a week earlier for my retainer and I don't like that process at all.
She said it was in fact for the zoom. She spoke English...one of the few in that office other than the dentist herself or the orthodontist himself.
After she did the molds I waited for a long time and then another person came in...took out their tools of pain and destruction and started preparing my mouth. I must say, the work she did was very good. She covered my face and lips with the sunblock [of some kind] and packed me with gauze and who knows what. I thought this was taking a really long time and was annoyed by the process...I kept thinking it was a good thing I hadn't brought the baby with me! Now I'm glad she protected my mouth so much.
The dentist herself only poked her head in to say, oh, Tracy, you got your braces off, she looked in my mouth said they were perfect, I commented, but not whit yet, and she walked away.
When the technician got the dental dam in my mouth she told me to close it...apparently it's one of the few English words she knows...she had to have someone else come in to tell me to bite it the whole time...I wish I had known it was crucial to keep the "stuff" off my gums like I know now!!! I was having trouble understanding where she wanted me to put my tongue, and I couldn't for the life of me figure out how to swallow...when I did try I think I moved the dental dam...it was not a fun experience. Since they don't speak English much I wasn't given much instruction. It would have been helpful if they had said something like clap your hands if it hurts, or a buzzer will go off when it's time for us to check on you and clean the gel and reapply...but with the language barrier there were no instructions given. To my knowledge the technician left the room after shutting the room lights each time the gel was applied. I don't know how some of you moved the light or got the proceedure to stop. The only thing that happened in between my 15 minute intervals was broken English asking if I was okay. Well, okay is relative. I've had liver biopsys and broken bones, and braces, and a C-section...with very little pain medication. Not to mention hours of electrolysis...pain is relative I will say again!
I got my first twinge of a zing during the third application. It never occured to me to pull the light away or make any sound. I was kind of afraid to talk or swallow the gel. I stayed very still the whole time for that matter. Just like my C-section!
Afterwards while they were cleaning the gel off of me the tech kept saying oops...not what you want to hear from someone who speaks little English. A better English speaker came in to give me my mouth imprints and to explain I should keep them at home in a safe place. The Spanish tech then gave her a whole list of things to tell me...I'm not sure she translated them all, or that I remember them all. They left me with invisaline looking plates with a gel in them on my teeth. I'm assuming it's a desensitizer that some of you were speaking of. They gave me more of it, but didn't explain how often I could use it or for how long...it would have been nice if they had said to apply it every 2 hours...all they said was to keep in on for a half hour. By then i was home and had had many zings. I kept it on until I was so hungry I needed to eat something. I should have eaten something nice and red and spicy and acidic right before...but I didn't know that would be something I would miss!!!
I can't take any pain medications because of my liver problems...I didn't take any of the stuff they offered in the hospital after my c-section either...I would hate to hurt my liver while doing one more cosmetic procedure for my teeth [after the braces].
I don't know how the age thing relates...I'm 32 and to me the pain of the zings is miserable...but I don't have any of the other burning some of the others here have had. As for the results...I am totally happy so far, and only time will tell.

Here is my problem. I was not given anything to sign ahead of time, didn't even know there was a consent for to sign until I googled pain after zoom! That is where I found the 4 page letter and this lovely forum from Rebecca. There's something in that form that would have made me not have the procedure immediately. I am still actively nursing my son. It never occurred to me that lactating women should not have this done. It was in the consent form. I am totally freaked out. I got home from the proceedure about 2 and it's almost 8 now. I have nursed my son at least three times since. I read all the posts here looking for someone else to mention this. I'm sure it's a rare combination, nursing mothers who whiten their teeth. I will try and call a La Leche League leader tomorrow. I'm hoping that the issue is that many people take pain killers [some of you really STRONG ones] afterwards. I wish I knew the answer.
Thanks again to Rebecca for having this. It was very helpful to read while having my pain. Some of you are very creative writers in your pain. I thank you all for your words of wisdom.
Lastly, I'm in South Florida and I paid about $500 I think...

I had Zoom done today @ 8:30. I paid $275. I am starting to feel the pain now. The office had given 800mg Ibruprofan before we started I think maybe that is why I am feeling it now. The office was wonderful during the procedure...My dentist doubled checked everything before the procedure begun. She even was in and out checking to see if I was o.k. I did get some pain during round 3 and if it was too bad she was going to give me a shot of novocaine. Right now I am in pain... but we will see the after math...when all the pain is gone. You have to pay the prie for beauty =) next is a tummy tuck and I can imagine the pain that comes wit that =)

Just to clarify for you all, Crest White Strips do not contain bleach. Zoom! does not contain bleach. The whitening product is peroxide.
All of the products have different formulations of PEROXIDE. Do your research on the net and you will find the different formulations, or ask your dentist.
best of luck to all....
WCWR

I just had the Zoom procedure done about 1.5 hours ago, and like so many others began to feel it in the later stages of the 3rd session. WOW!! Probably the most intense pain I have ever felt! The 'zings' still continue about every few minutes or so, and all but knock me off of my feet! I have been a football player, martial artist and a boxer, so I am no strager to pain, but never have experienced anything like this! They acted like this was new to them at the office. No warnings ahead of time at all!! The girl who did mine did not seem to know what she was doing. The entire process took almost 3 hours including preparation, even though they told me it would take about an hour. Glad I did not have to work today! If you are thinking about having this procedure, THINK AGAIN!!

I had the ZOOM! done this afternoon. Now it's 3:30 AM and my bottom teeth are killing me. I'm so happy to read the comments. I'm not alone! I think it's worth it even though it hurts. I've taken Ibuprofen and that didn't stop the pain at all. I just took a Vicodin -I'm hoping that will give me a few hours of sleep/relief. I never expected it to hurt this much and I'm happy to have a white smile. Now if the pain would just go away....

I had the ZOOM! Whitening procedure done yesterday. The procedure consisted of 2 20 minute sessions with the light. The procedure was not painful at all--I experienced only one "zing" at the end. As soon as I left, though, I started to feel the zingers. I was so uncomfortable that I took the afternoon off work, because I couldn't speak or move my mouth for fear of the pain. The dentist gave me a prescription for 800mg-strength ibuprofen, and I took one 2 hours after the procedure, then another 8 hours later. The pain was pretty bad, but tv took my mind off it. I used the Sensodyne sensitivity-reducing toothpaste before bed. A fluoride rinse was recommended to me by several friends, but I was in no shape to leave my house to get some. However, 18 hours after the procedure, I have no more pain.

I don't think the procedure was worth it--i would not do it again and I would not recommend it to friends. I don't see much of a difference in the shade of my teeth, whereas I did see a huge difference when I got a regular cleaning.

I also wasn't aware of the degree of pain that most people seem to have. I was told to expect "some sensitivity" but what I (and others) experienced goes way beyond "some sensitivity."

I had Zoom yesterday. It included four 15 minute sessions. At my prep appointment I was given a flouride toothpaste to help with sensitivity after the procedure, this was used 3 times per day for two weeks prior to my appointment yesterday. I was fine during the procedure but for the past 24 hours have zingers from time to time, today the frequency is much less than just following the procedure. I was given trays (made from my own impressions) and take home gel to continue to whiten as I see a need. For me the look of a much whiter smile is worth a zinger now and then.

i got zoom'd today. the procedure was finished at 12 p.m. and the only reason why i found this site is because I'M IN PAIN. i was looking for a quick fix. i took 3 advils immediately after the procedure. no one told me about the pain beforehand. my brother got it done years ago and said it hurt but he was not specific enough. he didn't even do the trays afterwards. i took 3 more advils at 4 pm and now it's 9 pm and i took 2 tylenols and brushed with the sensitivity toothpaste they gave me. my procedure was $495 in Louisiana. i am praying the pain will go away. it hasn't stopped. i haven't even enjoyed looking in the mirrow because i'm in so much pain.

Had the Zoom procedure. The teeth are getting worse and worse as far as pain and zingers. This is to the point of needing root canals. The enamal has worn off of the teeth. This is extremely painful and is getting worse 6 weeks later. For the record, according to the FDA, this is NOT an approved product. BE VERY CAREFUL. Someone should start a class action lawsuit.

I must say I was very surprised to see so many negative comments on the Zoom procedure. I was most surprised to see so many providers not warning their patients about the "zingers" and discussing realistic expectations. )I am a dental assistant and have been performing in office whitening (Zoom and its predecessors) for about 6 years. Discoloration caused by medications such as tetracycaline do not respond well to any whitening system. All porcelain crowns or veneers are generally the recommended solutions in those instances. Yellowing due to smoking, coffee/tea/soda, or age Respond the best (generally you would be in the A shade range on the Vita shade guide).

People with sensitive teeth should be very wary of undergoing this procedure as it would be surprising not to have an adverse reaction in this situation. Everyone should be informed that sensitivity can be a side effect even if your teeth are typically not sensitive. If you are sensitive but really want to whitening I would definitely recommend home trays with a lower concentration gel instead. Also the degree of whitening varies from person to person and you truly can't know what the results are going to be until you're done. Your practitioner should also explain the dehydration process and how it affects the shade.

If you experience burning on your lips or gums during the procedure get the assistant's attention immediately as this indicates a problem. At no time should you experience burning on your tissue! The liquidam should be place on all exposed gum tissue and sealed at the margin where your teeth and gums meet (if you have abfractions (exposed dentin at the gumline) this should be covered as well) fractured teeth or teeth with cavities (decay) should not be whitened. Gauze provided with the kit should cover the lips and be placed in the cheek vestibules and over any exposed gum tissue. There is a lip cream that should be applied liberally to your lips before and after the treatment and after each session if needed. I always apply the vitamin E oil to my patient's gums after treatment and give them a fluoride treatment. It is my office's policy to provide Control Rx fluoride toothpaste to use 2 weeks prior to treatment and after treatment. Do be sure whatever fluoride paste or rinse they give you is not one that stains (there are types that do).

Even following these instructions, there are some people who have extreme sensitivity (I even get it after a couple days of Crest whitening strips - I'm a bruxer) but the majority of the patients I have whitened have only had minor sensitivity.

I am so sorry for all of you that have gone through unpleasant experiences. I do thank you for sharing them as they have motivated me to research the product more thoroughly and will be contacting our Discus Dental rep to discuss these issues with him.

I had the Zoom procedure this past Monday. It was done in 15 minute increments and the entire procedure took THREE HOURS!! I was told that it would take one hour. I am not happy with the results, my teeth are NOT significantly whiter and the next day I developed red blotches on the inside of upper lip which hurt as if they were burned. A day later these same lesion looking blotches occurred inside my lower lip as well as both sides of my cheeks (diagonally across from one another)!! They are very plainful, my upper lip is swollen inside. I went to my physician and she said it could be an allergic reaction to the Zoom products.
Has anyone else experienced any allergic reaction after getting the Zoom treatment? It has been six days and I am feeling lots of pain in my mouth and the red blotches are not getting any better. The dentist were I had the procedure has all his patients who use the Zoom sign a waiver of responsibility. In other words, the dentist is not responsible for anything that goes wrong. Was that the case with those who posted here?
I'm in complete agreement with one of the poster....a Class Action Lawsuit is definitely in order!!!

I'm getting zoom tomorrow at 12:00 noon during my lunch then plan on going back to work. I've had previous home bleaching kits, that I had to stop using, due to sensitivity. I will let you know, but I feel prepared thanks to reading the posts over the past few hours.

I did get Zoom and hence found this website - so it's good to know others had the same side/after effects as me (although I'm sorry for their pain too).
I had it Apr 25th at the end of the day, did not sleep at all then stayed home from work the next day just downing any pain killer I had on hand (none helped but I managed to doze). I followed all of the post-op directives to the letter. I am reporting in that my teeth did get a bit whiter (not overwhelming) and the staining lessened near the gum. I do drink coffee but am careful to brush after ... please think this through because if you are even REMOTELY sensitive to OTC whitening products, you will probably really suffer. I still get the "dry tooth" feeling and strange zing-ettes 2+ weeks later.

I read everyone's posts and was really worried about getting the procedure. However, I have to say mine went extremely well. I really think it has a lot to do with where you get it done. My dentist has specialty certification in cosmetic dentistry. My teeth were checked and x-rays taken a week before the zoom. The day of the procedure I had a thorough cleaning and polishng to prevent any mottling. Also, I was given 800mg ibuprofen before they started. The hygenist covered every bit of my mouth gums and lips and this is where I think others encountered problems. She used guaze,a dental dam and then a liquid sort of bandaid along the gumline that is hardened with a light. (which is a Zoom standard procedure that from other posts I read, apparently was not followed) I did get a couple of zings in one area where I have a tooth that is a little damaged from grinding. I was told it may be sensitive. It passed however in a second. I was given a fluoride treatment after to help with any sensitivity. I had at most three more zingers and that was it. I felt so good after,that they checked and drilled on my mouthguard after for proper fit. Later, I had a bottled water and muffin for breakfast and then brushed thoroughly. My teeth look amazing and I feel great. I even went to the eye doctor for a complete exam and grocery store after. Don't let the bad experiences scare you. Make sure you see a well qualified dentist who has specialty in cosmetic dentistry. It may cost a little more but it is worth it. Also, if you are a coffee or soda addict, they told me you can prevent staining and preserve your costly zoom treatment for years by using a straw and then brushing after. Good luck to anyone doing this and my heart goes out to those who suffered and didn't have to.

I just had this procedure done for $295 and I'm wondering if it's worth it. My teeth do look whiter but are blotchy and the zingers are so painful. I've had internal organs removed this year and I don't think I was in this much pain. My bottom lip was definitely burned and it is swelling up a lot. If I end up with good results, I would say that the procedure is worth it...but be ready for the pain. If you're vain (if you got this procedure done you are VAIN because this is PURELY COSMETIC) then put up with the consequences. I definitely think that I would have thought twice had I known what the pain would be like, but I probably still would have done it.

I had my teeth Zoomed five weeks ago and still have a dark tan with a jagged edge around my mouth. The person who administered the treatment ripped a hole in a paper towel and placed it on my face. I think the light came up through the hole and onto my skin. I hope it will go away. I've scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist to learn more.

Has anyone had this experience?

Dave

Thanks for all your input! I had a Zoom cleaning scheduled for today and cancelled. I am 52 with moderately yellow, very sensitive!!! teeth. I was not told anything about pain afterwards or during the procedure. I wasn't told that I'd have to "maintain" the whiteness with repeated bleachings - for the rest of my life!!???? I am going to have a new bridge and my dentist suggested I whiten the bottom teeth. No way. You all can have beautiful, white teeth. Here's one lady who will smile yellow and feel mellow - thanks.

I had the zoom procedure performed this morning. I consider myself a rather well-informed person... I had read all of the materials on the zoom website and the informed consent. None of these documents attested to the severe pain I experienced both during the procedure and for the last 4 and a half hours. I have a very high pain threshold and particularly am used to tooth pain since I had braces for 4 years. This I was not prepared for. The pain developed during the third 15 minute session and I considered making some sort of noise to alert the doctor because I thought there might be some type of problem. I continued with the procedure and then mentioned this to the doctor as soon as I was able to speak and he said this was common. I had taken two aspirin before the treatment and they did nothing to alleviate the pain. It has been so bad that I cannot even talk because the air hitting my teeth makes the pain worse. I have taken two excedrin since the procedure and have been rubbing sensodyne toothpaste on my teeth. I do think it is important that doctors prepare you for this level of pain so that you do not fear there is something wrong with your teeth. I have not been able to totally evaluate the positive effects of the treatment since it hurts to have my teeth exposed. I have also not eaten all day for fear of more intense pain. For those of you considering having this procedure done, I would recommend you eat a hearty meal beforehand since you may not feel like eating for many hours thereafter. I am supposed to pick up my at home bleaching trays tomorrow and I hope by then the pain will have subsided and I will actually be able to use the trays without additional discomfort. I understand that procedures like these may have side effects and that should be expected, but patients should be adequately warned of these. Thank you for establishing this site so those of us suffering know this is a "normal" complication.

I am absolutely freaking dying right now. I can't believe I let the hygenist talk me into this crap. I was having a crown on my back teeth done with two cavities filled today so when the hygenist talked me into getting the ZOOM whitening done before the crown on the BACK tooth, I thought, why not? She said it would look nice. I AM SO IN PAIN RIGHT NOW. I even went back to the dentist this afternoon and the hygenist acted like she had never seen anyone in pain like me. She put floride on my teeth in trays for about 20 minutes but that hasn't helped. I must be stupid because I have always researched procedures before I have them done but this is what I get for trusting my hygenist. I will never, ever get this done again. It feels like all of my teeth have been ripped out of my head. For those of you who had no reaction, good for you. As for me, this was more painful than childbirth.....I have two kids. BEWARE!!!!!!!

OW OW OW! It wasn't too bad during the treatment but now I'm in pain like the rest of you. I've taken an IBU Profin and it's not doing much.

The worst is (like some ppl before me) this PUFFY UPPER LIP. And by puffy I mean literally 3 times its normal size. It just juts out there -- the initial puffing was ok but now it's just hideous. Worst of all, it's not going away and I have to be a bridesmaid at a friend's wedding in 6 days.

=(

I finally got the Zoom! done yesterday. The dentist took her time getting me prepared. I did feel the "ZINGS" about the third session but not alot. When I got home about 30 minutes later I took 3 pain killers and the pain subsided until later that night. Whenever I woke up this morning I couldnt feel anything. The denist told me to use my bleech trays for about 4 nights. Im very glad I got this done. My teeth look GREAT!

I had my Zoom treatment done 10 dys ago. I really like my dentist and the woman who did the treatment is great as well. I feel that she really protected my gums, but from the very first 15 minutes, I thought my mouth was going to explode form the burning feeling in my teeth and gums. I stuck it out for the other two sessions and they were better, but I couldn't eat and slept all afternoon while I got over the shakes from my torture treatment. I thought that this is the price I was paying for vanity. I am still getting "zingers" especially at night. My teeth weren't very discolored to begin with but I have an old crown on a front tooth and before it gets replaced, my dentist recommended whitening because you can't whiten a crown. The next morning my gums on top were purple over the tooth with a crown and dark red over my 4 front top teeth. I called the dentist and spoke to the tech who did the work (both of whom were surprised at the pain I had described during the treatment). She said my gums just had some bruising, but 10 days later they are still sore, and my teeth are yellower than when I started. Did I go through all this for nothing? Not to mention the cost involved- they were running a special for $385. I am not horribly emotional and I can take pain well, but I just want to cry and cry.

Kentucky-(paid $472.50 which included a 10% discount)
After reading comments posted here, I contacted my dentist office with concerns about having Zoom. The receptionist had hers done and said she did have zingers, but didn't do anything to prepare for having the procedure, she just did it on a whim. She had hers done July '06, has not used her touchup trays yet, and her teeth are still really white. I saw her before picture, too. There was a definite improvement. Two weeks before my appt, I brushed with Sensodyne & a flouride prescribed by the dentist. I had Zoom done yesterday afternoon. The only thing that bothered me afterwards was my neck...from sitting. The tech did an excellent job of covering my mouth and gums. My gums are a little red around 2 teeth from the bleach, but the tech put Vitamin E on my gums after the treatment and they do not hurt at all. I had 2-3 zingers during treatment, but that is it. I came home, took my 8 month old for a walk, had dinner, watched CSI: NY finale and went to bed. My teeth are just a little sensitive (like after drinking too much lemonade--for me anyway), but nothing that will keep me from eating and drinking. They also gave me a gel that I can put on my teeth if they got really senitive, but they haven't and it is now 20 hours later. My overall experience was great. My appt was 3 hours long, because the tech took great care in covering my gums and lips. She even asked every 3-4 min if I was fine & wanted to make sure I didn't feel burning. The results are excellent. Some areas that still looked yellow last night are white today. The touch-up trays they give you should not be used prior to 2 weeks from the time of the procedure.

***Research the procedure & the dentist before having this done. Maybe your normal dentist isn't the best candidate. My new dentist is a lot more tech advanced than the one I had that just retired.***

I just had the Zoom treatment done at 12:00pm and my teeth weren't in the best shape. I'm only 17 and I'm normally good with pain but during the 3rd session (I did 3x20min sessions) I began to feel the zing and it went through each one of my bottom teeth one by one. The dentist gave me 3 advils before I even started and it didn't do a thing. It is now 2:45 and the pain isn't getting any better. I've had 6 zings just typing this paragraph. My teeth are pretty white, nothing amazing though. I payed $650 and it came with trays and whitening stuff. I am not getting many zings on my top teeth at all...only my bottoms. I am afraid to eat anything at this point because I don't want to open my mouth. I'm just counting down until I can take more pain killers. Overall I don't think the procedure is worth it. There has got to be something less painful out there.

I just had the Zoom process done today (morning of May 17th). My dentist is a "young lady" who is not only very good herself, but has a great staff. Her oral hygienist did the best cleaning my teeth ever had! And talk about pain - that hygienst scraped away in spots that no other dentist/hygienist touched. But now I have a healthy mouth.

Because I trusted my dentist, I decided to have the Zoom process done by her. Unlike many of you, my dentist warned me about everything. She even showed me her assistant who had the process done and this assistant told me about her experience. In other words, I felt well prepared and knew what to expect.

I started feeling those "zings" of pain in the third round (the entire process consisted of four 15 minute rounds), where the pain was sharp. I had the option of stopping after three rounds, but I decided to continue for the fourth round, and oddly enough, the pain was less then. Do note though - if the process is too painful, you can stop. You should feel nothing in the first round, maybe a token zing in the second, and then more in the third. Only you can judge what your body can tolerate. Maximum whiteness, though, is achieved after four rounds (or a full hour).

It's several hours after the Zoom process and I still feel those sharp zings here and there. Sometimes they are a doozy. But they are very short. I was able to eat a small lunch about an hour after the process (no colored foods or liquids!) without discomfort (other than the periodic zings).

Ibuprofen before and after the process has helped me. Having healthy gums and teeth prior to the process also helped, IMO. And having a dentist that properly tells you everything about the procedure (I had an hour long consultation!) before you do it is highly beneficial.

So while I'm enduring the zings, I know they will subside. Plus, now my teeth look years and years younger! Overall, I think if you have a good dentist, this is a good procedure, despite some pain (but even a deep debridement cleaning will cause pain, so...).

I had the zoom treatment done at 10 this morning (it's now 4:45PM) and I'M IN WORSE PAIN THEN I WAS A FEW HOURS AGO. It's like the pain keeps getting worse by the hour. I took 700mg's of advil and the pain still kept getting worse .. after two hours of the advil not helping i had my mom call my dentist to see if there was anything else I could do to lessen the pain (it hurts too bad to open my mouth).. and they told me to take 800mg's of ibuprofen. i couldn't even go through the third interval of the treatment. in the middle of the second fifteen minutes, my teeth started hurting so bad that my entire body was shaking. my dentist didn't tell me about ANY of the side effects.
once all the pain is over with, i'll probably be so glad that i did it (because my teeth are MUCH whiter).. but right now, while i'm still feeling the pain I SWEAR TO GOD IT'S NOT WORTH IT!).It's hard to actually remember how painful something is when you're not actually going through that pain.
my pain isn't necessarily a shooting pain, my teeth are just THROBBING! I'm going to lose my mind if this doesn't stop soon. I'm starving, and I tried eating some bread, but it caused sharp pains.
AHHHHH!!

I hope you read this before the ZOOM! I had shooting pains all though my teeth for about 20 hours after ZOOM! About 15 hours after the ZOOM I was sick!! So not only did I have this horrible pain shooting though my teeth for hours I could not stop thowing up!! It was not worth going though all that pain for my teeth to be a little whiter than they were. Don't do it!

I forgot to add that I didn't have to sign any waivers. The only form I signed was one that had a list of medicines on it (maybe around 15) and I was signing it stating I was not on any of those. No other paperwork was signed. So if your dentist office requires waivers to be signed, maybe you should beware!

I just wanted to have a follow-up to my earlier post. As I mentioned there, I had the ZOOM Advanced Power process done on the 17th. I had "zingers" (a sharp, but short, pain that feels as if the nerve of the tooth has been touched) that started in the third round (of four 15-minute applications), but the fourth round wasn't that bad (in fact, I felt the third round was worse). I started the process around 9:15-9:30 (and that included a tooth polishing) and it ended around noon. The zingers lasted throughout the afternoon, but became less and less frequent. I recall the last zinger around 7 p.m. or so. Afterward, my bottom teeth felt - for lack of a better word - "sore" on top. I hesitate to use the word "sensitive" as breathing, eating, drinking, talking, etc. didn't bother me. But I did feel some very mild discomfort. Still, it was so mild that it really didn't annoy me and I was able to sleep well that night.

I did try to use the custom fitted trays that first night, but as soon as the carbamide peroxide gel touched my teeth, I felt pain. So I quickly rinsed my mouth, applied the 1.1% sodium fluoride toothpaste (typical toothpaste is 0.24% sodium fluoride, so be sure to get a prescription for this stronger dosage - it's cheap) and slept.

I did use pain relievers - ibuprofin - although I'm not really sure how much good they did. I found quicker and better relief just rubbing on that high fluoride toothpaste.

The next day, I felt zero discomfort. I even used the trays (for an hour) that night.

So now two days later, I am quite happy. My teeth are definitely much whiter, but they aren't so white that they look fake - rather, they look "clean". They look as if I was 20 years younger. They have a fresher, more natural look about them, while still looking like teeth (that is, they don't look so white that they appear bleached or that someone could immediately tell something was done).

I attribute my minimal pain to the fact that I had received lots of proper dental care prior to the whitening (that is, full X-rays, bad tooth covered with a crown, deep cleaning, etc.) and had lots of preparation before and during the process with my dentist. I have a very good dentist who not only had the process herself, but performed it on her assistants. She was able to show me results and told me exactly what to expect (including how long the process took and what foods I should avoid for a few days afterward). As I read through the posts here, I am stunned at how many people didn't know that the process took several hours or that they couldn't smoke or drink coffee afterward. Clearly, there was a major breakdown in communication between you and your dentist (and I would suggest seeking another dentist as a result).

Overall, I feel this is a fast, effective way to whiten teeth, if one can tolerate some pain for a few hours and if one is well prepared with a good dentist. If there is no consultation, if you see the assistant doing all the work, if you fail to see a waiver form, if you didn't have a thorough dental exam first, or if you have very sensitive teeth (or if any tooth pain is too much for you - we all have weaknesses and for some, surgery is "easy" but tooth pain is not) then do not follow through with this process.

I'm getting Zoom'ed!!! I have read through all of the cautionary tales, and maybe I'm foolish, but I am not worried at all!!! I suspect there is some pain, maybe even really bad pain. But this is a tooth procedure!!! When teeth hurt, they REALLY hurt!!! Duh!!! And people are like, "I had my teeth done at 2 pm, IT'S NOW 6:30 PM and I'm still in pain." Are you kidding??? Not so much pain that you are on the computer typing about your painful and indugent teeth whitening experience!!! Oh stop it! Granted, some people may really have horror stories, I think most people are just whining.

Before I bought my Apple MacBook, I almost didn't because I went online and read about how AWFUL they were!!! They were too hot on peoples laps, the glossy screen was too glossy, etc.

I bought it anyway(I had to have it!). This laptop is gergeous. It gets warm on my lap... no big deal. The screen is glossy, not TOO glossy. There was nothing REALLY worth complaining about with my MacBook... NADA, Its darn near perfect. At least one of my friends saw it and went out and bought one in black(mine's is white). And the rest of my friends would get it if they had the cash. Its a great laptop.

I think the people whining about Zoom!, are like those people who whined about the MacBook. Some of it is true, but alot of it is really exaggerated.

Don't be scared people, whiten your teeth!!!

Unfortunately, I had a Zoom treatment today. I did not have to sign any waivers. It was done by a hygienist who told me that there was no radiation or UV. Is that true? I experienced great burning and of course, during the treatment, it is impossible to speak with all of the stuff that is in the mouth. I grunted and pointed to my mouth. I gestured for a pencil and paper to communicate. She told me that she could not do anything until we were done as she had her rubber gloves on! She would not stop. Well, I got my upper lip burned badly. My lip is huge, with a big blister on it. I cannot eat and it is very painful. I called the dentist and he said to take Motrin and put ice on it. I am very angry. This cost me $388.00. Believe me, I am never going to let this dentist touch my mouth again. I was shown no information before this process. My teeth don't look much better, one tooth is still yellow. The dentist (who is not my regular one) told me that some teeth just won't lighten. My own dentist does not do the zoom thing. (Now I understand why). I am going to go back into the Zoom dentist's office tomorrow with my huge fat lip (I look like a monster) and I hope that if someone in the waiting room is there for a zoom treatment, they will change their mind! Bummer. Can someone tell me about the UV rays? Rebecca, if someone has info about that, please give them my email address. I had too many Xrays when I was a kid, and they are dangerous for me as I have had one throat tumor caused by UV rays. The dentist knew that I should not be exposed and if this zoom gives off UV rays, I may have been exposed to a health hazard. Perhaps I have to sue? Mary

i just got that zoom procedure as well (7 hours ago) and the pain is killing me, i have been trainning for a boxing math with my friend and now i know how far i been from feeling the pain in the gym

Let us know, Aer. I am thinking of getting mine done too... BUt am currently torn between Zoom, Britesmile, or Ultrasmile

Hello again, I have found the website for the company that sells Zoom machines. I am really upset now! If I had been given the informed consent form (which is on their website) http://www.discusdental.com/, I would never, never had done this! The consent form tells of many possible side effects. The most disturbing is this: "One of the things that can go wrong is root resorption; This is a condition where the root of the tooth starts to dissolve either from the inside or outside. Although the cause of this is still uncertain, I understand that there is evidence that indicates the incidence of root resorption is higher in patients who have undergone root canals followed by whitening procedures! "
I have had several root canals. Now I have to worry about my teeth dissolving! Plus my burned lips and gums are killing me. I don't know if the hygienist ever did this before! PLease don't risk this. I am so sorry that I did. Mary

Not that I am happy that anyone has had to deal with this, but I am a little more relieved to see that I am not the only one that has had this severe pain, post ZOOM. I am in so much pain right now and nothing is making it feel better. I almost called my friend to take me to Urgent Care to get something to numb the feeling I have in my upper and lower teeth and the headache this has caused. I am an extremely active person and don't like to sit around in the evening, but aside from getting on the internet to research, I can't do anything because of the sensitivity and pain due to Zoom. I just pray that I wake up in the morning feeling better! I recommend that everyone look at different options for teeth whitening.

OK, so I had the Zoom! treatment yesterday at 9:30am, by the third 15 minute treatment I had had enough! Only 1 or 2 Zingers, but the pain increased and was so intense hours later when I got home and so bad that evening, I was afraid to open my mouth and talk. Thank god today I am fine, but my teeth are all blotched, and my two front teeth look like an easter egg when you only dip it half way into the coloring. They look so bad, I am hoping that it is just the dehydration or some other rational reason and that they return to normal. My dentist did an awesome job of pre-prep, so I have no burns or sores, but I am definitely at this point (one day later) not happy with the results and would never do it again. They were really white and brite immediately after the sessions, but now have toned way down and like I said earlier are blotched and I don't even want to smile. Hoping it gets better - bottom line, I would never do this again and wouldn't recommend it to anyone!

Like many of you, I too had Zoom done today (at 200). I took 800 mg of ibuprofen before hand and 1 gm of Tylenol after and have alternated between the 2 since with no relief. I am in pain still at 1 am (hence me on the internet looking for relief and came across this). . .I found relief in warm food and have had to stay away from ice cold drinks. The girl that did my procedure today told me to use my trays with flouride if the sensitivity continued, no help...I even at red sauce tonight on my chicken parm with no problem (for me, this was no problem, guess I will see what damage if any, I have done). . .I am happy somewaht with the results. . .not so happy about seeing some of the "calcification" areas with some slight discoloration. . .they said it will "blend in". . .they funny thing is the pain. . .I am a "heavily" tattooed man and the pain has damn near brought me to tears. Seems that either some of the bleaching gel or something affected my gums. . .they are bruised and peeling in the front. . .OUCH, they are sore. . .honestly, when I have those SUDDEN streaks of pain, my mouth salivates and I feel like my teeth are bleeding. . .hope that makes sense. . . My bride. . .now asleep had to take a sleep aid in order to sleep. . .I know the pain will go away . . . just wondering what eating red sauce tonight did to the whitening procedure. . .guess I will have to wait and see. Overall, this is not a discouraging testamony on "to do it" or "not". . .this is just my experience. . .oh yeah, my teeth are much whiter!

I had my teeth zoom Wednesday afternoon and I understand the zing sensation that everyone is talking about...I believe that every person experiences a different degree depending on their condition of sensitivity and teeth condition. Mine was very bearable and the results was at the top of the white teeth chart. Just like any cosmetic procedure..you have to expect discomfort in order to reap the benefits. Zoom is for everyone but not everyone is made for Zoom. Results for me were hollywood level..for the pain..take some pain killers..for the swellng..ibobrufen..problem fix..now show off that smile!

I just had my teeth whitened by Zoom today and when I got home and looked in the mirror I noticed that my teeth had areas that were whiter then others. (Like blotches of white?) And they area around my gums are still the same color as my teeth before the procedure. I'm hoping they will blend together but right now i am pretty upset about paying that much money and going through this much pain to have crummy results!

had zoom done today bout 12, no pain so far, notice a big difference.. think i used a little bit to much gel for the take home trays tonight, but still no pain.. was wondering if u all know if beer would stain my teeth back, i know coffee, tea, cigs all that, but nothing has ever been said bout beer, its almost friday night and i was thinkin bout goin out and havin a few tom night,, what u all think???

I had the Zoom whitening procedure done yesterday afternoon and am pleased with the results; however, my lips were slightly swollen after the procedure and gradually got bigger and bigger last night despite ice/ibuprofen. This morning, they are HUGE! Any suggestions on what to do about the swelling would be appreciated. Of course, my dentist's office is closed today (Friday) and I have not gotten a call back from the message I left on the emergency number.

I just got my teeth whitened with ZOOM. NOT worth the pain. My teeth are streaked white on the whiter spots and the yellow parts are more prominent now. I had the zinging pain too that I wasn't aware of. The part that connects my lips to my gums feels cut. My upper lip was swollen for days. and peeling. My gums were stinging so much.

My teeth are a little whiter but not noticeably. If you look closely, they're only white on some spots. Very blotchy. How can this be fixed?

Should I get trays done now?

I need some advice. I purchased Zoom at a discount a while back at a promotional event and was supposed to have the procedure done today.

The dentist pointed out that I have two tooth color bondings on the upper portion of my front teeth that would no longer match the rest of my teeth if I whiten them. The cost of redoing that portion of my teeth could be $300 a tooth if my teeth look weird. I backed out because I don't want funny looking teeth or the extra expense to fix them, but I am still thinking of going back since I already paid for the procedure and can't get a refund. What would you do? By the way, my teeth aren't that bad now-not movie star white, but not really discolored either.

I just had it done and I was told that I was the first patient to have perminent gum loss. I recommend on one doing this procedure!!! I am now taking legal action because the loss of my gums will never return

I wanted to have my teeth whitened, but after what my dentist told me and also after reading these posts, I have changed my mind and decided to back to over the counter whitening products and toothpaste. They work too!

I made an appointment with my dentist for the regular exam before having the whitening treatment and it was at that time that he told me that the treatment was no longer done because patients were getting swollen lips as a result. I called another dentist and I was going to make another appointment, but before doing that I decided to research the Zoom procedure. Fortunately I found this page.

Again, after reading these comments I have definitely changed my mind and decided to back to store products. They are a lot cheaper, painless and they really work if you use them on a daily basis and since I don't smoke, drink wine, coffe or tea they really work for me, so I will continue using them instead.
The whitening procedure is expensive ($299.00-$400), which is not covered by dental insurance.

Thank you for all your post!

i'm a huge tea drinker and today i went in for my zoom treatment and i got to say the pain after the treatment was very hard to deal with, i took 800ml of advil every 4 hrs just to try and ease the pain, short shots of pain that i couldn't handle at work so that made me take the rest of the day off..towards the evening i purchased some crest toothpaste for sensitive teeth...and what do you know, that almost stopped the pain completely..would i do the zoom treatment again ? absaloutly !!! my teeth are so much whiter, what an improvement ! buy toothpaste for sensitive teeth and get your zoom !!!!

Oh Gosh! Tomorrow I have my appointment for the Zoom Whitening and after reading all these comments I'm no longer sure if I want to do it or not! Here in Germany it costs 600€ (more than in USA!). In july I will get married and I want a white smile! Help!What shall I do?

OK - the verdict is in. May 29th I ran upon this site and was horrified at reading all the traumatic experiences expressed in various posts. My appointment was the next morning at 9:00 AM and needless to say I was nervous but I decided to go ahead with the procedure.

I had a very thorough Dental Assistant and she took her time to prep my mouth. So, the first 15-minute session went fine but during the second session, I began to experience the "zings" (about 4 or 5) but I made it through. Since the “zings” began to freak my out a bit, I messed up the original prep work but she took her time and did it once again. The final 15-minute session, I only had 2 or 3 “zings” - low intensity.

After the procedure, my teeth were very, very, very, sensitive (2 in particular) and I began to have "zings", with slight intensity more frequently. She finally swabbed all of my teeth with a desensitizing gel and allowed it to dry (twice). Things subsided some but I immediately took 2 BC powders and a little less than 2 hours later 2 pain relieving tablets.

I then proceeded to Walgreens and bought "Medicated Theradent" - thanks to suggestions on this post about the product. Theradent is an oral rinse that desensitizes your teeth.

All in all, I slept like a baby but for preventative maintenance before bed, I took 2 Tylenol PM.

In hindsight, throughout this process I had very little pain but was on edge for fear the "zings" would increase in intensity - (the posts made me a bit paranoid). Brushed my teeth this morning and swished with Theradent and still no pain - no "zings" or sensitivity all day.

I definitely recommend everyone getting the Theradent to swish around their mouth about once an hour after the procedure. If you really want your teeth whitened, go for it - my teeth aren't sparkling white but I do see a slight improvement - natural slightly white teeth. We are all a bit vain and others don’t always see what we see - we are harder on ourselves and hold ourselves to a higher standard. When the dentist looked at my teeth, he said they were already very white - I thought of course he was on crack but again beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I think it is crazy for people in the posts above to say, "I would not do that again" but how many dental procedures would you like to do over - cosmetic or not I don’t.

I just got the zoom teeth whitening today, it works great, although I am getting the nerve pain zings also, which wasn't told to me until I started receiving them, nevertheless, I took 4 ibuprofen, and the pain is 40%less, it is getting less and less as time goes by, and it is supposed to last no longer than 48 hours.

Just had the Zoom whitening this morning and am back to work, with an occasional zing here and there, nothing too much. My teeth look great. I didn't find the treatment painful, but I found the fact that you can't really swallow well pretty annoying. The gauze, which is packed all through your jaw and mouth roof, soaks up all your saliva, giving you both an extremely dry throat, and the lovely experience of drooling. I felt like the treatment lasted much longer than it actually did. I'd recommend taking some sort of pharmacuetical beforehand -- both to help with the tooth sensitivity that most everyone experiences, and to speed the process, even if it IS only in your mind. How about it dentists? Pony up some relief!

I had the zoom treatment on 27th april 2007. Within 7 hours I was tsken to the accident and emergancy dept of our local hospital. My top lip was enlarged to 3 times its normal size and restricted the nasel breathing. Clearly the blister was caused by burning.

Over the next week the dentist has cut away dead tissue from the outside and inside of the lip. I am now left with a numb top lip and shooting pains either side of the nose

I had zoom done 2 days ago (3 fifteen minute sessions). I started getting Zings of shooting pain during the first session so the dentist froze one side of my mouth. The rest of the session was not comfortable, but ok.

When I got home I felt the WOSRT PAIN I have ever been in. A constant ache like a migraine in my teeth with sporadic shoots of unbearable pain every so often (especially when I spoke and let air on my teeth). I had to take a Tylenol 3 and I could STILL FEEL IT!! I couldn't believe it. Today (one day after treatment) I am feeling 100% better - like I never had it. It's weird. I would NEVER do this again or recommend it unless you know that you do not have sensitive teeth at all.

im thinking about getting my teeth whitend some way. i tried strips but they didnt work at all, as i only did them for two days becuase i felt shooting pains from those. i think most likley that could happen with anything like that your putting on your teeth.. its basically bleach!

My experience has been that if I do these 2 thing, I have much less of a problem: 1) Use Floride Rinse afterward. I rinse my teeth and put on my retainers and go to sleep with the trace of floride IN the retainers. Do not use colored floride rinse (especially red) or it may stain. I have used the green colored ones with no problem.
2) Tartar Control Toothpaste causes tooth sensitivity so do NOT use it. Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth instead.

A big thank you [Rebecca Flood ]for seting up this site. I went to the dentist last wednesday to have some dental treatment and I was discussing with my dentist as to whether I should have this Zoom treatment as my teeth are quite discoloured. She didn't mention anything about this Zing thing and said it would cost £500.I was just checking out what this Zoom stuff was all about when I came across this site and thank god I did. With all these horrific stories about the agony people went through after having this treatment there's no way I'm going to have it done.

Thanks again

James Hennessy
London England

had zoom done on 6/1 , the procedure was a pain to go through but my teeth were really bad and look much better. I am suffering from some blisters on my upper lip and a little sensitivity of teeth. I paid $199.00 including the trays and 1 syringe in the home kit.

Never again!!!! I just had the Zoom whitening done 2 hours ago and the pain is unbearable. I have never experienced this type of pain before. Three Advils later and still no relief. Why didn't I research this prior?? I wish I came across this website earlier because this is ridiculous. I would like my 600 dollars back and my teeth to be how they were before. I DO NOT recommend this procedure to anyone.

How well does ZOOM work on tetracycline stained teeth?

There is something to be said about getting older (50+).....that is having the ability to listen to what others are saying. I already have sensitive teeth. I was all set to have my teeth whitened by the Zoom process but decided to do further research. I am so glad I did. Thank you all. I'll save myself a lot of pain and go buy myself a treat instead!

I had the Zoom done yesterday and I'm very disappointed. The senstivity was bothersome, but not near as much as the results. I used the Crest Strips a few years back and they were well worth it compared to the Zoom. I just read where they've come out with Crest Strips Supreme (14% hyrdrogen peroxide versus 5.3%). I wish I would have tried them first. "AFTER HAVING MY TEETH ZOOMED", I was told my teeth weren't yellow enough and that's why I couldn't see much difference (maybe one shade). Go figure, they tell me that after the procedure.

Debbie
Mobile, AL

I had my teeth Zoomed by a famous Hollywood dentist...well, one of his workers, I never saw him.

Yeah, it hurt during and for days after.

But what makes me furious is that it cost $650 and my teeth only went two shades lighter. It's been about five weeks now and my teeth ARE BACK TO THEIR ORIGINAL COLOR.

It's nothing but a big, painful rip-off.

I posted previously and am still trying to decide whether or not to get Zoom done. The trouble is that I have already paid and cannot get a refund so it will be money down the drain if I don't do it.

I found another website in researching Zoom where several people complained of blisters and bruising on their gums. I don't know how typical that is, but it scares me. I would hate to let my vanity over super-white teeth cause me to have serious dental problems as a result. I am also wondering if anyone has heard whether Zoom damages your tooth enamel???-the only research I found seemed to be linked to Zoom and therefore possibly suspect. Feedback?

I had the Zoom done the other day in Nashville. During the third treatment I had some "zings" on my lower teeth but nothing unbearable. The hygienist was meticulous during the prep stage and I'm thankful she took her time. Later that evening, I was a bit uncomfortable, but nothing intolerable. I took some Ibuprofen and was fine. I'd recommend it to my friends and family. I would definatly search out and ask questions to your dentist before doing it. Best bet is going to a COSMETIC dentist.

I am having this procedure done in a week. My dentist prescribed DenClude, a desensitizing dental cream that I am supposed to use for 7 days before my treatment. Has anyone who has used a similar product prior to the procedure experienced pain? This is a step before getting veneers and I didn't want to cancel but I'm nervous now.

I had zoom whitening 7 hours ago. During the procedure I was fine, just noticed my lips & teeth slightly tingling in the final half hour of the treatment, which the dentist assured me was normal & nothing to worry about. But within an hour of finishing the zoom, OMG my mouth plummeted into the absolute WORST PAIN I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. I have taken 2 vicodin & while the rest of me feels totally sedated, my teeth are STILL IN SEARING PAIN. This is a nightmare. The dentisit had told me I could expect a little sensitivity after the procedure & said 2 tylenol would take care of it. But not even a double dose of vicodin (left over meds from a previous surgery I had) can begin to dull this horrific pain. I will never do this again & cannot believe zoom customers are not advised that there is a risk of THE WORST PAIN YOU HAVE EVER FELT IN YOUR LIFE & NOT EVEN 2 VICODIN CAN RELIEVE IT. I feel like I am in hell & at this point I am desperately hoping that this inflammation will not permanently affect the sensitivity of my teeth or prove to have given me some other permanent injury. Again, this has been a total nightmare. Thank God I found this board & now know that I am not the only one having this reaction. My deepest sympathies to all of you going through this post-zoom hell: you are not alone my friends.

I feel sorry for all of the above patients who have had Zoom whitening and experienced such intense pain. I do find the Google ads to the side of this thread very amusing though... the first ad is for cheap Zoom whitening!

I just had Zoom done about 3 hours ago. I started getting the terrible zings of pain during the first application. Like others here, the consent form I read only mentioned mild discomfort -- nothing about severe sharp pains during and after the procedure. Pain medications aren't helping. I hope this all goes away soon.

My dentist stopped the procedure and sent me home with some sensistive toothpaste that I am to use for 2 weeks before returning. I don't think I'll be going back. The procedure was on sale for $299. I'm going to do my best to get a refund.

I'm not a vain person and only decided to go for the procedure on the dentist's suggestion and the sale price. Never again! I am randomly in tears from these sharp pangs of pain all over my mouth.

Hi,
I Am a dental Assistant and i have just had the Zoom procedure done to me. I do the zoom procedure to many of my patients in the office and have never realized how much pain i am putting them through. currently my teeth are killing me, i am feeling constant pain on my lower front teeth and sometimes im a feeling shocks go through my teeth. i took advil and it killed the pain for a few hours but it surely came back. i did the procedure on my father a few months ago and he had the same symptoms. i tell patients that it usually lasts for 24 hours after the procedure is done. Not all of my patients experience this sensitvity pain, but most do. Patients who have sensitive teeth or gum recession are subject to alot of sensitvity with the Zoom procedure. Now the funny thing is that i have none of those conditions, so its a mystery of why I am in pain. But the procedure does make teeth white. Its great your teeth come out looking white but not a fake white. so if you want to risk the pain go for it and get the procedure done.

I had the Zoom whitening done this morning and am in severe pain as well. My sister had it done 2 days ago and had a little discomfort but nothing compared to mine. I am trying ambasol and even took toothache pills and nothing works. Hopefully this will go away soon because I can't take the pain. I've had 3 kids and this is worse!!!! I can't even go to sleep baceuase it wakes me out of it. I can't eat either! I wish there was something else I can do!!! I hate this! My teeth only changed 2 shades because they were already pretty white. I can't see much of a difference at all! It was so not worth it!

I had teeth whitening done about three years ago at the same dental office with a different product and experienced minor and expected sensitivity. They told me they swithed to a better product - Zoom. I had my treatmenl today and although I am sure I will be happy to have whiter teeth for atleast one or two years I won't do this again. It is manageable but I had to cancel my weekend plans due to the unexpected discomfort.

If you expect the possibility of such discomfort beyond mild sensitivity and still choose it then maybe you can be more prepared to tolerate it without complaint.

My teeth weren't bad I just wanted them better so I won't do it again but if they were really bad I guess the pain just might be worth it.

I started my Zoom process 4 days ago but was only able to get through the first 2 sessions due to the electricity going out in the dentist office. I had absoultely no pain, and although I hear that the pain usually comes in the last rounds and afterwards, I am planning to go and have the process completed. My teeth are deeply stained due to tetracycline so they won't be pearly white. I'm just hoping for any improvement! Wish me luck!

After reading almost half of these comments, I can only say this:

It doesn't appear to be a problem that the procedure is painful during or after the fact. Many people would do it again regardless.

The REAL problem here is the lack of full disclosure by the dentists and people selling the ZOOM product. This is deceptive advertising and very much a conflict of interest. Is the dentist a doctor who is sworn to help his patient and side with his patient against the unhealthy world? Or is the dentist merely a professional providing a service that may or may not be good for your health?

o my gosh! i had the zoom done 4 days ago and the pain is unreal. I wished i had done some research on this before hand. i cant eat, drink or sleep. I went to the dentist office today, to talk face to face with her. when i got there, ofcouse the office was closed. Proubly best, because i would had given her an ear full. I would never tell anyone to have this done. They told me about the "zingers" only after i had paid and was back in the chair. And i think if she had given me something other than ibrophen, i could handle it better. my teeth were not that bad to start with, but made the desison to do it. I wish to God i had not! i was sent home with trays and the tube of whiteing. But, today i am scared to use them. I mean how much pain am i willing to go threw. Like someone else said, they look great..but i cant open my mouth to smile so what does it matter. I personally thing this produt should be taken off the market and out of the offices.

Thank you to everyone who has commented here. This comment thread is now closed.