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.