Primer

Zoom in for a Dazzling Smile

The Zoom 2 Chair-side Whitening System is fast catching on the dental fraternity because of its quick results and better patient compliance, reports Jayata Sharma.

Dentistry has come a long way from the plain old drab visits. From growing new teeth, the latest fad in dentistry is Zoom 2 Chair-side Whitening System, a teeth bleaching process, wherein the dentist can provide sparkling white teeth in eight shades in less than an hour!

It requires the dentist to cover the lips and gums of the patient with an arch (included in the Zoom kit) by retracting the cheek, leaving only the teeth exposed. The Zoom 2 light-activated whitening gel is applied to the teeth and the Zoom 2 lamp is turned on. And in less than an hour, the patient can walk out with a broad smile.

The active ingredient in Zoom 2's whitening gel is hydrogen peroxide, which has been safely used for many years in the treatment of gums and teeth.

The original Zoom comes pre-packaged as two individual components, a 32 per cent hydrogen peroxide gel and a proprietary activator. Both these components are mixed at the time of application to form a working gel that has a 25 per cent concentration of hydrogen peroxide and a pH between 7.5 and 9. However, the percentage of hydrogen peroxide can be lessened in Zoom 2, which gives the dentist the opportunity to utilise either a 16 or 25 per cent whitener.

"Zoom 2 is instant, user-friendly, hassle free and lasts long" - Dr Sandesh Mayekar, Cosmetic Dentist, Mumbai

But what makes it give better results is the light. The Zoom 2 lamp activates the hydrogen peroxide, releasing nascent oxygen, which penetrates the enamel and dentin of the teeth, bleaching away discolouration without changing the structure of the teeth. The light activation improves the effectiveness of the gel by 26 per cent or more, resulting in an average improvement of eight shades.

The Zoom 2 system makes use of a mercury metal halide light, which is a ferrous gluconate activator. The wavelength of the light emitted is in the range of 350-400nm (meaning that the light has a violet coloration). The Zoom 2 light unit has an infrared filter. This is significant because filtering infrared emissions helps to minimise the amount of heat generated at the surface of the teeth during the whitening treatment.

The effect of Zoom 2 is visible for at least a year, but the sparkle keeps reducing with time. Post treatment, dentists usually advice patients to come for occasional touch-ups once in six months, keep using Zoom 2 Weekender or Nite White gels and maintain regular hygiene by brushing twice daily and flossing regularly. Patients are advised not to have coloured food for at least 24 hours after the treatment.

Dentists must keep in mind to first remove the extrinsic stains and cover the cracks in teeth (if any) and then use Zoom 2. "If this is not taken care of, the bleaching will not be uniform and teeth will look whiter in areas without stains," cautions Dr Sandesh Mayekar, Mumbai-based Cosmetic Dentist, who receives around 10-12 patients every month for Zoom 2.

The right to be beautiful

"Most of my patients want bleaching in minimum time, and in one day" - Dr Sween Kathuria Endodontist & Cosmetic Dentist, New Delhi

In most cases, healthcare professionals go for newer technique because it scores over the previous ones. Besides, the demand from overseas patient to avail of latest procedure has played a major role in the advent of Zoom 2 in India. At many places, like in Goa, medical tourism has given rise to the demand of Zoom 2. "Many foreign patients used to visit me enquiring about Zoom 2. It was then that I decided to go in for this technique," says Dr Allwyn De Menezes, Cosmetic Dentist from Goa, who receives around 10-12 patients every month for Zoom 2 whitening. Amongst his clientele, 95 per cent are foreigners.

Dr Sween Kathuria, New Delhi-based Endodontist & Cosmetic Dentist, too started using Zoom 2 a year ago when her patients demanded advanced techniques. "Most of my patients wanted bleaching in minimum time, and in one day. Also, foreign patients used to enquire about Zoom 2." She currently receives 8-10 patients every month for Zoom 2.

Effective technique

There are many bleaching treatments available in dentistry, like the conventional methods of home bleaching, where the patient does the bleaching himself, and office bleaching, where the dentist does the bleaching procedure at his/her clinic.

In home and office bleaching, there is always a risk of patients not using the right amount of bleach, the procedure being time-consuming (takes almost two weeks) and tedious. Plus, in both these methods, there is a risk of affecting the gum structure and possibility of a slight change of shape. Besides, the high amount of hydrogen peroxide is a major cause of teeth sensitivity in patients. The percentage of hydrogen peroxide in Zoom 2 whitening gel is 20 per cent, which results in less teeth sensitivity, while in the other methods it is 35 per cent.

"Zoom 2 is instant, user-friendly, hassle free and lasts long," says Dr Mayekar, who used Zoom 2 on all the 26 Miss India contestants the previous year. Dr Menezes feels post-treatment problems are less in Zoom 2 and the method has better patient compliance.

Brite smile, also a light-based bleaching system, is similar to Zoom where results are concerned, but is a computerised system. Now, being automated is not a major hindrance, but the process cannot be stopped in between. This means, if the patient feels sensitivity in the teeth, the dentist cannot stop the process mid-way. Whereas in Zoom, the process can be ceased if the patient is uncomfortable. “Also, it has been observed that in the long-term, Brite Smile results in higher sensitivity in patients,” says Dr Menezes. But, dentists like Dr Puneet Kathuria, Prosthodontist & Oral Implantologist and Founder of Dr Kathuria's Multispeciality Dental Clinic, thinks otherwise, "Brite Smile is as effective as Zoom, so why differentiate?" However, one cannot ignore the fact that Brite Smile costs more, around Rs 18,000-Rs20,000, than Zoom 2 which costs around Rs 15,000.

Side effects

Occasionally, people experience temporary discomfort during the treatment, such as tooth sensitivity. The minimal heat generated by the Zoom 2 light is the usual source of discomfort. However, these symptoms are transient.

On rare occasions, patients may experience minor tingling sensations immediately after the procedure, which also dissipates. According to dentists, it is important that the manufacturer's directions are followed precisely. Overall, tooth bleaching under professional supervision is an effective method for whitening the teeth.

Putting a brave face

Although Zoom 2 has more benefits than most bleaching procedures, the concept is still to establish itself in India. At present, 50 dentists are using Zoom 2 in India, from which 15 equipment are in Goa alone, followed by seven in Mumbai. "Goa has marketed medical tourism quite effectively, and hence the usage of Zoom 2 here is the highest," informs Maala Malik, MD, MM Dental Associates, the only company to provide Zoom and Zoom 2 equipment in India.

The main reason for Zoom 2 for not being popular in India is the cost factor. Also, the equipment costs about Rs 2 lakh, depending on the accessories dentists choose. The kit used for individual patients costs around Rs 6,000-Rs7,000, which consists of the arch (retractor), a goggle to protect the eyes of the patient, moisturiser for the lips and various gels to be used. Dentists can also opt for post-treatment fluoride gels to reduce sensitivity. Despite being expensive, the demand from patients is compelling dentists to go for Zoom 2. Says Dr Sandeep Singh, Cosmetic Dentist, who runs Sahaj Dental Clinic at Allahabad and Gurgaon, "I am planning to start Zoom 2 this year. The only problem is that it requires a totally new set-up and extra cost." Dr Singh plans to include Zoom 2 only at the Gurgaon centre, as foreign patients visit that centre more frequently. But there are some dentists who are averse to the idea of using it so soon. Says Dr Prashanth Pillai, Oro-Maxillofacial Surgeon based in Kerala, "I am only using the traditional home and office bleaching technique using 10 per cent carbomyl peroxide as they are ones which are approved by the American Dental Association. Zoom 2 is new and yet to receive approval from dental associations worldwide." Dr Pillai is of the opinion that earlier methods, though tedious and time-consuming, are time-tested and safe. Long-term results of techniques like Zoom 2 are yet to be known. Although Zoom 2 is picking up fast and replacing the original Zoom, there are around 10 odd dentists still using the original version in India.

jayata.sharma@expressindia.com