At-home teeth whitening methods have brought brighter smiles to the masses. Just one problem: they aren’t always as effective as in-office treatments. If you are seeking dramatic results or want to remove stains quickly, professional treatments are the way to go.
Philips Zoom is a popular professional whitening system, and for good reason: it’s effective, widely available, and pretty affordable (for in-office whitening). Those are pretty broad statements, but don’t worry; we back them up with all the details in this review! By the end, you’ll know if this is the right whitening treatment for your smile.
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Philips Zoom at a Glance
Philips Zoom’s big claim to fame is that it’s the number-one patient-requested professional whitening system. Launched in 2011, the company has multiple in-office treatments, but WhiteSpeed is currently the most popular.
Many people know Philips better as a lighting and electronics company, but they’ve been a mainstay in the dental field for years, developing products like the Sonicare Toothbrush. They’ve put decades into research and development for dental treatments, and it shows in their whitening system, which uses a quality formula and technology to enhance results.
The components of Philips Zoom treatment can vary, but in most cases, they include an LED light, gum protection, a bite retractor, protective glasses, and whitening gel. Treatment typically takes about an hour, including prep, making it a fairly convenient option.
Pros and Cons of Philips Zoom
Millions of Americans have benefited from Philips Zoom whitening treatment. And given its widespread demand, it’s clear that people love it. But it’s not perfect. Here are the top benefits and drawbacks to keep in mind when selecting your whitening system.
Pros of Philips Zoom
- Eight Shades in 45 Minutes: According to Philips Zoom, it is clinically proven to whiten teeth by up to eight shades in a single 45-minute session.
- Uses an LED Light: LED lights can speed up the whitening process and provide better results. Not all professional systems use lights, but Zoom does.
- Built-In Customization: Your doctor or technician can customize the strength of the LED light based on your comfort and tailor the results to your whitening goals.
- Results That Last: Many Philips Zoom providers report that results can last between 12–24 months.
Cons of Philips Zoom
- Less Potent formula: Zoom uses a 25% concentration of hydrogen peroxide, which is weaker than many other professional formulas.
- Sensitivity Is Common: Not everyone experiences sensitivity and zingers after Zoom treatment, but plenty of patients do, especially if they already have sensitive teeth.
Should You Get Philips Zoom Whitening?
It’s a fast, powerful LED whitening treatment with professional oversight, and long-lasting results. If you don’t mind paying more than you would with at-home treatments, you should see dazzling results.
Effectiveness
Before anything else, you need to know that a whitening treatment will work. Otherwise, there’s no point. Luckily, Philips Zoom performs well here, delivering big changes in a single session.
Philips Zoom says their treatment is clinically proven to lighten teeth up to eight shades in a single whitening session.
So, if you want big changes in a single whitening session, Zoom delivers. And this isn’t just a claim; Philips backs it up with data. According to their research, seven days after a whitening session, Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed showed statistically greater change in overall tooth color and shade than Ultradent Opalescence Boost PF. Patients corroborate the company’s claims, stating that they saw an amazing difference in their smile after just 45–60 minutes.
In order to measure the treatment’s effect, your dentist first needs to define your tooth’s starting shade. To establish this baseline, they use a shade guide to find the option that most accurately represents your smile. They’ll use the same guide after treatment to determine your new shade — allowing them to pinpoint your change. Not all dentists use the same reference for tooth shade, but many use the VITA shade guide — which features 26 or 29 different shades.
Zoom uses a blue LED light to speed up the whitening process and produce deeper results.
This light allows your dentist to customize the intensity settings, controlling how white your teeth get and how comfortable you feel during the process. The theory behind using an LED light is that it helps the whitening gel’s peroxide to break down faster, creating the free radicals that whiten the teeth.
Does this light actually do what they claim? The research is mixed, although some studies suggest that LED lights do make a difference.
Lights or not, the real power behind Philips Zoom is hydrogen peroxide.
This is the active whitening ingredient in their formula. It’s the most common agent used in professional gels, and proven effective in teeth whitening. Zoom uses a 25% concentration, which is on the lower side for in-office whitening. However, Zoom’s gel is still significantly more powerful than at-home treatments.
Philips Zoom can make a big difference in your smile, but their formula is less potent than some of the in-office competitors.
Affordability
Philips Zoom prices aren’t exactly pocket change, but they’re one of the most affordable in-office whitening treatments available today. And that makes it pretty appealing.
Every dentist sets their own prices, but the typical range for Philips Zoom treatments is $300–$700.
This comes out to a median cost of $500. That’s a lot more than at-home systems, but it’s low to average for in-office ones. So, if you are certain you need professional whitening but you’re sticking to a budget, Philips Zoom is a solid choice.
This price is the cost per session, so expect it to rise if you have tough stains. Luckily, most people only need one session to get the results they want. Results can be long lasting and you can extend your time between treatments by using whitening toothpaste and pens to maintain your smile.
Philips Zoom often beats other in-office whitening treatments in affordability.
Quality of Ingredients
Whitening treatments get their power from their ingredients. Like most other professional treatments, Zoom doesn’t disclose all the ingredients in their gel, just the primary whitening agent.
Zoom uses hydrogen peroxide, which is a highly effective whitening agent.
This is the most common active ingredient used in whitening products, both professional and direct to consumer. At 25% concentration, there is enough of it in the gel to make a big difference, but it’s less potent than some of its competitors.
Not all professional treatments use hydrogen peroxide as their active whitening agent. A common alternative is carbamide peroxide, which has about one-third the strength of hydrogen peroxide.
Brand | Peroxide concentration |
---|---|
Philips Zoom | 25% hydrogen peroxide |
Opalescence Boost | 40% hydrogen peroxide |
KӧR | 34% hydremide peroxide, 16% carbamide peroxide |
Invisalign | 45% carbamide peroxide (the equivalent of 15% hydrogen peroxide) |
According to Zoom, their gel is a light-activated formula, different from the gel in systems that don’t use a light. However, they don’t go into detail, so we don’t know if this change impacts the ingredients or if it just means they use a light.
Aside from hydrogen peroxide, Philips doesn’t advertise their in-office whitening gel’s other ingredients. Since dentists regularly use Zoom treatment, we assume the ingredients are safe and effective, but if you’re concerned, you can ask your dentist for a rundown of the full list.
Zoom uses a 25% hydrogen peroxide concentration to brighten smiles — a standard ingredient choice for the industry.
Convenience
Professional treatment is always a little more demanding of your schedule than at-home treatment. Instead of working whitening around your schedule, you work your schedule around whitening. But there is more to convenience than just the trips to the office.
Philips Zoom is a schedule-friendly treatment. From start to finish, treatment lasts about an hour.
In cases of severe staining, your dentist might suggest two treatments spaced a few weeks apart. However, most people with deep stains aren’t suited to Zoom treatment, so this is unlikely.
Zoom whitening sessions are pretty straightforward. You show up for the appointment and the doctor or technician cleans your teeth, then applies vitamin E or gum gel to prevent irritation and put a protective barrier on your lips. After this, they’ll use a retractor to pull back your lips and cheeks, and your tongue will rest in a cup in the middle. They’ll also give you protective glasses and a bib.
Then it’s showtime. The dentist will apply whitening gel to your teeth and turn on the light. They’ll intermittently turn off the light and reapply the gel, totaling three applications per session. All in all, the whitening gel will be on your teeth for about 45 minutes — with prep and clean up bringing the total appointment length to about an hour.
While hybrid professional whitening is all the rage right now, Zoom doesn’t always include an at-home kit as a standard part of treatment.
Many dental offices offer at-home whitening for no extra charge — but it’s not part of Zoom’s primary treatment. However, they do sell a whitening pen you can use at home to help maintain your results. This pen has a 5.25% concentration of peroxide, so it’s less powerful, but effective for keeping your teeth white between office visits.
Comfort
Full disclosure: professional teeth whitening is awkward, no matter which treatment you choose. You need to wear a cheek retractor, there’s often drool, and afterward, you might have tooth sensitivity. But in our opinion, Zoom is a little less comfortable than many other professional whitening systems.
Tooth sensitivity is a frequent side effect of Zoom whitening treatments.
To be fair, sensitivity is pretty common for most whitening treatments, even at-home ones. Philips has designed the formula to minimize it, but it doesn’t appear to contain the best sensitivity-reducing ingredients, such as hydroxyapatite. The LED light can also increase post-treatment pain and zingers. Zoom allows your doctor to adjust the light intensity, but it’s still an integral part of the treatment.
The whitening session can feel a little awkward, but this isn’t exclusive to Zoom.
During treatment, your dentist will use a bite opener to hold your mouth open. It exposes your teeth and keeps your lips, cheeks, and tongue away from them. This feels and looks slightly strange, and it can leave your face feeling sore after.
The bite opener is standard for professional teeth whitening treatments, so you’ll need to put up with it regardless of which option you choose.
Is Philips Zoom Right for You?
Eight shades whiter in just one session. If that sounds appealing, and you’ve got room in your budget, Philips Zoom could be the ideal in-office whitening treatment for you.
Of course, it isn’t your only option. You can find some of our top recommendations below and explore at-home alternatives in our guide to the best at-home whitening options.
What Are the Best Alternatives to Philips Zoom?
Not sold on Zoom just yet? No problem! You’ve got plenty of options — both professional treatments and kits you can use at home. Here are a few of our top picks.
KöR
No other whitening system can match KöR’s whitening power. Known for its ability to address teeth stains previously thought untreatable, it’s the only whitening system that will work for some people. While it averages a hefty $1,250 and requires at-home treatment in addition to 1–2 in-office sessions, the results can make the investment worth it.
Opalescence Boost
Opalescence may not be a household name like Philips Zoom, but it is the biggest name in the whitening game among dentists. That’s because it offers some of the best results of any professional kit. The highly potent formula uses a 40% concentration of hydrogen peroxide and its dual-barrel syringe, preventing chemical reactions from occurring until they’re needed for whitening.
GLO Brilliant
GLO Brilliant is one of our favorite home whitening kits. Although it doesn’t offer as dramatic of results as professional treatments, its comparably affordable price tag makes this a compelling alternative. Their kit uses an LED mouthpiece that combines heat and light — resulting in a faster and deeper whitening than many at-home kits can deliver.
Final Thoughts
If you need quick and effective treatment at a reasonable price, Zoom could be an ideal way to brighten your smile and boost your confidence. It can deliver an eight-shade difference in a single appointment and costs an average of $500.
Not sold on Zoom? Don’t worry; there are other professional whitening systems to consider, plus at-home kits. No matter what treatment you choose, you’ll be loving your smile in no time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who should use teeth whitening?
Anyone who has teeth that are darker than their ideal color can benefit from teeth whitening. Just keep in mind that different types of stains are better suited to different treatments. Talk to your dentist about which is right for you.
How does professional whitening compare to at-home options?
In most cases, it is more effective. This might mean faster results or more extreme results — AKA whitening by more shades. In many cases, it’s both. However, it’s also more expensive and less convenient.
How much whiter will my teeth be after Philips Zoom treatment?
Philips Zoom claims their treatment can whiten by eight shades in a single session.
How does the dentist protect my gums during treatment?
Some systems don’t require gum protection, but most will use a gel that hardens under a curing light, creating a barrier between the gel and the gums.
Will teeth whitening work for me?
Possibly. Most people get results from teeth whitening, even if they are smaller than expected. In most cases, the deeper and darker your stains, the less likely you’ll see exceptional results. KöR is the outlier; it makes a significant difference even with the most difficult stains.
I have a dark/dead front tooth. Can I whiten it?
Dark teeth can be whitened with systems designed to treat them. Dead teeth, however, cannot.
Should I get a dental cleaning before or after teeth whitening?
Usually, dentists make this part of the whitening treatment. Just be sure to ask if it’s included in the cost or if you will need to pay extra.
Does teeth whitening hurt?
It can cause temporary sensitivity. For most people, however, it goes away within days of finishing treatment. You can use sensitive toothpaste to get rid of it faster.
How much does Philips Zoom cost?
Every dentist sets their own prices, but typically Philips Zoom treatment falls between $300 and $700.
Are there age limits for teeth whitening?
Patients typically need to be over the age of 18 for professional-grade whitening.
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