Professional Teeth Whitening in Newport Beach

Nothing boosts confidence quite like a bright smile that looks fresh and natural. Professional teeth whitening offers a straightforward way to achieve this, using advanced techniques to gently remove even deep-set stains. In under an hour, treatments like Zoom, Opalescence Boost, and Pola Office can bring out the best in your smile, brightening teeth dulled by coffee, wine, or simply the passage of time. The result? A refreshed, polished look with results you’ll see right away.

At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, and her team are dedicated to helping patients achieve their best smiles with advanced cosmetic treatments, offering multiple professional whitening options to suit different needs. Newport Beach cosmetic dentist Dr. Sharbash combines her extensive experience with a personalized approach to ensure each patient’s results are both stunning and long-lasting. In our comfortable and welcoming office, you’ll enjoy the benefits of professional whitening care with a team committed to enhancing your smile safely and effectively.

What Are Zoom, Opalescence Boost, and Pola Office Teeth Whitening?

At Newport Beach Dental Center, we offer Zoom, Opalescence Boost, and Pola Office—three leading professional whitening treatments that provide dramatic results in a single visit. Each option is designed to safely and effectively brighten your smile by several shades, using a professional-strength whitening gel to break down stains on and below the surface of your teeth.

  • Zoom Whitening – A light-activated gel treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel to remove years of discoloration.
  • Opalescence Boost – A chemically activated gel that delivers powerful whitening without the need for a light source, making it a great choice for those with sensitive teeth.
  • Pola Office – A quick and effective in-office whitening system designed for those seeking maximum brightness in the shortest time.

All three treatments are carefully monitored by dental professionals to ensure safety and minimize sensitivity. Unlike over-the-counter whitening kits, these professional options provide immediate, noticeable results while keeping your teeth healthy and strong.

What to Expect During Your Teeth Whitening Procedure

During your whitening procedure, you can expect a comfortable, efficient process designed to deliver fast and noticeable results. Here’s how it typically works:

  1. Preparation and Protection – Your dentist will review your desired shade and examine your teeth and gums. A protective barrier is placed to shield your lips and gums from the whitening gel.
  2. Application of Whitening Gel – A specialized gel is applied to your teeth, targeting both surface and deep stains caused by common discoloring agents like coffee and wine.
  3. Activation (Varies by Treatment) – Depending on your whitening choice:
    • Zoom uses an LED light to enhance the gel’s effectiveness.
    • Opalescence Boost is chemically activated without a light source.
    • Pola Office offers a fast-acting formula for quick results.
  4. Rinsing and Final Results – After the final cycle, your teeth are rinsed, and your dentist will check that you’ve achieved a bright, even smile, with results visible immediately.

Afterwards, you’ll receive instructions on avoiding staining foods and drinks for 48 hours. A touch-up kit may also be provided to help maintain your new smile.

Caring for Your Teeth After Whitening

After your teeth whitening treatment, a few simple steps can help keep your smile bright and beautiful:

  • Avoid Staining Foods and Drinks – For 48 hours, steer clear of coffee, tea, red wine, and dark sauces, as they can quickly re-stain your teeth during the sensitive post-treatment period.
  • Practice Good Oral Hygiene – Keep up with daily brushing and flossing to reduce plaque and prevent stains. A whitening toothpaste can help maintain your results by gently lifting surface stains.
  • Stay Hydrated with Water – Drinking water helps wash away food particles and reduce staining. It also promotes saliva production, which naturally protects against plaque and discoloration.
  • Avoid Tobacco Products – Smoking and other tobacco products can quickly dull your results, so avoiding them will help keep your smile whiter for longer.

With these simple care steps, you can enjoy a stunning, long-lasting smile that continues to feel bright and vibrant. Regular dental check-ups will also support your whitening results and allow your dentist to address any concerns, ensuring your smile stays healthy and brilliant.

Brighten Your Smile with Newport Beach Dental Center

Ready to refresh your smile with Zoom, Opalescence Boost, or Pola Office teeth whitening? At Newport Beach Dental Center, Dr. Laura Sharbash, DDS, FAGD, D.ABDSM, offers expert whitening treatments that can lift years of stains and discoloration in a single visit. With her precision and commitment to patient comfort, Newport Beach cosmetic dentist Dr. Sharbash ensures that each treatment is tailored for stunning, natural-looking results that make your smile shine. Our advanced approach, combined with a comfortable and welcoming environment, lets you enjoy brighter teeth with confidence and ease.

Whether you’re seeking to enhance your smile for an event or simply want a confidence boost, our whitening treatments offer immediate, effective results. Trust our team to provide professional care that prioritizes both the safety and beauty of your smile.

Contact us today at (949) 760-9212 or fill out our contact form to schedule your whitening session and start enjoying a brighter, revitalized smile.

Frequently Asked Questions About Professional Teeth Whitening

What's the difference between Zoom, Opalescence Boost, and Pola Office whitening treatments?

While all three treatments effectively whiten teeth, they differ in their application and technology:

Zoom Whitening uses a powerful hydrogen peroxide gel activated by a special LED light. This light-activated system penetrates teeth to break up stains and discoloration. The Zoom process typically involves 3-4 fifteen-minute sessions during a single appointment, with the light accelerating the whitening process for maximum results.

Opalescence Boost is a chemically-activated treatment that doesn’t require a light. Its unique formula contains potassium nitrate and fluoride, which help reduce sensitivity and strengthen enamel while whitening. The distinctive red gel is precisely applied to teeth and works effectively in just 40-60 minutes.

Pola Office offers a quick whitening solution with minimal sensitivity. Its formula incorporates desensitizing agents that block nerve pathways, making it an excellent choice for patients with sensitive teeth. Pola Office can achieve dramatic results in as little as 30 minutes.

During your consultation, Dr. Sharbash will recommend the best option based on your teeth sensitivity, desired results, and lifestyle factors. Think of it like choosing between different luxury car models—they’ll all get you to your destination (a whiter smile), but with slightly different features and experiences!

Most patients experience a dramatic improvement of 6-8 shades lighter after just one in-office professional whitening treatment—a significant difference that’s immediately noticeable when you look in the mirror! The exact results vary based on your starting shade, the type and depth of staining, and your natural tooth color.

Some types of discoloration respond better to whitening than others. Yellow or brown stains typically lighten very well, while gray tones from certain medications or genetics may show more modest improvement. During your consultation, Dr. Sharbash will evaluate your teeth and give you a realistic expectation of what results you can achieve. She might even use a shade guide to show you approximately what your results could look like!

Professional teeth whitening performed by a qualified dentist like Dr. Sharbash is very safe and will not damage healthy enamel when done correctly. The whitening agents used in our Newport Beach dental office are carefully formulated to remove stains while preserving tooth structure.

Unlike some over-the-counter products that can be abrasive or used incorrectly, professional treatments like Zoom, Opalescence Boost, and Pola Office are precisely applied and monitored by our dental team. Additionally, many professional whitening formulas now contain ingredients like fluoride and potassium nitrate that actually strengthen enamel and reduce sensitivity.

Before any whitening treatment, Dr. Sharbash conducts a thorough examination to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy enough for whitening. This professional oversight is a key safety advantage that simply isn’t available with store-bought options.

With proper care, your professional whitening results can last anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Several factors affect how long your brighter smile will last:

  • Diet habits: Frequent consumption of staining foods and beverages like coffee, red wine, tea, and berries will shorten results
  • Tobacco use: Smoking or chewing tobacco significantly reduces whitening longevity
  • Oral hygiene: Excellent brushing and flossing habits help maintain results
  • Follow-up care: Using provided touch-up kits and following maintenance recommendations

To extend your results, we provide custom take-home trays and professional-strength whitening gel for periodic touch-ups. These allow you to refresh your smile whenever you notice slight dulling, without needing another in-office treatment. Many patients perform a quick touch-up every 3-4 months to maintain their brightest smile!

Some degree of temporary sensitivity during and after whitening is common but manageable. The good news? Our professional whitening options are designed to minimize discomfort:

  • Opalescence Boost contains potassium nitrate, a proven desensitizing agent
  • Pola Office incorporates desensitizers that block pain pathways in teeth
  • Zoom Whitening includes sensitivity-reducing ingredients and allows for breaks between sessions

For patients with known sensitivity, Dr. Sharbash may recommend:

  • Using a desensitizing toothpaste for 2 weeks before treatment
  • Taking an anti-inflammatory medication before your appointment
  • Applying a professional desensitizing gel immediately after treatment
  • Choosing the gentlest whitening option for your specific needs

Any sensitivity typically subsides within 24-48 hours. Most patients find the temporary sensitivity a small trade-off for the confidence boost of a dramatically whiter smile!

Professional teeth whitening works exceptionally well on most extrinsic stains (those on the surface of teeth) caused by foods, drinks, and aging. However, not all discoloration responds equally:

Most responsive to whitening:

  • Yellow/brown stains from coffee, tea, wine, and tobacco
  • Age-related yellowing
  • Surface stains from foods and beverages

Less responsive to whitening:

  • Gray discoloration from tetracycline medications
  • Fluorosis (white spots from excessive fluoride exposure)
  • Intrinsic discoloration from tooth trauma
  • Stains on dental restorations (crowns, fillings, veneers)

If your discoloration doesn’t respond optimally to whitening, don’t worry! Dr. Sharbash can recommend alternative cosmetic treatments like bonding or veneers to achieve your desired results. During your consultation, we’ll assess your specific situation and discuss realistic expectations based on your unique tooth coloration.

Professional whitening and over-the-counter options differ significantly in several important ways:

Strength: Professional whitening uses higher-concentration whitening agents (typically 25-40% hydrogen peroxide) compared to over-the-counter products (typically 3-10%). This difference allows professional treatments to achieve more dramatic results in less time.

Customization: In-office treatments are tailored to your specific needs, with customized trays that fit precisely and ensure even application. Store-bought kits use one-size-fits-most approaches that can lead to uneven whitening or gum irritation.

Safety: Professional whitening includes a dental examination first, ensuring your teeth are healthy enough for whitening. The procedure is also monitored by trained professionals who can adjust the treatment if needed.

Results: Most patients see a 6-8 shade improvement with professional whitening versus 2-3 shades with over-the-counter options. The professional results are also more consistent and longer-lasting.

Time: Professional in-office whitening achieves maximum results in a single 60-90 minute appointment, while over-the-counter options typically require daily application for 1-2 weeks to achieve more modest results.

While professional whitening costs more initially, many patients find the superior results, time saved, and professional oversight well worth the investment.

Most adults with healthy teeth and gums are excellent candidates for professional whitening. However, certain factors may affect your candidacy:

Ideal candidates have:

  • Generally healthy teeth without decay
  • Healthy gums with no active periodontal disease
  • Primarily extrinsic stains (from coffee, tea, wine, etc.)
  • No hypersensitivity issues
  • No allergies to whitening ingredients

Factors that may affect candidacy:

  • Extensive restorations like crowns or veneers (these won’t whiten with treatment)
  • Severe intrinsic stains from medications or genetics
  • Extremely sensitive teeth
  • Worn enamel or exposed roots
  • Pregnancy or nursing (we typically recommend postponing treatment)

During your consultation, Dr. Sharbash will evaluate these factors and help determine if professional whitening is right for you. If whitening isn’t ideal for your situation, she can recommend alternative cosmetic treatments to help you achieve your desired smile.

To ensure the best possible results from your professional whitening treatment, we recommend these simple preparation steps:

  1. Schedule a cleaning: Ideally, have a professional cleaning 1-2 weeks before your whitening appointment to remove surface stains and plaque, allowing the whitening agent to work more effectively.

  2. Begin sensitivity prevention: If you have sensitive teeth, start using a desensitizing toothpaste 2 weeks before your appointment. We may also recommend taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory about an hour before treatment.

  3. Avoid staining substances: Try to minimize consumption of highly pigmented foods and beverages (coffee, red wine, berries, etc.) for 2-3 days before whitening.

  4. Take “before” photos: Consider taking a selfie in natural light to document your starting shade for comparison after treatment.

  5. Plan your schedule: While there’s no downtime after whitening, some patients prefer not to have important meetings or events immediately following their appointment in case they experience any temporary sensitivity.

  6. Arrive with clean teeth: Brush and floss shortly before your appointment for optimal results.

Following these simple steps helps ensure your whitening treatment is comfortable and achieves the best possible results!

Professional whitening treatments only work on natural tooth enamel—they won’t change the color of dental restorations like crowns, veneers, fillings, or bonding. This is because these restorations are made from materials that don’t respond to whitening agents like natural teeth do.

If you have visible restorations, we typically recommend one of these approaches:

  • Whiten first, restore later: If you’re planning to get new restorations, we recommend completing your whitening treatment first, then matching the new restorations to your whitened teeth.

  • Selective whitening: For existing restorations, we can sometimes perform whitening on just your natural teeth, then address any noticeable color discrepancies with replacement or refinishing of restorations.

  • Alternative cosmetic options: In some cases, veneers or bonding might be a better solution than whitening if you have numerous visible restorations.

During your consultation, Dr. Sharbash will examine your existing dental work and discuss the most appropriate strategy for achieving a uniform, beautiful smile.

To keep your newly whitened smile looking bright for months (or even years), follow these maintenance tips:

  • The first 48 hours are crucial: Avoid staining foods and beverages completely for the first two days after whitening. Your teeth are more susceptible to restaining during this period when the pores in your enamel are still open.

  • Adopt the “white shirt rule”: Going forward, be cautious with foods and drinks that would stain a white shirt—they’ll likely stain your teeth too! This includes coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas, berries, tomato sauce, and balsamic vinegar.

  • Use straws: When enjoying beverages that could stain, drink through a straw to minimize contact with your front teeth.

  • Rinse after eating: When you do consume staining foods, rinse your mouth with water afterward to reduce residue on teeth.

  • Maintain excellent oral hygiene: Brush twice daily, floss daily, and consider an electric toothbrush for more effective plaque removal.

  • Schedule regular dental cleanings: Professional cleanings every 6 months help remove surface stains before they become deeply embedded.

  • Use your touch-up kit: Apply your professional take-home whitening gel for one or two nights every 3-4 months, or whenever you notice slight dulling.

Following these simple practices will help you enjoy your investment in a brighter smile for much longer!

Most dental insurance plans classify teeth whitening as a cosmetic procedure and do not provide coverage. However, we offer several options to make your whitening treatment more affordable:

  • Flexible financing through CareCredit, allowing you to break down the cost into manageable monthly payments
  • Seasonal whitening specials that we run several times throughout the year
  • Whitening for Life programs where you receive complimentary touch-up gel at your regular check-ups
  • Combination packages that provide savings when whitening is part of a larger smile makeover

Many patients tell us that the confidence boost and positive impression of a brighter smile makes professional whitening one of their best investments in themselves. During your consultation, our team will provide a clear breakdown of costs and payment options, with no hidden fees or surprises.

Although both terms are sometimes used interchangeably, there are important distinctions between laser whitening and light-activated systems like Zoom:

Laser Whitening uses an actual dental laser to activate the whitening gel. The laser energy is very precise and can be directed at specific teeth or areas. Laser whitening typically requires less time in the chair but may come with a higher price point due to the advanced technology involved.

Light-Activated Whitening (like Zoom) uses a special LED light that emits a broader spectrum of blue light to activate the whitening gel. The light covers all visible teeth simultaneously, providing very even results. Zoom treatments typically involve 3-4 sessions of 15 minutes each during a single appointment.

Both approaches are effective and safe when performed by a qualified professional like Dr. Sharbash. The choice between them often comes down to the specific staining patterns, tooth sensitivity concerns, and the dentist’s recommendation based on your individual needs. At Newport Beach Dental Center, we’ve found that our professional whitening options provide exceptional results while prioritizing comfort and enamel health.

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