Immediate gratification: Whiter teeth in just a few hours
The least extreme of the cosmetic procedures performed on TV's "Extreme Makeover" is in-office whitening for teeth called Zoom! This bleaching process lightens superficial stains caused by tobacco, coffee, red wine, colas or age.
To begin, the dentist first protects the lips and gums. He or she then applies a whitening gel that's activated by a special light. The whole process takes about three hours and teeth typically become three to seven shades whiter.
"It takes weeks for over-the-counter whitening strips or gels to whiten teeth a few shades," explains Virtua Health dentist John Spagnola, DMD. "Studies show that teeth whitening under a dentist's supervision is safe and effective; only a dentist can get teeth this white, this fast."