Many clinicians and patients search for "Zoom whitening" when they mean professional, dentist-supervised whitening in general. Philips Zoom is one well-known brand in this category. DentrealStore does not sell Philips Zoom products. If you are comparing professional systems, the short answer is that there are two main routes:
- In-office power whitening: high-concentration hydrogen peroxide applied chairside under gingival isolation
- Take-home whitening: lower-concentration gels in trays, prescribed and supervised by the dentist
Many practices combine both. This guide compares the in-office and take-home systems we stock from Ultradent (Opalescence™) and FGM (Whiteness HP Maxx), using manufacturer-published information.
In-Office vs Take-Home: The Key Differences
| In-office (chairside) | Take-home (dentist-supervised) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it happens | In the dental chair | At home, following the dentist's instructions |
| Typical active ingredient | Hydrogen peroxide (HP) at high concentration | Lower-concentration HP or carbamide peroxide (CP) |
| Isolation | Light-cured gingival barrier (e.g. OpalDam™) | Trays limit gel contact (prefilled or custom) |
| Chair time | One appointment with several applications | Mainly consultation and follow-up |
| Typical role | Fast start, "power" session | Gradual whitening, touch-ups, follow-up to in-office |
In-Office Whitening Systems
Opalescence™ Boost™ PF 40% – chemically activated, no light needed
Opalescence Boost PF 40% in-office whitening is Ultradent's chairside power whitener. Ultradent states:
- 40% hydrogen peroxide, chemically activated, so no light is required
- Syringe-to-syringe mixing activates the gel just before application
- Two to three 20-minute applications (40–60 minutes of treatment time), not exceeding three applications in one visit
- Contains PF (potassium nitrate and fluoride)
- Isolate the gingiva with OpalDam™ / OpalDam™ Green or a rubber dam
Our 10-patient kit includes Boost syringes, OpalDam™ Green syringes and tips. Ultradent's EU site notes that whitening medical devices are not available in some EU countries.
FGM Whiteness HP Maxx 35% – with or without light
FGM Whiteness HP Maxx 35% in-office whitening is a two-phase hydrogen peroxide system. According to FGM:
- 35% hydrogen peroxide for chairside whitening of vital and non-vital teeth
- Can be used with or without a light source; FGM includes a heat blocker intended to prevent tooth overheating when light is used
- Peroxide and thickener are mixed 3 drops to 1 drop; FGM says the gel changes colour from red to green during the session
- FGM states that the full kit yields an average of 18 applications; a mini kit is available for 6
FGM's protocol includes relative isolation with a light-cured gingival barrier before applying the gel.
Gingival isolation: OpalDam™ Green
Whatever in-office system you use, isolation is part of the manufacturer protocol. OpalDam™ Green gingival barrier (econo refill) is a light-cured, methacrylate-based resin barrier. Ultradent describes it as passively adhesive: it is light-cured for 20 seconds with a scanning motion and removes easily afterwards. OpalDam Green is identical to OpalDam except for its colour.
In-office comparison
| Opalescence™ Boost™ PF | FGM Whiteness HP Maxx | |
|---|---|---|
| Concentration | 40% HP | 35% HP |
| Activation | Chemical; no light needed | With or without light (heat blocker) |
| Mixing | Syringe-to-syringe | Drops from bottles, 3:1 |
| Session (manufacturer) | 2–3 × 20 min, max. 3 per visit | Per FGM IFU |
| Vital / non-vital teeth | Per Ultradent IFU | Vital and non-vital (FGM) |
| Isolation | OpalDam™ / rubber dam | Light-cured gingival barrier |
Take-Home Whitening Systems
Opalescence™ Go – prefilled trays, no impressions
Opalescence Go prefilled whitening trays use Ultradent's UltraFit™ trays, which come prefilled with hydrogen peroxide gel and cover molar to molar. No impressions or custom trays are needed. Ultradent lists these wear times:
- 6% HP: 60–90 minutes per day for 5–10 days
- 10% HP: 30–60 minutes per day for 5–10 days
- 15% HP: 15–20 minutes per day for 5–10 days
The available concentrations depend on the market: Ultradent's EU site lists Opalescence Go at 6%, while its Australian site lists 6%, 10% and 15%. The gel contains PF, comes in mint and melon flavours, and is labelled for professional use only. Ultradent's IFU says patients should not sleep in the trays. Ultradent also presents Go as a convenient follow-up to in-office whitening.
Opalescence™ PF 16% – custom-tray carbamide peroxide
The Opalescence PF 16% take-home whitening kit is the classic custom-tray system. According to Ultradent:
- Carbamide peroxide gels are offered in several strengths (including 10%, 15%, 16% and 20%)
- The IFU lists wear times of 4–6 hours for 15% and 16%, and notes that only the 10% gel should be worn overnight
- Ultradent's EU brochure states that 16% CP corresponds to roughly 5.8% HP
- The gels contain potassium nitrate and sodium fluoride (PF)
- Trays are custom-fabricated from a model, following Ultradent's laboratory instructions
Take-home comparison
| Opalescence™ Go | Opalescence™ PF 16% | |
|---|---|---|
| Active ingredient | Hydrogen peroxide (6% / 10% / 15%, market-dependent) | 16% carbamide peroxide |
| Trays | Prefilled UltraFit™, no impressions | Custom trays from a model |
| Wear time (IFU) | 15–90 min/day depending on strength | 4–6 hours |
| Typical use | Quick start, follow-up after in-office | Patients who prefer a custom tray they can reuse for touch-ups |
Combining In-Office and Take-Home
A common workflow is to start with a chairside session using Opalescence Boost or Whiteness HP Maxx, isolated with OpalDam™. The patient then continues or maintains at home with Opalescence Go or custom trays with Opalescence PF. Treatment selection, concentration and duration remain the clinician's decision. Base them on the examination and on each manufacturer's IFU.
Regulatory and Safety Note
This article summarises manufacturer-published information. It is not clinical advice. The peroxide concentrations permitted for in-office and take-home use differ by country and region (for example between the EU, the USA, Canada and Australia), and some products or strengths are not available in every market. Always check your local regulations. Follow each manufacturer's instructions for use, including isolation, protective eyewear and contraindications.
Philips and Zoom are trademarks of their respective owner. DentrealStore is not affiliated with or endorsed by Philips.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does DentrealStore sell Philips Zoom whitening kits?
No. We stock professional in-office and take-home systems from Ultradent (Opalescence™ Boost™, Go™, PF) and FGM (Whiteness HP Maxx).
Does Opalescence Boost need a whitening light?
No. Ultradent states that Opalescence Boost is chemically activated by syringe-to-syringe mixing and does not require a light.
What is the difference between Opalescence Go and Opalescence PF?
Opalescence Go uses prefilled hydrogen peroxide trays and needs no impressions. Opalescence PF is a carbamide peroxide gel used in custom trays made from a model.
Can Whiteness HP Maxx be used with a light?
Yes. FGM states it can be used with or without a light source, and that its heat blocker is intended to prevent tooth overheating when light is used.
Why is a gingival barrier like OpalDam needed?
Manufacturer protocols for high-concentration in-office gels call for gingival isolation. OpalDam™ is a light-cured resin barrier that Ultradent recommends for this step.
Build Your Whitening Offering
Whether you need a chairside power system, a take-home option or both, you can compare the in-office and take-home kits in our whitening range, starting with Opalescence Boost PF 40% and Opalescence Go. DentrealStore ships worldwide.