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Teeth Whitening

We specialize in transforming smiles with our professional Teeth Whitening services, tailored to the unique needs of our luxury clientele in New York City. Under the guidance of Dr. Elisa Mello and Dr. Ramin Tabib, our treatments utilize advanced technology to deliver safe and stunning results. Explore our Teeth Whitening options, from quick in-office procedures to convenient at-home kits. Learn more about how we can enhance your smile on our Teeth Whitening page.

Understanding the Teeth Whitening Process at NYC Smile Design

The Initial Consultation

Before beginning any teeth whitening treatment, NYC Smile Design ensures that every client undergoes a comprehensive initial consultation. This critical first step, led by Dr. Elisa Mello or Dr. Ramin Tabib, involves a detailed examination of your dental health to determine the most effective and safe whitening approach tailored to your specific needs. During the consultation, we discuss your aesthetic goals, review your dental history, and assess any factors that might affect the whitening process, such as existing dental work, enamel thickness, and quality, or tooth sensitivity. This personalized approach ensures that the treatment plan aligns perfectly with your expectations and dental health requirements.

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Types of Whitening Treatments

At NYC Smile Design, we offer two primary types of teeth whitening procedures—In-Office Whitening and Take-Home Whitening Kits—both designed to suit different lifestyles and results expectations.

In-Office Whitening

For those seeking immediate results, our in-office whitening treatment is the optimal choice. This procedure typically takes about an hour and involves the application of a high-concentration peroxide gel, which is activated by a special light to accelerate the whitening process. The controlled environment allows Dr. Mello or Dr. Tabib to safely manage the application, ensuring maximum comfort and effectiveness. Patients often see significant whitening results in just one session, making it a popular choice for busy individuals looking to brighten their smile quickly.The application of the whitening gel is done carefully to avoid sensitive areas of teeth. For those patients with known sensitive teeth or who have experienced sensitivity during whitening before, desensitizing agents can be recommended and utilized prior to the appointment. During the whitening appointment desensitizers and anesthetics can be administered as well. For those patients who cannot leave their mouth open for an extended period of time, comfort bite pillows/blocks can be utilized or breaks between each application.

Take-Home Whitening Kits

 For clients who prefer the convenience of whitening their teeth in the comfort of their own homes, NYC Smile Design offers customized take-home whitening kits. These kits include a lower concentration peroxide gel and custom-made trays crafted from molds of your teeth, ensuring a perfect fit and even coverage of the whitening agent. While the results develop more gradually than the in-office procedure, the take-home kits provide the flexibility to manage the whitening process according to your schedule and comfort level.

Post-Treatment Care

Following the whitening treatment, NYC Smile Design provides detailed guidance on post-treatment care to maintain the brightness of your smile. This includes advice on diet, oral hygiene practices, and periodic touch-ups. Whether you choose an in-office treatment or a take-home kit, we ensure you have all the information needed to keep your smile shining bright.
By understanding the full scope of our teeth whitening process, clients can feel confident and informed in their decision to pursue a brighter, more radiant smile with us at NYC Smile Design.

Can Discolored Yellow Teeth be Whitened?

Absolutely. Tooth discoloration can be treated with professional cleanings, bleaching products, and cosmetic services such as porcelain veneers and dental bonding. The method of tooth whitening that will work best for your needs can be determined during your cosmetic dentistry consultation.

Types of Tooth Stains

There are two types of tooth stains:

  • Stains on the surface of enamel (extrinsic)
  • Stains below the surface of enamel (intrinsic)

Extrinsic stains are caused by lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, frequent consumption of dark-colored foods and beverages, sodas and sports drinks, inadequate brushing, and infrequent dental visits. Under many circumstances, surface stains can be lightened, at least to an extent, through professional cleaning.


Intrinsic stains or discoloration occurs in the inner part of the tooth, which in general is darker and more yellow than enamel. If the inner layer called dentin is naturally dark or yellow, it is an intrinsic stain. If extrinsic staining reaches the inner layers of the teeth through cracks or surface damage it causes intrinsic stains. Trauma can create intrinsic discoloration when damaged tooth pulp material fills the small tubes or tubules of the tooth layers.

The Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening

By choosing professional teeth whitening, you can enjoy these benefits along with the assurance that the procedure is performed safely and effectively by dental professionals, ensuring that your dental health is preserved while enhancing your smile.

Enhanced Aesthetic Appeal

Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic procedure that significantly enhances the appearance of your smile. It effectively removes stains caused by common substances like coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco, as well as discoloration from aging. A brighter smile can contribute to a youthful, vibrant look, boosting overall self-confidence.

Boost in Self-Confidence

A white, radiant smile can make a significant impact on personal and professional interactions. Many individuals find that after whitening their teeth, they feel more confident in social situations and professional settings. This boost in self-esteem is a key psychological benefit of teeth whitening, encouraging more smiles and greater engagement with others.

Improved Oral Hygiene Motivation

Undergoing a professional teeth whitening procedure often motivates people to maintain better oral hygiene practices. The desire to preserve the bright appearance of their teeth can lead individuals to be more diligent about brushing, flossing, and visiting the dentist regularly. This can contribute to better overall dental health and the prevention of oral diseases.

Quick and Non-Invasive Procedure

Teeth whitening is a non-invasive, painless procedure that can produce visible results in just one session. Unlike other cosmetic dental procedures that may require extensive time or multiple visits, teeth whitening offers a quick solution to improve the aesthetics of your smile with minimal discomfort and no downtime

Teeth Whitening Options at NYC Smile Design

At NYC Smile Design, we offer both in-office and take-home tooth whitening options. These are:

Opalescence Boost Teeth Whitening 

Opalescence Boost is the safe and effective whitening treatment that our cosmetic dentists use for in-office teeth whitening. With Opalescence Boost, we can lighten your teeth several shades over the course of just one office visit. In fact, in-office tooth whitening can often lighten teeth up to ten shades in one hour. During your in-office teeth whitening, a bleaching solution is applied to the teeth with the assistance of specially designed trays. Once the trays are in place, a light is used to gently heat the solution, working to activate oxygen molecules that can penetrate the enamel to remove stains. Unlike in-office teeth whitening without light assistance, our process allows the bleaching solution to dissolve some extrinsic stains and may be effective even in cases of more pronounced discoloration. For good candidates, Opalescence Boost teeth whitening offers immediate results. It may also help reduce risks of sensitivity and gum irritation, both of which can result from over-exposure to topical bleaches.

Customized Take-Home Kits 

For patients who prefer to whiten their teeth in the comfort and privacy of their own homes, we offer customized take-home whitening kits. These kits come with customized application trays that hug the natural contours and grooves of your teeth, enabling consistent and complete whitening of the enamel. Unlike store-bought kits, our teeth whitening trays are molded from models of your actual teeth, a benefit that also reduces risks of tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Take-home kits gradually lighten enamel over the course of one to two weeks. Worn daily during this time, these kits can lighten teeth several shades and are a wonderful option for men and women who would prefer teeth whitening at home. For those with sensitive teeth, the trays can be worn every other day to limit sensitivity.  While this option is wonderful as a stand-alone for some patients, we also offer custom take-home whitening kits with each Opalescence Boost treatment. This way, you can touch up your results as time goes by.

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Our Teeth Whitening Patients' Stories

Transformations That Speak for Themselves. Teeth whitening is more than just a cosmetic procedure; it's a pathway to renewed self-confidence and satisfaction for many of our patients. The stories of those who have undergone teeth whitening treatments are testimonials of the profound impact a brighter smile can have on various aspects of one's life. Here, we share a few of these inspiring journeys, illustrating the personal and emotional benefits that come with achieving a whiter smile.

Is Teeth Whitening Bad for Your Teeth?

Teeth whitening is not bad for your teeth. The bleaching process can, however, cause temporary tooth sensitivity. Some products available through cosmetic dentists are even formulated with potassium nitrate and fluoride to reduce sensitivity and increase enamel strength.
When whitening is completed with over-the-counter application trays, solution seepage may occur. This can irritate soft oral tissue and increase tooth sensitivity and is one of the many reasons it makes sense to work with a dentist when it’s time to whiten your teeth. Your dentist can address any teeth whitening fears or misconceptions.

How to Maintain Your Teeth Whitening Results

Both of the teeth whitening options provided by our New York City cosmetic dentists are designed to be long-lasting. How you care for your teeth after treatment will, however, have a more direct role in the amount of time your results are visible than anything our dentists can do.


Fortunately, maintaining teeth whitening results is relatively easy. In many cases, it doesn’t even require much adjustment to routines you already have in place. You can work towards keeping your teeth bright and beautiful by:

  • Not smoking, chewing, or otherwise using products with nicotine
  • Reducing your intake of coffee, tea, and red wine
  • Drinking sodas and sports drinks through a straw
  • Reducing your intake of dark foods like berries and sauces
  • Washing away stain causers with foods that stimulate saliva production such as apples, strawberries, celery, carrots, and pears
  • Swishing water in your mouth after eating or drinking so that stain causers don’t sit on your teeth


In addition to these steps, you can help keep your teeth white by brushing after heavily pigmented and staining meals and snacks with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a slightly abrasive or whitening toothpaste. 


Proper dental hygiene can go a long way in keeping your teeth stain-free. Good teeth cleaning habits will fight the presence of cavity-causing bacteria and the food debris that leads to yellowing. Part of a solid oral hygiene routine is twice-yearly visits to our NYC office for professional cleanings and examinations. During these visits, we will help you maintain your tooth-whitening results by removing surface stains and gently polishing your teeth. If it has been more than six months since your last cleaning, call us today to schedule your next appointment.

How Long Does it Take to Whiten Teeth?

Chairside, in-office teeth whitening takes around 60 minutes. Take-home tooth whitening kits may take one to two weeks. Both options can lighten the smile several shades, eliminating surface staining to restore a bright and beautiful look to your smile.


Additionally, there are home remedies for a brighter smile but they may be less effective than in-office treatments.

How Much Does Professional Teeth Whitening Cost?

The cost of tooth whitening at the dentist’s office can range from $500 to $2,000 or more depending on the product being applied, the experience of the dentist, the need for desensitizing or anesthetizing measures, and the area in which you live. Take-home options with customized application trays are typically on the lower end of tooth whitening costs. In-office treatments can be up to three times as much, depending on technique.

Financing Teeth Whitening

At NYC Smile Design, we strive to meet all of the oral health and beauty needs of our patients. To this end, we are happy to offer a number of payment options for our cosmetic dentistry services.

We accept:

  • Cash and wire transfers
  • All major credit cards
  • CareCredit®

CareCredit is a healthcare financing company that offers a range of payment choices. Among these are 0% APR plans and fixed-monthly payment options, allowing the patient to choose the terms most suitable for his or her needs. You can apply for CareCredit at the link above or we can provide you with information about this and other financing options during your teeth whitening consultation.

LEARNING CENTER

Expand Your Knowledge

The NYC Smile Design Learning Center page is your go-to resource for comprehensive and insightful information on cosmetic dentistry, offering expert guidance from Dr. Elisa Mello and Dr. Ramin Tabib to help you understand the wide array of dental treatments available, ensuring you make informed decisions for your smile makeover journey.

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Your Teeth Whitening Journey

If you're ready to achieve a brighter, more radiant smile, contact NYC Smile Design, your trusted New York City teeth whitening expert. Our experienced cosmetic dentists, Dr. Elisa Mello and Dr. Ramin Tabib provide personalized and effective teeth whitening services tailored to your unique needs.