Teeth Whitening

The Whitening Procedure

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.