Teeth Whitening in New York

Dental Implant & Cosmetic, P.C., Yorktown Heights, NY, would like to introduce you to a safe, efficient, economical method of brightening your teeth and improving your appearance.

Beautiful white teeth have always been desirable, and discolored teeth are fast becoming less socially and professionally acceptable. With a procedure so effective, it's easy to enjoy the confidence that comes from knowing you look your best.

Teeth whitening is a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of enamel and dentin. It does not damage your teeth. The most common causes of discoloration include the consumption of coffee, tea and cola, tobacco use, trauma, antibiotic staining, excessive fluoride, nerve degeneration and old dental restorations.

While almost anyone can benefit from teeth whitening, there are some cases where the treatment may not be effective. We will determine your viability for this process through oral examination and diagnosis. We will give you personalized attention, treatment, and follow-up care.

On your first office visit for teeth whitening in Yorktown Heights, NY, we'll take an impression of the arch in your mouth - upper, lower or both - containing the teeth you wish to have whitened. We will create a tray that is milled to the scalloped lines of your gums. During your second appointment, you will try on the tray that was custom created for your mouth, and we will make any adjustments necessary for a comfortable fit.

You and the treating dentist will establish a color for your teeth by using a color shade guide. You will be instructed on how to use your tray with the special concentrated whitening gel to get the best results and to achieve your new whiter color.

After a week or two of home application, your teeth will begin to lighten to the shade you and your dentist have chosen. After two weeks a follow-up visit is recommended to gauge your progress, check for even bleaching, evaluate your appearance, and check your gums. If the color you seek has been attained in less than two weeks, you may stop the treatment and schedule a visit to the treating dentist for this important follow-up care. The complete spectrum of teeth whitening may also include the replacement of anterior (outside surface) fillings with white fillings that match the new color of your teeth.

You may require periodic touch-ups every six to eighteen months, depending upon your lifestyle. These can be performed using the same tray and gel you used for your initial whitening.

It is recommended by us, as well as the American Dental Association, that if you want to get your teeth whitened you should see a dentist. Over-the-counter whitening products are not recommended. You and your teeth are unique, and therefore only a dentist can properly diagnose you, properly treat you, and carefully monitor your whitening process. There is also a significant difference in the comfort level between the tray the dentist custom fits to your mouth compared to the over-the-counter type. Only products with the American Dental Association's Seal of Acceptance, which are used by your dentist, should be considered because they have been proven to be both safe and effective.

Having a beautiful smile may be even easier than you think. Many people achieve the look they've been dreaming of with our simple "bleaching" procedure.

What are the details?

It's safe, quick, and inexpensive. Just let us know at any appointment if you would like to begin bleaching. You can lighten only your upper teeth or both the upper and lower, depending on how much you show when you talk and smile.

In only a day or two at our Yorktown Heights, NY office, your custom bleach splints will be ready for you to pick up. We provide you with a special bleaching agent that you put into the clear splints. With only one hour of wear per day, our special bleaching agent bubbles stains right out of your enamel in a very short time without altering tooth structure or existing dental work in any way. When your teeth reach the desired brightness, only occasional treatment is needed to maintain your new smile. We'll want to take "after" photos at your next appointment.

Dental bleaching can be used to correct tooth discoloration. Discolorations can be caused by staining, aging, or chemical damage to teeth. Using the latest in bleaching technology, we can offer a safe method for creating a beautiful "brilliant" smile. In cases of extreme tooth discoloration, crowns or veneers may be the only choice, but because of the low cost of bleaching treatments, bleaching is nearly always worth a solid try.

How is it done?

An impression is taken to make a specialized "mouthguard" or "stent" to hold the bleach against the teeth. The material is used each night for about 3-4 hours for a week or two or one hour a day, and at the end of this time, significant whitening will occur. In some cases, the change is nothing short of brilliant. For confidence in appearance, bleaching technology allows us to promise improvements in yellowing, aging or stained teeth. For very severely stained teeth, crowns or veneers may be more appropriate.

Considerations

Over the counter bleaching agents are available for purchase at drug stores and pharmacies. However, since these products can cause harm to the gums and teeth, it’s better to use products that our practice recommends.