Teeth Whitening – Long Island City, NY
Beautifully Transform Your Smile
Having yellowed, dull, or stained teeth can be really frustrating. It can make being in pictures annoying. You might develop a habit of hiding your smile behind your hands. You deserve to be confident enough in your smile to show it off to the world. That’s why at LIC Dental Associates, we offer two options for teeth whitening in Long Island City – take-home and in-office treatment. Whichever method you choose will beautifully transform your smile in no time. Call us today to schedule a consultation for teeth whitening.
Why Choose LIC Dental Associates for Teeth Whitening?
- Dedicated & Compassionate Team of Experts
- Extensive Training in Advanced Esthetics
- At-Home and In-Office Treatments Available
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
If you select in-office treatment, you’ll simply have to carve out about an hour into your schedule for the appointment. First, we’ll protect your gums and other soft tissues in your mouth from the bleaching gel. Then, we’ll apply the gel to your teeth and wait about 15 minutes. After that much time has passed, we’ll clean your teeth and repeat the process. Most patients’ smiles reach the shade they’re looking for after three or four applications of the bleaching gel.
Maybe you’d prefer to achieve more gradual results from the comfort of your own home, which is why we offer take-home treatments. First, Dr. Saran will take impressions of your teeth to design your custom trays. Then, wear the trays for a prescribed amount of time each day, along with a bleaching gel much more potent than anything you can find over the counter. You should see results almost right away, with the most significantly whiter smiles appearing after two weeks or so.
What Are the Benefits of Professional Teeth Whitening?
If you’re self-conscious about the color of your teeth, you may have tried store-bought whitening solutions from the drugstore. Most of the time, however, these products simply do not deliver the results you’re looking for. This is because the whitening agent in these solutions is not powerful at all.
That’s where professional teeth whitening from the dentist comes in. These solutions are significantly more powerful than anything you can buy elsewhere. In addition, the dentist can adjust for any sensitivity issues you may have, so you don’t have to experience any discomfort throughout your treatment.
Finally, professional teeth whitening can help you obtain the smile you’ve been dreaming of. It can help you be more confident in your grin, and even keep you looking younger and more vibrant.
How Can You Maintain Your Results?
Keep in mind that even after whitening treatment, your teeth can become stained just as easily as they did before. That means you’ll have to work hard to maintain your beautiful results. One way to do that is to avoid staining drinks like coffee, tea, and wine. You don’t have to cut these beverages out of your diet entirely, but try and sip them through a straw. That way, the drink zips right past your teeth so it has no chance to stain. It’s also a good idea to completely avoid tobacco.
Another way to maintain your white smile is to practice good oral hygiene. This means brushing twice a day (preferably with a whitening toothpaste), flossing, and regular checkups and cleanings. By keeping your dental health in check, your grin will not only be gorgeous, but healthy as well.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?
Professional teeth whitening is one of the least invasive and most comfortable treatments in dentistry. You may feel some bubbling or tingling while the treatment works its magic, but you shouldn’t feel any pain.
Our team will carefully check for signs of gum disease and decay before your treatment—both of which could cause irritation—before your treatment. Once we’re sure your smile is free of issues, you’ll be able to comfortably take on the whitening process, either with an in-office procedure, or a take-home kit.
You may feel some slight sensitivity after the procedure, but it’s typically mild and should fade within a few days. Until then, watch your diet and steer clear of hot, cold, overly sweet, or acidic snacks.
What’s the Difference Between Professional and Store-Bought Teeth Whitening?
While over-the-counter whitening products use the same chemicals as professional ones, the biggest difference is concentration and results.
Most whitening treatments you can buy at big box stores and pharmacies have around 1% to 3% hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. This is perfect for gentle results or for touch-ups, but not ideal for total whitening.
Professional take-home kits have concentrations in the 10% range while in-office treatments can carry as much as 40% depending on the system.
These treatments are highly regulated and can only be performed by a licensed dentist. If you want the most dazzling smile possible, our cosmetic dentists in Long Island City have the experience you need.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Treatment Take?
Professional treatments don’t just offer brilliant results when compared to store-bought products, they’re also much faster. In-office treatments can be done from start to finish in under an hour, while our take-home kits generally take around two weeks, depending on your desired shade.
Contrast this with over-the-counter whitening which can take weeks or even months to achieve the same results—risking overuse in the process.
If you need a faster, more effective whitening solution for a big event or just to enjoy your own smile again, give us a call. Our team is happy to walk you through all your options and help you decide what fits your needs best.
Does Teeth Whitening Work on Dental Crowns?
Unfortunately, no. Restorations, like crowns and bridges, are made with materials like ceramic and porcelain which are unaffected by whitening gels. While your teeth are porous, allowing whitening chemicals to penetrate them to break down stains, restorations are not.
If you want your restorations to match after brightening your smile, you’ll need to have them replaced. This is why our team often advises our patients to make whitening a part of their treatment plan before getting enhancements like crowns or veneers. If we know ahead of time, we can time your treatments and make your smile blend together seamlessly.