Teeth Whitening Commack

Who is a Good Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Unlike some other dental procedures that can have extensive requirements you have to meet, teeth whitening has just one—you need to have healthy teeth and gums. As long as you don’t have cavities or an oral infection, you should be able to move forward with teeth whitening.

However, if you have tried whitening in the past with little success, your discoloration may not respond to this specific treatment. In this case, you may wish to consider veneers, which can cover discolored teeth with realistic-looking porcelain.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

Regardless of the method of teeth whitening you choose, the active ingredient is usually either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. Even in store-bought solutions, these bleaching agents are used, just in a much smaller concentration. Professional whitening, both take-home and in-office treatment, has a higher amount of active ingredients, giving you more brightening power.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening

If you like the convenience of store-bought whitening to do on your own, we offer Opalescence, Kör, and Zoom Whitening you can do in the comfort of home. With these brands, you receive custom trays, which ensure an even coating, and wear them for a certain amount of time every day. Although you may start to see the solution work after just a couple of days, you need to complete the whole two weeks to see full results.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

Compared to other options, in-office whitening is by far the most powerful and fast-acting. With Kör and Zoom Whitening, treatment can be completed in about an hour. We apply the strong solution to the teeth and direct a special light on them to bleach stains away. This process may be repeated a couple of times to reach final whiteness. Although in-office whitening is not supposed to cause sensitivity, fluoride treatment is available afterward to minimize this potential side effect.

Tips for Maintaining Your Brighter Smile

After brightening your smile, you may wish it could last forever. However, staining foods and drinks can affect your teeth again over time. As a result, if you want to retain your white results, you should restrict discoloring drinks and foods in your diet. You can also consider using a straw when you do consume dark-colored beverages. You should also sip water while you eat to help rinse away remnants of pigment from your teeth.

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

Whether you want to brighten your smile at home or you want to lift stubborn stains with an in-office treatment, you likely have the same question on your mind: “How much does it cost?” Since there are several factors that impact the cost, we can’t give you an exact answer without learning about your unique aesthetic concerns, dental needs, and smile goals. We can, however, provide some helpful information on the topic, including how you can make the price more affordable.

Factors That Affect the Cost of Teeth Whitening

During your consultation with our dedicated cosmetic dentist, Dr. Silfa, he will ask you a few questions about your aesthetic concerns, pinpoint the cause of the stains, and assess the health of your teeth and gums. Then, he can determine:

• If any preliminary services need to be added to the front-end of your treatment plan
• If you have any existing dental work, like veneers
• How severe the stains are
• If multiple whitening treatments are needed

Once he has all of this information, and you’ve decided together if an in-office or take-home whitening treatment is best for you, he can provide you with a price estimate and discuss the financial solutions we welcome at our office.

How Much Do The Different Types of Teeth Whitening Cost?

If you aren’t happy with your smile because a yellow hue is starting to surface, you have a few options, including:

• In-Office Whitening – Although the price can vary, having your dentist handle the stain-lifting process usually costs between $400 and $800.
• Take-Home Whitening Kit – The professional-grade brightening gel and custom trays typically cost a few hundred dollars.
• Store-Bought Whitening Trays – These often cost less than $100, but the price could be higher or lower depending on the store.
• Strips, Gels, & Whitening Toothpastes – Products like these can cost as little as $7, making them the cheapest.

OTC Teeth Whitening vs. Professional Teeth Whitening: A Quick Breakdown

After learning that some whitening gels and toothpastes are as little as $7, you might be wondering why it’s worth investing in professional whitening treatments. Well, there are a few reasons! To start, we complete a comprehensive oral exam to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy and that any existing dental work you have is considered. We also use the best brightening agents and custom applicators to ensure you get the bright, seamless results you desire.

Options for Making Teeth Whitening Affordable

As you may already know, dental insurance providers don’t typically cover the cost of elective treatments, like teeth whitening. Fortunately, that’s not the only way to make the price more affordable. At our Commack dental office, we offer an in-house loyalty membership, which comes with a 10% discount on most services. We also welcome CareCredit, which is a trusted third-party financier that allows you to break up the cost of your treatment plan into smaller, more budget-friendly chunks.