Having whiter and even-toned teeth give you more reasons to smile. Whether it’s work or your personal life, a warm and easy smile helps you make a great first impression. Teeth whitening can help!

But have you been feeling less confident about smiling around friends or family? Or for that matter, even eating and talking in public? Long Island teeth whitening is an excellent solution.

Teeth Whitening in Suffolk County

Chances are that your teeth aren’t as white as you want them to be and it’s making you feel self-conscious. Did you know that your teeth are porous and not as impenetrable and solid as they look? This porous anatomy is what makes them gradually accumulate intrinsic and extrinsic stains over time. The staining also occurs due to our aging process and thinning of the enamel.

One of the best ways to reverse discoloration and gift yourself with a smile makeover is with a professional teeth whitening procedure. It’s a simple non-invasive procedure that lightens and evens out the shade of your teeth, quickly giving you a more attractive appearance.

If you’ve decided to get your teeth whitened or just want to learn more about whether this procedure will work on you, our Long Island dental office is more than happy to help.

Screening for Teeth Whitening in Suffolk County

Contrary to what you’ve heard, teeth whitening doesn’t don’t work for everyone. You should always plan a dental exam first, to make sure you qualify and can achieve the results you’re looking for (without unwanted side-effects.)

Sachem Dental Group is a a multi-specialty general dental practice in Long Island. Our providers are your lifelong oral health partner, offering the best possible treatment options that provide the results you want. When you visit our Suffolk County office, our team conducts an exhaustive evaluation of your teeth, dental history, and the extent of discoloration in your enamel. We also want to ensure that there are no active infections or cavities that could react to the whitening products.

Determining Your Candidacy for Teeth Whitening

After a brief screening, it’s easy to find out who is a good candidate for teeth whitening and who needs to consider alternate treatments.

Here are some things we look for before recommending whitening treatment:

If your teeth have external stains, you are more likely to benefit from professional whitening. Staining usually occurs due to lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking, consuming dark-colored foods, etc.
You have healthy, intact enamel
There are no active cavities
Your don’t have active gum disease
You don’t have any restorations like fillings, veneers, or crowns in the smile zone, as these materials won’t respond to bleaching agents

We Let You Choose Your Whitening Method

Once we establish your candidacy for whitening, the first step is to determine the best type of teeth whitening for your smile. We explain the procedure, costs, and other details so that you know exactly what to expect.

At Sachem Dental Group, we offer two types of teeth whitening treatment: same-day and take-home. Both of these use professional-grade whitening ingredients and offer impeccable results.

Same-Day (In-Office) Whitening

This procedure is simple, supervised, and extremely effective. It involves applying tooth whitening gel and directing a special heating lamp to activate the ingredients. Stains are immediately oxidized. We repeat the application 2-3 times for 15 minutes each. To ensure that the active bleaching agents do not affect your gums, lips, tongue, and other parts of the mouth, we will use a protective barrier during your appointment.

This process takes between an hour to an hour and a half, and you can expect to see an improvement of up to 7-8 shades the same day. Same-day whitening is the perfect option when you have an upcoming event or are short on time. Our Long Islands dentists can also provide you with custom-made whitening trays for you to touch-up treatment at home.

Take-Home Professional Kits

If you prefer whitening your teeth in the comfort of your own home, we have you covered. Just schedule an appointment at our Suffolk County office to have an impression made of your teeth. Then we’ll use your molds to make a custom-fitted whitening tray. All you have to do is to place a tiny bit of gel in the reservoir of each tooth in the tray. Wear it for an hour a day for 10-14 days to see full results.

Professional gel and trays work better than store-bought whitening kits, since they are customized for maximum coverage with concentrated products. You’ll see faster and brighter results than with anything you can buy online.

Who’s Not a Teeth Whitening Candidate?

Our Long Island dental teams don’t recommend teeth whitening if:

You have multiple tooth-colored restorations in your front teeth.
You have active periodontal disease.
There are areas of tooth decay that need to be treated.
There is significant gum recession or tooth sensitivity present.
You’re pregnant or breastfeeding. It’s best to hold off on whitening until you have or wean your baby. Just in case you accidentally ingest any whitening product.
Your teeth are extremely sensitive

Alternatives to Teeth Whitening

If teeth whitening is not advised because of situations like extensive dental work, sensitivity, or gum disease, our Long Island dentists will recommend effective alternative treatments.

For instance, if you have restorations like crowns or fillings, they won’t change color when you whiten your teeth. As such, we advise that if you plan to have them updated. Complete your whitening procedure first, then we will match your replacement restorations to your smile’s new color.

For extra sensitive teeth, our dentists may suggest using desensitizing toothpaste for a few weeks before and after your treatment to prevent hypersensitivity.

Other great smile makeover options include cosmetic crowns and dental veneers, particularly when there is severe stain that might not respond to whitening agents.

Which Whitening is Right for You?

Teeth whitening can work wonders in restoring your confidence. It’s time to enjoy a brighter smile. Call Sachem Dental today to find out how you can achieve healthy white teeth and the best smile possible.