West Caldwell, NJ
Professional whitening lifts stains that strips cannot, while protecting your gums. Zoom in-office whitening takes about an hour, and take-home trays take two weeks. Dr. David Magid, DMD, starts with a short exam.
Teeth Whitening
A peroxide gel passes into the enamel and breaks up stains from coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, and age. In the office, your gums are covered, the gel is applied in several coats and activated with a light, and the visit takes about an hour. At home, custom trays hold a milder gel against your teeth for about an hour a day over about two weeks.
Whitening starts with an exam, because gel on a cracked tooth, exposed root, or decay can cause pain. A cleaning with air polishing removes surface stain first, and we record your starting shade. Whitening comes before any veneer, crown, or front filling, since those do not whiten.
Adults with healthy teeth and gums whose stains come from food, drink, tobacco, or age, which is the case for most people interested in this service. Yellow and brown surface stains respond well, while gray stains from childhood antibiotics or an injured tooth respond less and may need bonding or a veneer. Untreated decay and gum disease are treated first, both for comfort and because results last longer in a healthy mouth.
Crowns, veneers, and fillings do not change shade, so Dr. Magid plans around them. Sensitive teeth are a reason to tell us, not to skip whitening. The exam ends with a plain answer on in-office, take-home, or both.
A Different Dental Experience
The team that knows your teeth whitens them, after an exam, with the shade planned around other work.
DMD, General Dentist
A University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine graduate with more than 25 years in practice. He examines your teeth before whitening and plans the shade around any veneer, bonding, or crown you may want.
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Dental Hygienist
With more than 25 years in dentistry, she’s trained in Zoom whitening and her cleanings include air polishing, which lifts surface stain before you whiten.
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Office Manager
She books your whitening around your calendar and explains the fee and financing options. Trained in dental assisting at Felician University.
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Benefits
Professional gel is stronger than anything sold in a store, which is why it works in an hour. It is used after an exam, with your gums shielded and the timing customized to your teeth.
A strip is one size and cannot follow a curved gum line or reach between teeth, so results can be patchy and gums sore. Custom trays hold the gel where it belongs and nowhere else.
The starting shade is recorded, the gel is applied evenly to every tooth that shows, and any crown, veneer, or filling is planned around rather than discovered afterward, so the smile is lighter all over.
Some sensitivity after whitening is normal and fades within a day or two. Exposed roots and cracks are checked first, a desensitizing gel is used where needed, and in the case of take-home trays, you set the pace.
Whitened teeth drift back slowly as new stain settles. A custom tray and a syringe of gel bring them back in a few evenings, and a cleaning with air polishing keeps surface stains off between touch-ups.
Zoom in the office suits a wedding, interview, or reunion on the calendar. Take-home trays suit people who want to whiten at their own pace and keep the trays for years. Many patients do both.
Our Process
Step 1
Dr. Magid checks your teeth and gums for anything that would make whitening uncomfortable or uneven, asks what result you want and when, and records your starting shade. A due cleaning comes first so the gel works on the tooth.
Step 2
Your lips and gums are covered with a protective barrier, the gel is applied and activated with a light, and it is refreshed in several rounds. You are in and out in about an hour, with results visible on the same day. A desensitizing gel finishes the visit if needed.
Step 3
We make thin trays to fit your teeth and send you home with gel and instructions, about an hour a day for about two weeks, less often if your teeth feel sensitive. The trays are yours to keep for touch-ups, or to refresh an in-office result later.
Step 4
For the first day or two, skip coffee, tea, red wine, and other dark foods, because the enamel is briefly more porous. After that, brush twice a day, rinse after dark drinks, avoid tobacco, and touch up with your trays when the shade drifts.
FAQ
What whitening costs in NJ, how long Zoom lasts, whether it is safe, whether strips work, and what it does to crowns.
Professional whitening is usually one flat fee, and in-office Zoom costs more than a take-home kit. We do not publish prices, and the fee is on your estimate after a short exam. Whitening is cosmetic, so insurance rarely helps, but CareCredit and Cherry can spread the cost.
From several months to a few years, depending on coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, and touch-ups. Teeth drift back slowly as new stain settles, and a take-home tray with gel brings the shade back in a few evenings. A touch-up once or twice a year is typical.
Yes, when a dentist has checked your teeth first and the gel is kept off your gums. Sensitivity can happen, so roots, cracks, and decay are checked first, and a desensitizing gel is used where needed. Charcoal powders and abrasive pastes scrub enamel rather than whiten it.
On mild surface stains, a little, and slowly. A one-size strip cannot reach between teeth or follow a curved gum line, so results can be patchy and fade fast. Professional whitening uses a stronger gel applied evenly with your gums protected, and we set expectations at your exam.
Not during, for most people, and any sensitivity afterward usually fades within a day or two. In the office, your gums are shielded, and the gel strength and timing are set for your teeth. With take-home trays, you control the pace and can skip a night when teeth feel sensitive.
No, whitening gel changes only natural enamel, and porcelain and composite stay the shade they were made. That is why whitening comes first, and any new crown, veneer, or front filling is matched to the brighter shade. Dr. Magid tells you at the exam which teeth this affects.
Conveniently Located Near You
Located in a serene colonial medical building on Clinton Road, our office is designed for effortless visits. Enjoy a first-floor suite, free on-site parking, and a wheelchair-accessible entrance, so you can step straight into dental care that is focused on you.
First-Floor Suite
Free On-Site Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
