Everything you need to know about Teeth Whitening

Teeth Whitening Tips.......

For more info: www.youramazingsmile.com

Here’s the problem: you want whiter teeth but you are faced with so many options that you don’t know which one to choose. Do you just go the drugstore and try some of the over the counter teeth whitening products? What about teeth whitening toothpastes—do they get teeth whiter? If you live in Westchester, White Plains, Yorktown, or Scarsdale NY many dentists offer what they say is the best professional tooth whitening, but still, how do you sort through all the dentists? Do you call a cosmetic dentist who offers laser teeth whitening, Zoom, Rembrandt, or Britesmile tooth whitening? Westchester cosmetic dentist, Dr. Bard J. Levey offers the following advice on the best teeth whitening options.

Dr. Levey explains the relatively simple way teeth whitening products work. “Essentially when a whitening gel is placed on a dry tooth surface at a high enough concentration for a long enough time, teeth will whiten.” Dr. Levey emphasizes the 3 critical components to getting the best cosmetic teeth whitening: 1) dry tooth surface, 2) gel in a high enough concentration to actually work, and 3) on the tooth surfaces for a proper amount of time.

Best cosmetic dental teeth whitening tips:

Using these simple three criteria, you can objectively sort through the many products/techniques available for your cosmetic teeth whitening.

• Over the counter tooth whitening products and toothpastes.

Products in this category (such as Rembrandt, Opalescence, BriteSmile, and baking soda products) do not pass any of the criteria needed to successfully whiten your teeth (not in a high enough concentration, they are not in contact with your teeth for a long enough time, nor are your teeth surfaces dry when these products are applied). These teeth whitening products are generally the least expensive options and result in very minimal cosmetic dental teeth whitening.

•Home tooth whitening kits/products.

This category of whitening product has 2 types—over the counter tooth whitening products or products dispensed by cosmetic dentists. These teeth whitening systems usually offer some type of tooth whitening tray (like a thin mouthguard) in which the tooth whitening gel is placed. The tray alone makes these products better than whitening toothpastes because they are placed on dry teeth surfaces (the tray keeps the saliva away). Overall effectiveness then comes down to the concentration of the tooth bleaching gel and the length of time it is in contact with your teeth. When teeth whitening dentists make a teeth whitening tray, these trays are custom fitted and allow the gel to stay dry on your teeth for a longer period of time—acheiving a better result. Over the counter “boil and bite “ types of teeth bleaching trays are better than nothing, but allow much more saliva to dilute the gel much faster which causes diminished results. The cost of professional teeth whining kits is significantly more than the cost of a drug store variety bleaching kit. For many people the improved results of the kits dispensed by cosmetic dentists is well worth the extra cost. It usually takes about 3 weeks to achieve the full tooth whitening effect.

•In office teeth whitening

These teeth whitening products --only available at teeth whitening dental offices-- control all 3 variables of tooth bleaching, and usually offer the best cosmetic dental results. These procedures, such as Zoom, Britesmile, and Rembrandt in office whitening take a little over an hour at the cosmetic dental office to complete. And because the cosmetic dentist is able to keep your teeth completely dry, they are able to place a proper concentration bleaching gel on your teeth for a sufficient amount of time to accomplish very noticeable tooth whitening. The cost for in office teeth whitening in WestchesterY is often similar to the price for the take home product.

It is important to note that any and all forms of tooth whitening will relapse over time unless you are using some form of maintenance product. Dr. Bard J. Levey, Westchester NY cosmetic dentist, advises “15 minute, once a month” usage of a custom fitted whitening tray filled with a professionally dispensed teeth bleaching product to help you remove any stains that have accumulated during the month to help maintain your beautiful smile.

To find one of the best cosmetic dentists in Westchester NY with over 1000 hours of post graduate cosmetic dentistry training, call Dr. Levey at 914-271-6225, email info@YourAmazingSmile.com, or visit www.YourAmazingSmile.com. You can also find Dr. Levey on facebook: http://facebook.com/dr.levey.

How come you are not on the list of dentists from that my insurance company gave me?

For more info click here: www.YourAmazingSmile.com

How can you get the best dentist from choosing blindly from an insurance list? What questions to ask?

How can choosing a dentist from the “preferred provider” list that your employer gives you actually end up costing you much more money, pain, and time in the dental chair? First, understand what “preferred provider” really means. A preferred provider is any dentist who agrees to contract with an insurance company allowing the insurance company to set fees an average of 40-50% less than normal fees. Contrary to the fancy title, a preferred dental provider does not provide the best dentistry in Westchester. Actually a preferred provider normally has the bare minimum training and education. They are either very new dentists or a dentist whose business is based on the Walmart (costs less, high volume/ low quality), low customer service business model.

By contrast, a quality cosmetic Scarsdale dentist who uses a fee for service business model will likely have modern technology, an attentive dental team, and low patient volume. This high quality business model practice will be in a much better position to treat you as an important individual with unique goals and needs.

As a patient, you think what can possibly be wrong with fees that are 40-50% less? Do not assume that all dentists are the same and that you will be offered the same level of service and result regardless of the dentist you visit. All dentists are not alike. A dentist who knows they will receive only half of a normal fee for a service may not tell you that you have a small cavity or early gum disease simply because it will cost the office more to treat the early, simple, painless problem. Fast forward 2-3 years when what would have been a small easy cavity to fill has become a painful emergency and may require root canal treatment, crown, or dental implant. Now you are aware of the problem and seek treatment; the problem is now a much more invasive and costly procedure. Small cavities get bigger. Early gum disease turns into advanced periodontal disease. Now do you see how this is starting to cost you more in time, money, and pain?

You do have options. Ask these top 5 questions and choose the best Westchester Dentist. Call dental offices and ask the following:

1) Are you an award winning dentist? Choose a dentist that is an award winning dentist in their area. Who is better to judge a dentist than other dentists? Find a dentist who has received the recognition from their peers. Especially when searching for the best Westchester NY veneers .

2) Are you a fee for service dentist? Believe it or not, as discussed above, this type of dentist will save you money, time, and pain in the long run. A fee for service dentist will likely have great technology, better training, see fewer patients each day, and be able from a business perspective to actually help you prevent a larger more invasive problem in the future by catching small problems early when treatment is always simpler and cheaper . And when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, better training means being able to offer more types of veneers with more predictable results.

3) Does the office use the most current dental technology? Modern dental technology allows the top cosmetic dentist to not only find problems sooner but they can also offer more options, minimally invasive treatments like lasers, Cerec, and previews of cosmetic results.

4) Is your fee to fix the smallest cavity set by the dentist or the insurance company? Sure this is an odd question. Remember that no business can consistently perform services below cost. Lowering fees mean cost cutting in all businesses. What costs are your “cheaper” dentists cutting? Predictable cosmetic results come from offices that do not cut corners.

5) Do you routinely screen all of your patients for periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancer? And, do you offer the laser treatment as a treatment option for periodontal disease? The best cosmetic results occur on healthy patients.

The front of all Walmart stores are adorned with the “always less” slogan. While their prices for products (like mops and Windex) are always less, you would likely not think of Walmart for any type of skilled personal service like dramatic life changing Scarsdale cosmetic dentistry, veneers, dental implants, or cosmetic dentistry in Westchester County NY. To find one of the best cosmetic dentist in Westchester, call Dr. Bard Levey. Dr. Levey has over 1000 hours of post graduate cosmetic dentistry training and his practice focuses on the dental dreams and goals of adults. To learn more, email us: info@YourAmazingsmile.com, call 914-271-6225, or visit www.youramazingsmile.com. You can also visit on facebook; www.facebook.com/dr.levey.

Choices in Cosmetic Dentistry

Lumineer Veneers vs. Invisalign Braces vs. Whitening In Westchester NY

For more info click here: www.YourAmazingSmile.com

Who wouldn’t want “straighter, whiter teeth” done painlessly?

More and more people are calling their dentist asking about “no prep” porcelain veneers to enhance their smile. Although the concept is very exciting, expert dentist, Dr. Bard.Levey advises that you ask some important questions when looking to find a dentist for lumineer veneers or invisalign.

Q: What is so intriguing about “no prep” lumineer veneers?

A: Honestly, most people don’t even know what “no prep” means. Big dental companies are marketing the “no prep” concept as a means to painless cosmetic dentistry. Everyone wants their dentistry done painlessly. Fear of pain causes many people to avoid even necessary dentistry, and certainly elective cosmetic dentistry. The “no prep” concept promises to avoid pain by not needing to grind down teeth when planning to esthetically enhance your smile when bonding porcelain veneers over the front of your teeth. The “no prep” concept for lumineer porcelain veneers offers a longer lasting esthetic option to teeth whitening and a quicker alternative to invisalign braces. But better?

Q: What are some of the potential problems with lumineer veneers on teeth?

A: When used in the proper situation for the right patient, lumineer porcelain veneers can work very well. Lumineers simply are not a “one size fits all” solution to everyone’s cosmetic dentistry problems. If you do not already have either small teeth, spaces between teeth, or significant chipping of your teeth you should not expect amazing results with painless lumineer porcelain veneers done by any dentist. The thinness of the lumineer porcelain veneer is both its advantage and disadvantage. Because a lumineer is so thin, it can be placed on the front of the tooth without requiring your tooth to be ground down at all. But also because of this thinness, a lumineer porcelain veneer is more susceptible to chipping, breaking, and popping off. The thinness of the lumineer also makes it slightly less esthetic than more substantial regular porcelain veneer. Lumineers can also feel “bulky” if your teeth are already in normal alignment.

Q: What cosmetic dental services can be done to painlessly and esthetically transform your smile?

A: Invisalign clear braces are an option for people whose teeth have minor crowding or gaps between their teeth, but who like the existing shape of their teeth. Teeth whitening is good when the main concern is the brightness of your teeth. One should not expect teeth whitening alone to get your teeth “super” white. Whitening will relapse over time, so teeth whitening does require upkeep to maintain the results. For the most dramatic, quickest cosmetic dentistry changes, choose “full prep” porcelain veneers. Done painlessly in Westchester by dentist Dr. Bard Levey, porcelain veneers offer the most exquisite, predictable, long lasting cosmetic dentistry results. Porcelain veneer, or “full prep” veneers are inherently thicker than lumineers, but they will not feel thick or bulky in your mouth because your teeth size is painlessly reduced prior to bonding the porcelain veneer. The thicker porcelain is then stronger, more highly esthetic (light can pass in and out of it just like your natural tooth), and can correct a much larger variety of cosmetic dental problems.

Q: What should someone look for when considering a dental smile makeover?

A: Whenever you are looking into any elective cosmetic dental procedure, be sure that you will end up with an improvement and not simply substituting one dental problem for another (ex. chipped teeth for bulky). Make sure that your dental cosmetic smile makeover will be painless, predictable, and highly esthetic. Do not shop by price. A dentist who charges much less than others for cosmetic dentistry often does not have significant cosmetic training or uses inferior materials, either will end up costing much more in time and aggravation in the long run. Ultimately, you want a smile that will look good, feel good, and last a long time.

Q: Where can I find a Westchester dentist offering veneers, lumineers, whitening, and invisalign braces?

A: The old saying goes “if you only have a hammer everything looks like a nail.” Find a dentist in Scarsdale or Westchester County NY who has significant post graduate training in cosmetic dentistry, whose practice focus’ on adults dental needs and wants. You do not want a dentist jack of all trades, master of none either. Find a dentist who can offer you choices, explain the pros/cons of various options and to help you cut right through the marketing to help you find the best cosmetic option for your particular needs.

To find a dentist with extensive training in painless cosmetic dentistry with predictable results, contact Dr. Bard J. Levey 914-271-6225, at www.YourAmazingSmile.com, or email questions to info@youramazingsmile.com

How to Choose a Dentist?

Top 5 Questions Cosmetic Dentists Get: Best Dentistry Veneers Westchester White Plains Scarsdale NY

For more info click here: www.YourAmazingSmile.com

How can you get the best dentist from choosing blindly from an insurance list?

How can choosing a dentist from the “preferred provider” list that your employer gives you actually end up costing you much more money, pain, and time in the dental chair? First, understand what “preferred provider” really means. A preferred provider is any dentist who agrees to contract with an insurance company allowing the insurance company to set fees an average of 40-50% less than normal fees. Contrary to the fancy title, a preferred dental provider does not provide the top Scarsdale Westchester dentistry. Actually a preferred provider normally has the bare minimum training and education. They are either very new dentists or a dentist whose business is based on the Walmart (costs less, high volume/ low quality), low customer service business model.

By contrast, a quality cosmetic dentist who uses a fee for service business model will likely have modern technology, an attentive dental team, and low patient volume. This high quality business model practice will be in a much better position to treat you as an important individual with unique goals and needs.

As a patient, you think what can possibly be wrong with fees that are 40-50% less? Do not assume that all dentists are the same and that you will be offered the same level of service and result regardless of the dentist you visit. All dentists are not alike. A dentist who knows they will receive only half of a normal fee for a service may not tell you that you have a small cavity or early gum disease simply because it will cost the office more to treat the early, simple, painless problem. Fast forward 2-3 years when what would have been a small easy cavity to fill has become a painful emergency and may require root canal treatment, crown, or dental implant. Now you are aware of the problem and seek treatment; the problem is now a much more invasive and costly procedure. Small cavities get bigger. Early gum disease turns into advanced periodontal disease. Now do you see how this is starting to cost you more in time, money, and pain?

You do have options. Ask these top 5 questions and choose the best Westchester Dentist. Call dental offices and ask the following:

1) Are you an award winning dentist? Choose a dentist that is an award winning dentist in their area. Who is better to judge a dentist than other dentists? Find a dentist who has received the recognition from their peers. Especially when searching for the best Westchester NY veneers .

2) Are you a fee for service dentist? Believe it or not, as discussed above, this type of dentist will save you money, time, and pain in the long run. A fee for service dentist will likely have great technology, better training, see fewer patients each day, and be able from a business perspective to actually help you prevent a larger more invasive problem in the future by catching small problems early when treatment is always simpler and cheaper . And when it comes to cosmetic dentistry, better training means being able to offer more types of veneers with more predictable results.

3) Does the office use the most current dental technology? Modern dental technology allows the top cosmetic dentist to not only find problems sooner but they can also offer more options, minimally invasive treatments like lasers, Cerec, and previews of cosmetic results.

4) Is your fee to fix the smallest cavity set by the dentist or the insurance company? Sure this is an odd question. Remember that no business can consistently perform services below cost. Lowering fees mean cost cutting in all businesses. What costs are your “cheaper” dentists cutting? Predictable cosmetic results come from offices that do not cut corners.

5) Do you routinely screen all of your patients for periodontal (gum) disease, oral cancer? And, do you offer the laser treatment as a treatment option for periodontal disease? The best cosmetic results occur on healthy patients.

The front of all Walmart stores are adorned with the “always less” slogan. While their prices for products (like mops and Windex) are always less, you would likely not think of Walmart for any type of skilled personal service like dramatic life changing cosmetic dentistry, veneers, or dental implants in Westchester County NY. To find one of the best cosmetic dentist in Westchester, call Dr. Bard Levey. Dr. Levey has over 1000 hours of post graduate cosmetic dentistry training and his practice focuses on the dental dreams and goals of adults. To learn more, email us: info@YourAmazingsmile.com, call 914-271-6225, or visit www.youramazingsmile.com.

Canker Sore Survival Guide

Canker Sore Survival Guide
By Bard J. Levey, D.D.S., PLLC

Tips for prevention and treatment:


Canker sores are little ulcers inside your mouth that are very painful. When asked what causes these sores, I still have to admit that we really don't know for sure, but they do run in families. What is known are the common triggers for these sores. One trigger is stress and the other is trauma. Hormonal changes can also make one more susceptible.

To prevent these sores, try to minimize stress (yeah, right). Things like getting enough sleep, eating well (varied diet with plenty of nutrients), and taking time to relax can make a difference. Also, be kind to your mouth; be careful when brushing, chewing, and have any rough or sharp edges on your teeth polished smooth. Also excessive dryness can make it more likely for the inside of your mouth to get irritated. Some people find that using a toothpaste without sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) reduces the frequency that they get canker sores.
And if you ever have ANY sore in your mouth (or anyplace on your body) that lasts more than 10-14 days, be sure to visit your dentist or physician for a check up.

What can be done? Avoid spicy or otherwise irritating foods. Some over the counter products also seem to be helpful. Zilactin (available in most drug stores) is a liquid that when applied forms a somewhat protective, temporary barrier over the sore. CankerMelts (availabe in Rite Aid) are a natural alternative using licorice root extract which has been shown to relieve some of the pain and speed healing. The best recent news in canker sore treatment is the use of the dental laser to stop the pain. The laser in canker sore treatment offers significant and often immediate reduction in pain and other symptoms. The dental laser actually dries out and seals the raw nerve endings exposed in the sore, creating a “laser bandage.” Once this quick treatment is completed, pain reduction is usually so significant that you are able to resume normal function.

Without any form of treatment, these sores are self healing and self limiting and usually do go away on their own within 10-14 days. As I mentioned above, should you ever have a question about any unusual sore or lump in your mouth, we'd be more than happy to check the area for you. Laser treatment is here, and for those suffering from chronic or painful canker sores, it could not arrive soon enough!

Call us with your thoughts, questions, or for quick relief from canker sores!

Have a great day.

Dr. Bard Levey

Brush up your sex life......

My wife showed me this (really). An article in in the September 2009 Prevention magazine states that Israeli researchers have found that men, who are lax with their flossing regimen, are more likely to have trouble becoming sexually aroused. The researchers found that more than 15% of men with moderate to severe sexual dysfunction also had chronic periodontal disease. This finding contrasts with only 2% of men without sexual dysfunction.

It appears that the oral bacteria travel through the bloodstream, attaching to plaque, and narrowing vessels in the ENTIRE body along the way, hence the cause of men's sexual dysfunction. This same decreased blood flow has already been shown linked to heart disease.

So. Brush (2x/day). Floss (1x/day). The rest is up to you (so to speak).

Have a great day!

One dentist's opinion about the world of Medicine....

As a father of 3 little boys (4, 6, and 8 years old), I have become somewhat of a "regular" in the local emergency rooms. From cuts on foreheads, to injured elbows I have spent many hours waiting in the emergency department for different things. Not only have I had the pleasure of these hospital trips, but invariably each injury then requires follow up visits with different medical specialists (plastic surgeons, orthopedic guys, you name it). One thing that I have consistently noticed for each of my trips to the doctor is simply how poorly people get treated in the medical world today. Okay, I'll cut the emegency department some slack. Our injuries were, on the grand scale, small time, so the interminable waits were one thing. But couldn't someone at least have smiled at us or asked us how we were doing the entire time (especially when my little guys forehead was bleeding all over the place)? What I have found much worse is the treatment received at the specialist's offices--and not from the doctors. Rather the process of making appointments with office staff and then the way we were treated as new patients in each office was truly alarming. Each office I have visited had huge office staffs --seemingly hopelessly overworked. Many of the staff members made me feel like I (the customer) was interupting a very important part of their day, and were only willing to throw whatever paperwork was needed out at me as fast as possible so they could try to catch up with something else that was obviously more important than me or my kids. (I was tempted several times to stop them and remind them, that without patients, they would have no job, but I could never find a way to say that in a nice way.....). When I tried to ask one particularly harried lady why I needed to fill in the address, phone number, and insurance contact information on the new patient form, when she had JUST photocopied my insurance card that had all of that information on it she kind of glared at me with eyes that would give a kid a nightmare and did not say a word. I concluded that the medical world has largely sold their souls to the insurance companies. [Of note, on a trip to Kentucky by train that I took with my family a few years ago, we all marveled at how the biggest buildings in each city we passed through had the names of prominent insurance companies on them.] So the insurance companies seem to be doing just fine. But by forcing medical doctors to practice volume style medicine, PEOPLE get lost in the shuffle. There is simply no way a doctor or his front desk can possibly get to know each of the 60 people they see in a day, when the next day, another 60 will be walking in the door. Luckily, in dentistry, we still have a choice. We can still choose to do high quality and low volume work. I am very proud of the choice that I made 17 years ago when I took over my dad's practice. My father had always practiced one person at a time dentistry; and I chose to do the same. While we are not perfect, my small team of 2 and I all hope that your experience with us in our office is certainly far different from what you are likely experiencing in the rest of the medical world. Have a great day!