9 Gorgeous, Totally Zen Spa Locations to Host a Bridal Shower

Best of New York 2013

Best Teeth Whitening

Lavaan Dental Spa

474 Sixth Ave., nr. 11th St.; 212-837-1833

Root canals, crown fittings, and anything involving drills are intentionally left off the menu at Drs. Jeffrey Rappaport and Michelle Katz’s sleek new dental practice. Rather, the ­focus is entirely on 30-minute express ­cleanings ($89) and Zoom teeth-­whitening sessions ($195 to $450). Unlike other antiseptically bland dentists’ offices, with their fluorescent lights and chirpy oldies music, the treatment rooms at Lavaan are spalike private suites, kitted out with serene lighting, flat-screen TVs, and noise-canceling headphones. Whitening sessions, in particular, are so relaxing, it’s not unheard of for patients to fall asleep. Walk-ins are welcome, and there is a small apothecary section selling Sonicare toothbrushes, wine wipes, and other must-haves for the orally obsessed.

Two-Minute Tricks that Seriously Boost Your Health

Floss. Take two minutes to floss and you will help a lot more than your teeth. “There are many studies that link gum disease to heart disease,” said Dr. Michelle Katz and Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport, creators of the chic Lavaan Dental Spa in Manhattan. Of course, it helps with the basics of fresh breath, too.

Lighten Up

LIGHT TREATMENT

Philips Zoom WhiteSpeed
How it works: After applying a protective resin to your gums, a dentist paints peroxide gel onto your teeth. Expect to sit for 45 minutes while a light device activates the chemical reaction of the whitening gel.
Good for: Sensitive types.
"Much of the pain people feel from whitening is caused by peroxide on their gums," says Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport, co-owner of Lavaan Dental Spa in New York City. "Here we can protect them, and if you have sensitive teeth, we can adjust the duration and intensity of the light."
Results: Teeth can turn up to eight shades whiter; the treatment lasts from six months to a year.
Cost: $395

Beauty Treatment for Teeth

Imagine a visit to the dentist office where there are no drills, no needles, and no pain. And when you leave, you feel relaxed, refreshed, and have a killer smile.

Lavaan Dental Spa offers only cleaning and whitening services in—as the name implies—a spa setting. Recline in one of the white and deep blue chairs, turn on the TV or put on noise-canceling headphones, and get ready for a worry-free appointment.

Taking a cue from blowdry-only salons and cycling-only gyms, Lavaan specializes in quick, exclusive treatment without any hassle. Just like getting a blowout for the weekend, head over to Lavaan to have your teeth cleaned or whiten. Consider Lavaan to be the dry bar of teeth.

“We want to be the first stop” in dental care, says Dr. Michelle Katz, who along with her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport, opened Lavaan last May. Teeth-cleaning is key to dental health (Dr. Katz recommends having it done four times a year), and having white teeth will shave years off your appearance.

“We put a lot of love into Lavaan,” which means “white” in Hebrew, says Dr. Katz. “We want to be like a concierge service, to educate patients, and offer preventive care.”

Be healthier, feel refreshed, and look younger? We say, open wide.

All services  are 10% off with mention of Crushworthy Moms (first time clients only, please). Services range from $89 to $450 prior to discount.

Q&A: Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport On Teeth Whitening

So Fresh and So Clean Clean

Nowadays everyone loves a quickie. Quickie makeup. Quickie blowout. Quickie manicure.

Because let’s get real. Busy is the new black.

So finding time to schedule in (and show up for)what was once considered a luxury becomes a bothersome chore, especially over the holidays when primping turns into the double-edged sword of nuisance and necessity.

But this is party and picture season after all…

A girl’s gotta #represent.

Well, giving you new reason to smile (like your biggest bestest smile ever – obvi flashed at your most flattering angle) is LAVAAN - a new NYC Dental Spa offering express cleanings, whitenings and combo packages. And while you may not deem dental services on par with mini-facials, when you see the space and then your bright white smile after, you may think again.

LAVAAN, run by a cosmetic dentist and an orthodontist who happen to be married, offers The Clean (30 min cleaning) for $89, The White (60 minute whitening) for $395, The Ultimate (90 minute cleaning and whitening) for $450 and The Express (30 minute whitening) for $295. Invisalign is also offered.

I was treated to a 90 minute cleaning and whitening and found the environment and the service to be worlds apart from your typical dentist office visit. Think of the difference between a med-spa and a dermatologist’s office. (Being that I shop for sport, I quite enjoyed the fancy assortment of high-end, expertly-curated oral care products from Marvis to Tom’s to Couto. I also enjoyed, unlike a doctor’s office, an appointment that started precisely on time.) It’s also far superior to using strips or gel trays in the comfort of your home as they contain less-effective, lower-concentration whitening agents. Plus, LAVAAN uses a barrier cream that turns into a custom-fit waxy covering over your gums to minimize sensitivity.

The cleaning alone was incredibly thorough and is a no-excuse and good-for-you add-on to a whitening. While you can purchase them separately, they are recommended in tandem to give you the perfect bright white smile. Which is what I happily left with.

I took 3 Advil before heading out and experienced only a few “zings” that night (and if you’ve ever had professional teeth whitening, they need no explanation). I had no gum sensitivity at all. Just been flashing my pearly whites ever since… even busted out a high-shine red lip a few times to amp up the results. (Go bright or go home!)

In keeping with the holiday theme, LAVAAN offers gift certificates. Awesome PRE many things like say… a wedding, a new job, a first date, a big presentation at work, a family portrait… and POST many things like say… a divorce, a graduation, a resolution to quit smoking. It makes for a great gift. Even if you’re jus treating yourself.

New York Magazine Weddings - Beauty Listings

This state-of-the-art dental spa serves smoothie shots as you wait for your cleaning and whitening treatments.  Services start at $89.

Dentally Sound: Lavaan Dental Spa

2012 is officially the year of the one-trick beauty pony.

Single-service salons like Drybar and mani-pedi only destinations like Tenoverten are all the rage and now, things are getting dental, in the paraphrased words of Wayne from Wayne's World. Dentists Dr. Michelle Katz and Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport (also a married couple) created Lavaan, a dental spa near NYC's Union Square which offers teeth whitening and cleanings, solely. There are no unsexy root canals, and there's no one in the waiting room complaining about their bridge work. I indulged in the 60 Minute Whitening treatment, which didn't irritate my sensitive teeth. Best of all? You can slip on headphones and watch TV while you whiten. I took my smile up by several shades while I took in an episode of Friends. Walk-ins are accepted, as well.

Lavaan (which always reminds me of The State's famous Barry and LeVon, naturally) is located at 474 6th Avenue, NYC. Call 212-837-1833 for an appointment. And don't forget to try to eat/drink light foods and bevs post-treatment. Like, say, $240 worth of vanilla pudding. Awww, yeah.

New Dental Spa Aims to Create A Relaxing Dental Experience

A 'Dental Spa' Opens in the West Village

JUST as many people want to spruce up for their summer holidays, three specialty spas have opened in New York.

CHEW ON THIS
Two graduates of the New York University College of Dentistry observed that people don’t like dentists’ offices and decided to open a drill-free “dental spa.” Specializing in cleaning ($89) and whitening ($295 to $395), Lavaan, a minimalist light-filled space in Greenwich Village with a flat-screen television in front of each chair, also sells dental products like wine wipes (who knew?) and toothpaste for sensitive teeth.

ESSIE GOES EAST
The nail polish brand Essie has opened its first salon on the Upper East Side. Tucked into Samuel Shriqui, a hair salon on East 65th Street, the luxurious space features 250 Essie shades on a recessed backlighted wall, and love seats upholstered with some of Essie’s trendier colors. There’s a garden out back for drying nails alfresco. Manicures start at $32.

ZAP AND ROLL
Gotham Skincare, a medical spa that opened earlier this year on West 57th Street, offers treatments like LED light therapy ($45), eye revitalizers ($25) and chemical peels ($200). Other procedures include wrinkle treatments like Dysport ($400 to $500) and dermal fillers like Juvéderm ($800). For those in a hurry, there’s a 30-minute "epidermal repair" facial ($75).

HILARY HOWARD

Beauty on the Go

Don't have a lot of time to spend on beauty treatments? Lauren Scala visits three places where you can get a quick beauty fix - in about the same amount of time as you would take for lunch.

GREAT WHITE WAY

We love our pearly whites, but we hate to spend extra time at the dentist’s office keeping them clean. Thankfully, we found three new ways to whiten without getting in the hot seat.

At the Spa Here to get our teeth in tip-top shape without the drills or needles is Lavaan Dental Spa. This sleek West Village cleaning-and-whitening-only salon offers affordable treatments ($89 for a cleaning, $295 for whitening), noise-canceling headphones and iPads for your entertainment--so you can say “aah” and mean it. 474 Sixth Ave. (between 11th and 12th sts.); 212-837-1833 or lavaansmile.com

Naturally Just named the official line of oral care for NYC’s Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentisse’s fluoride-free whitening products combine two types of clay to remove surface stains. We like the peppermint-oil-infused Natural Reflection Toothpaste ($17) and the alcohol-free Natural Solution Oral Rinse ($15).

With Science Got ten minutes? Get a professional-caliber smile at home with the Glo Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Kit ($275), which uses the same expensive laser-whitening technology used by dentists. An electrically charged mouthpiece combines heat and light to distribute a viscous formula guaranteed to make your teeth up to seven shades brighter. You may look like you’re sporting a mouth guard, but the results are worth it.

Something To Smile About: Lavaan Dental Spa Comes To NYC!

No one enjoys going to the dentist, but what if we could promise a drill-free, needle-free experience? And perhaps a smoothie shot while you’re waiting? That’s exactly the type of service you’ll get at Lavaan Dental Spa, which opened in the West Village on Tuesday.

The sleek downtown spot was founded by husband and wife dentist duo Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport and Dr. Michelle Katz, a couple who decided to apply the concept of a niche business (à la Dry Bar) to teeth cleaning. And so, Lavaan (aptly named after the Hebrew word for white) was born.

Services are limited to whitening and cleaning only, allowing customers to get pain-free pearly whites at a reasonable cost: cleanings are $89 and whitening treatments are between $295 and $395 (much less than the prices at a typical dentist’s office).

You can book an appointment online, or just walk in. After checking in using a handy iPad, you’ll get a quick exam (and a dentist referral should you need extra work). Next, simply lie back, slip on some headphones, and watch your favorite show on a flat screen TV.  You can even grab some wine wipes on the way out to make your smile sparkle past date night.

How to Get Bright White Teeth Without a Trip to the Traditional Dentist?

I have a gripe about going to the dentist (shocking, right?), but what I hate the most is when the tooth enamel experts try to upsell me on every service.  C’mon I have healthy teeth in my genes – there is no way I need to fill all those “pre-cavities” – especially when they don’t exist!

Well the whitening wizards at Lavaan must have heard my rants because they are now introducing LAVAAN, New York City’s first dental spa.  Literally, all they do is specialize in premium dental cleaning and whitening (BOOOOM - picture Dry Bar for your pearly whites).
Everyone new to the city is always searching for a reliable dentist and it’s easy to put your trust in these two NYU Dental School trained professionals.

What’s their story?
While working at various dental offices in recent years, Dr. Michelle Katz and her husband, Dr. Jeffrey Rappaport found that many people enjoy having their teeth cleaned, but the overall perception of a visit to the dentist’s office is quite negative.  They decided that the only way to change the way people view dental hygiene is to change the way people experience it.  Following the success of niche businesses, the couple decided to create a dental business that specializes in whitening and cleaning only.  No drills, no needles, no stress – just clean, white smiles in a relaxing, spa-like environment.

Sounds enticing, but what will this set me back?
An intense cleaning to reveal a brilliant smile before a big event costs about $89 (much less than a regular dentist office), and whitening treatments between $295-$395 (again significantly less than a dentist’s office using the same equipment/whitening systems).

Lavaan Dental Spa Opens

We support your avoidance of deep-fried Oreos, the sun, and snakes in the name of health.

But the dentist? Even we think that’s irresponsible.

Swap that closed-mouth grin for a flashy one at Lavaan. The West Village cleaning- and whitening-only dental spa from married doctors Michelle Katz and Jeffrey Rappaport opens today.

Inspired by niche blowout and mani/pedi salons, the crisp white and blue spot makes it easy to prevent cavities, attend to your teeth between checkups, and professionally whiten without blowing a month’s rent.

Book appointments online or simply walk in. After checking in via iPad, knock back a smoothie shot while you wait for a doctor evaluation (to make sure you don’t need immediate attention).

Once cleared, slip on noise-cancelling headphones, find a TV station, and open wide. After 30 to 90 minutes, walk out with pearly whites (and without emotional scarring from drills, needles, or postprocedure drool).

It won’t bite.

No drilling: Pearly whites are the biz plan for dental couple

A husband-and-wife team of New York University Dental School graduates is opening a dental "spa" that they tout as New York City's only dental office that offers just teeth whitening and cleaning.

The founders of Lavaan - which means "white" in Hebrew-graduated from NYU in 2008. Jeffrey Rappaport worked in private dentistry practice in Manhattan after graduation; Michelle Katz became an orthodontist.

Dr. Rappaport and his wife saw a "niche in the market" in preventive care. "People always like getting their teeth cleaned and whitened, but they don't love going to the dentist," he said.

The spa's environment will be comforting, with a television and relaxing music. And while the office provides only cleaning and whitening services, each patient gets an examination and a referral to another dentist if further work is needed.

Prices for the teeth cleanings will be around $89, compared with up to $250 per cleaning at other dental offices. Teeth whitening services start at $295, compared with up to $800 elsewhere. Other less expensive options are available, like Magic Smile, which has services starting at $99, but Dr. Rappaport said Lavaan is different because of its relaxing environment. He also said it can keep its prices low because it does not have as much overhead as other dentists because of its limited services. The build-out of the Greenwich Village space, including equipment and other upfront costs, came to about $500,000.

The office will cater to some of the students at nearby NYU, the New School and Cardozo School of Law who may not have health insurance.

Dentist couple gives up the drill

Forget drilling. Pearly whites are the business plan for a husband-and-wife team who are opening a "dental spa" that offers just whitening and cleaning.

The founders of Lavaan - which means "white" in Hebrew-met at NYU Dental School and graduated in 2008. Jeffrey Rappaport has since worked in private practice, while Michelle Katz became an orthodontist.

The couple saw a niche in the market and pounced. "People always like getting their teeth cleaned and whitened, but they don't love going to the dentist," Dr. Rappaport said.

Prices for the teeth cleanings will be about $89, and teeth-whitening services will start at $295. The couple invested about $500,000 to build out the space, buy equipment and cover other upfront costs. The office will open in the next couple of months.

Less-expensive options are available elsewhere, such as Magic Smile, which advertises whitening services starting at $99, but Dr. Rappaport says Lavaan will be different because of its environment, which will include TV and relaxing music.