Teeth Whitening in Albuquerque, NM

Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dentistry procedure intended to remove stains and discoloration from teeth. The procedure can be performed at home with a kit or at the dentist’s office with the help of a professional. Either method can lighten your teeth by multiple shades. However, it’s typically recommended to have the procedure professionally done in a dental office to ensure that the bleaching agent is applied correctly and safely.

Professional teeth whitening

There are different types of professional teeth whitening treatments, such as in-office bleaching. In this procedure, the dentist Albuquerque, NM will apply the bleach directly on the teeth and activate it using a special light. The entire process usually takes about 90 minutes to complete per arch.

Seeing the best results with professional teeth whitening depends on several factors, including the initial color of your teeth. Those with gray-colored teeth can typically expect more dramatic results than those who only suffer from surface stains. However, even the deepest-set stains can be removed through a professional whitening treatment. Your dentist can help you choose the best option for your needs and goals.

Laser Teeth Whitening

Laser teeth whitening is an easy way to whiten your smile in just about an hour. Although over-the-counter whitening products are more readily available and thus more tempting to many people, most of these products are not as effective as professional-grade treatments or in-office procedures. Whitening kits can be messy and require you to wear trays for weeks or months at a time. Also, there’s no guarantee these will be effective, unlike our treatments that are done under the supervision of a dentist who knows exactly what to expect.

 

We’ll use a light-activated gel that penetrates the teeth to lift stains from the inside out. While you’ll see immediate results after treatment, it’s best to follow up with touch-ups every few months to maintain the brightest smile possible. This is the best way to safely lighten the color of your teeth and revitalize your appearance fast.

 

Take-Home Whitening Trays

 

If you choose to carry out the whitening yourself, our dentist can provide you with a kit that includes a tray that looks like a mouthguard and special bleach. To apply the bleach, you’ll simply place the guard in your mouth and mix together the solution and gel inside the tray. You’ll then place the tray over your teeth and keep it there for about an hour or longer. After this time, you can rinse your mouth out with water to remove the solution. You will likely repeat this process a few times over the course of a few weeks to achieve the desired results.

 

Toothpaste and Over-the-Counter Whitening Strips

 

The problem with using toothpaste or store-bought whitening strips to whiten your teeth is that they are not designed to remove the buildup of plaque that naturally happens on your teeth. The pastes and strips will only remove surface stains, so they will not address the deeper discoloration that occurs inside the tooth due to things like aging or consuming certain staining foods and drinks.

 

For this reason, we recommend scheduling a professional whitening procedure at our dental practice. We can apply the whitening formula directly onto your enamel where it can do more good than if you tried to use it at home. Your teeth will be several shades lighter after just one treatment!

 

To find out more about the dental services offered at our dental practice, call (505) 292-8515 or go online to schedule a consultation. You can also visit us at 8400 Osuna Rd NE, Suite 5B, Albuquerque 87111.