Cosmetic Dentistry Albuquerque

A Sparkling Holiday Smile with Professional Teeth Whitening

December 1, 2017
Cosmetic Dentistry

Do you want your smile to shine this holiday season? Do you want to dazzle people at parties and look radiant in photographs? If you want to upgrade your smile but aren’t ready to invest the time or money for more complex procedures like dental veneers, consider teeth whitening.

With our Lumibrite at-home teeth whitening system, you get the convenience and control of whitening at home, but with the oversight of Dr. Shepherd and the effectiveness of a professional-strength product.

It’s an easy and inexpensive way to get your pearly whites gleaming again. You will look younger, and more vibrant, and your newly revived confidence will be evident every time you smile.

Don’t put it off! Book an appointment to start your teeth-whitening treatment at Uptown Dental Associates of Albuquerque, NM. Call 505-219-4548.

Tooth Discoloration Occurs Over Time

When you look in the mirror, do you see dingy or dirty-looking teeth that make you look haggard, worn down, or older than you are? Tooth discoloration may be the result of several factors, and it happens gradually as stains build up on your teeth. The type of discoloration that responds to chemical whitening treatments is called extrinsic. Extrinsic stains are surface stains that affect the outer layer of the tooth, or the enamel. Common causes of extrinsic stains include:

  • Coffee and tea
  • Soda
  • Dark-colored berries
  • Smoking or chewing tobacco
  • Tomato sauce
  • Wine
  • Age — over time, our teeth may discolor even if we’re careful

Minimize the effects of these staining foods by brushing your teeth after eating them whenever possible. Or at least follow them up with a glass of water, which will help rinse the staining pigments away. Keep in mind that eating a lot of acidic foods or practicing poor oral hygiene roughens up the tooth enamel, which helps stains adhere better and makes them more difficult to remove.

Intrinsic stains, which may be caused by decay, medication, overexposure to fluoride as a child, or other factors, are rooted deep in the dentin, or the inner structure of the tooth. These stains generally won’t be helped by chemical whitening treatments that work by bleaching the tooth surface.

When you come for your consultation at Uptown Dental Associates, we will conduct a thorough examination of your teeth. If your stains are intrinsic, we can suggest treatments that will be more effective for you than teeth whitening.  

Don’t Bother with Drugstore Products

If you’ve spent any amount of time in the oral health section of your local drugstore, you’re well aware that there’s a multitude of over-the-counter products that promise to deliver whiter, brighter, teeth. The problem is, these products don’t work well, if at all.

Many drugstore teeth-whitening kits are similar to our professional product in how they are used. You put a whitening gel in a mouthguard-like tray and wear it on your teeth for a certain amount of time each day. However, the trays in these store-bought kits are one size fits all — which means they don’t fit anyone very well. The gels contain a much lower concentration of active whitening ingredients than our Lumibrite system.

Despite being weaker, these kits can be much harsher on your teeth and gums. The ill-fitting trays may not be effective in keeping the gel in place.

For Stunning Results, Choose Lumibrite

Our Lumibrite professional take-home teeth whitening kit will make your teeth up to 7 shades whiter. The system uses custom trays and a hydrogen-peroxide bleaching gel.

First, we will take precise impressions and measurements of your teeth. We will use these to craft bleaching trays that fit the exact dimensions of your mouth. This is important because it ensures the gel will be applied evenly and stay in contact with your teeth — but not spill over into areas it shouldn’t. Since the trays fit your mouth perfectly, they are comfortable to wear.

You will take the trays and bleaching gel home with you so you can whiten your teeth at your convenience. How often and for how long you will wear your trays depends on the concentration of the gel (Lumibrite gel comes in formulations of 32%, 22%, and 16%). Don’t worry, we will give you precise instructions, and you may get in touch with us at any time if you have questions.  

The result will be a gorgeous smile that you’ll be eager to show off at all your holiday gatherings.

And don’t forget to ask us about our Lifetime Whitening Program.

Book a consultation at Uptown Dental Associates today. Please fill out and submit our online form or call our Albuquerque, NM office at 505-219-4548.