As a member of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Roderick Garcia, DMD, has been an oral healthcare provider for over 30 years. Receiving his DMD from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Roderick Garcia of Albuquerque, New Mexico, currently practices cosmetic dentistry and offers professional teeth whitening services for his patients.

1. The Art of Cosmetic Dentistry –
Professional Teeth Whitening
Roderick Garcia DMD

2. Introduction
• As a member of the Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Roderick
Garcia, DMD, has been an oral healthcare provider for over 30
years. Receiving his DMD from Tufts University School of Dental
Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Roderick Garcia of
Albuquerque, New Mexico, currently practices cosmetic dentistry
and offers professional teeth whitening services for his patients.
Teeth whitening has been practiced for over 4,000 years, beginning
with the ancient Egyptians using a mixture of wine vinegar and
ground pumice stone. Since then, a variety of techniques including
the use of fluoride, acids, and the ammonia in urine have been
applied on teeth to gain a whitening effect.
Although there are many over the counter whitening kits available,
stronger whitening products can only be obtained at a professional
dental facility.

3. Professional Teeth Whitening
• Whitening gels used by professional clinicians generally contain
between 25 percent to 40 percent concentration of the whitening
agent hydrogen peroxide.
The whitening agent is applied and allowed remain on the teeth for
15 to 20 minutes, sometimes with the accompaniment of a bleaching
light to assist in accelerating the process. Depending upon the
severity of the discolored teeth undergoing treatment, the process
may be repeated and can take approximately 45 minutes.
Professional teeth whitening procedures have become more
common and affordable compared to years past. Average prices for
a professional whitening session costs $500 to $600, at Dr. Garcia's
practice $465.00 zoom chair side whitening which includes take
home trays and gel to ensure his patients achieve the shade they
want and ability to touch up periodically.