Your smile has changed over the years. While your teeth and gums are healthy, you feel disappointed by how dark and dingy your tooth enamel looks. At Dunkling and Penney Dentistry in Burlington, VT, professional teeth whitening processes rejuvenate tooth color and make people feel confident again. Could this popular cosmetic service be right for you?
Why whiten your teeth?
Because of their cosmetic dentistry expertise, Dr. Paul Dunkling and Dr. Greg Penney see great value in having a bright, white smile. They understand how dental stains and an overall yellowish color to teeth can discourage patients from smiling and laughing without feeling self-conscious.
So, in response, they offer both in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments to adults and teens who have solid oral health and realistic expectations for their smile makeovers. All whitening processes are professionally supervised for safety and effectiveness, and therefore necessitate a pre-treatment examination to ensure that whitening is right for any given patient.
How whitening works
It's pretty simple: teeth become dark, yellow, and dull both because of the aging process, but also because organic materials accumulate in tooth enamel. That's right. Even though enamel is hard as cement, it is also porous, absorbing and holding onto residues from dark foods and beverages, some pharmaceuticals, and all forms of tobacco.
Professional teeth whitening removes those stubborn residues, safely lifting them out of tooth enamel. Whether you and your Burlington, VT, dentist choose in-office or at-home teeth whitening, the results will be spectacular—a change of up to eight shades of color!
The secret to its success is two-fold:
- The process is professionally supervised so that you'll know your teeth and gums are healthy enough for whitening. Plus, your in-office treatment will be applied carefully by a fully trained hygienist or dental assistant. The at-home version uses customized trays which deliver the whitening agent right where its needed, avoiding sensitivity problems with gums and other soft tissues of the mouth.
- Professional whitening uses powerful hydrogen peroxide gel. Much more concentrated than any store-bought products, this chemical is safe and really gets the job done.
Why it's so popular
Dr. Dunkling and Dr. Penney offer a wide array of cosmetic dentistry services such as porcelain veneers (including thin lumineers) and cosmetic resin bonding. They find teeth whitening is an often requested service. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists says that a full 90 percent of dental patients ask about teeth whitening because it's economical and rejuvenates smiles quickly and dramatically.
Keeping a smile white
To maintain your pearly whites, see your dentist every six months for your prophylactic check-ups and cleanings. Brush twice a day with a non-abrasive toothpaste, and floss diligently every day. Finally, avoid things which stain tooth enamel--tobacco (for sure) and excessive amounts of coffee, tea, berries, curry, and other dark dietary choices.
Learn more
Book a cosmetic dentistry consultation at Dunkling and Penney Dentistry. We have two convenient locations in Burlington, VT, (802) 863-3479) and in Jericho, VT, (802) 899-3973).