No one wants to look in the mirror and see a dull, yellow smile. Unfortunately, stains on teeth are hard to avoid. Every time you sip a glass of wine, enjoy a cup of coffee or even eat a handful of healthy blueberries, dark pigments from those foods and beverages become lodged in your tooth enamel. Fortunately, tooth whitening offers a simple, safe way to get rid of your dental stains. Burlington and Jericho, VT, dentists Drs. Paul Dunkling and Greg Penney of Dunkling and Penney Dentistry explain how whitening can brighten your smile.

Teeth whitening gets rid of tooth-darkening pigments

No matter how well or often you brush your teeth, you can't rid of the dark pigments foods and beverages leave behind. Pigments seep deep into microscopic pores in your tooth enamel and can't be reached by your toothbrush bristles. Although it's not possible to brush away those stain-causing pigments, they can be eliminated by applying a hydrogen peroxide whitening gel. The gel breaks apart the pigments, removing the stains.

It's all about the hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide strength varies depending on whether you take advantage of professional whitening treatment or use over-the-counter products. Professional formulations dentists use are much stronger than those used in the products you'll find online or at a Burlington or Jericho drugstore. If you choose professional whitening, you enjoy these benefits:

• Quick Results: Your teeth will be much whiter after just one professional whitening session, although occasionally a second session may be needed. Drugstore products can take weeks or months to lighten your teeth.
• A Brighter Smile: After a one-hour professional whitening treatment, you can expect your teeth to lighten by three to eight shades.
• A Safer Experience: Tooth sensitivity can be a problem after whitening, particularly if your teeth or gums accidentally come in contact with the hydrogen peroxide gel. When you opt for an in-office whitening treatment, your gums will be protected by a rubber shield or a layer of protective gel. Your cheeks and lips will also be held away from your teeth with comfortable plastic retractors.
• Two Options: At-home whitening kits are also available from the dentist's office. The kits contain a supply of whitening gel and custom-made whitening trays.

Lighten your smile with teeth whitening! Call Burlington and Jericho, VT, dentists Drs. Paul Dunkling and Greg Penney of Dunkling and Penney Dentistry at (802) 863-3479 for the Burlington office and (802) 899-3973 for the Jericho office.

Discover the many ways that dental veneers can restore and enhance your appearance.

You are ready to improve the look of your smile but you’re not quite sure how to do it. Maybe you have small chips or cracks in your teeth that make you feel self-conscious. Perhaps you want to cover that awkward gap between your front teeth without having to get braces. If so, our Burlington, VT, dentists Dr. Paul Dunkling and Dr. Greg Penney have the answer you’ve been looking for: dental veneers.

It’s amazing how much these thin tooth-colored translucent shells can instantly transform and reshape your smile. You won’t believe that just by bonding these custom-made restorations to the front surface of your teeth that we can completely change the color, length or shape of your smile.

Before you can get veneers you’ll need to go through a consultation process. This is when our Burlington, VT, cosmetic dentists will examine your smile and discuss your treatment goals to ensure that veneers are the right cosmetic option to meet your needs. We will also need to make sure that your teeth are healthy enough for this treatment.

What problems can veneers fix?

Since a dental veneer is a cosmetic restoration it is great for improving a variety of issues from discolorations to poorly shaped teeth to crookedness. Veneers can be a great way to hide chips and cracks, spaces between teeth and even minor overlapping of teeth. If you have discolorations that professional teeth whitening can’t treat, dental veneers can be the best option for hiding these stains and getting your smile whiter.

How do you prepare for veneers?

Before traditional veneers are bonded, some enamel will need to be removed from the front of your teeth. This will ensure that there is enough room for the veneers without the final results looking cumbersome or bulky. After all, we want you to have a smile that looks natural and beautiful (no one should be able to tell that you have veneers).

We will also have to take impressions. Impressions are necessary for the dental lab to create your unique set of veneers that will fit your tooth or teeth perfectly. It can take up to one week or more for veneers to be fabricated.

Once your veneers are ready to be placed you’ll come back into the office where we will immediately check the fit and make sure you approve of your new restorations before we permanently bond them to the front of your teeth with a special dental resin and a curing light.

Dunkling and Penney Dentistry in Burlington and Jericho, VT, are ready to help you achieve the perfect smile. Just because you weren’t born with it doesn’t mean you can’t still have your dream smile. Call us today to find out how dental veneers can help.