Teeth Whitening & Veneers

Teeth Whitening

Your teeth are made up of an inner dentin layer and a hard outer enamel layer, which protects the teeth. Tooth stains occur because foreign material (food, coffee, cigarette smoke, etc.) accumulates to form a pellicle film over the enamel layer. As this pellicle layer sits on your teeth for years and years, the foreign material gets into the enamel. The enamel layer is made up of hydroxyapatite crystals, which form microscopic hexagonal “rods.” As the enamel is porous, the staining agents work their way down into the tooth.

Whitening can be achieved in two ways:

• In-office whitening

• Take home whitening

If you want to have a whiter or brighter smile you can ask Dr. Bhende, your friendly cosmetic surgery dentist from Hickory, about which whitening procedures is best suitable for you.

Veneers

Dental Veneers (also called porcelain veneers or dental porcelain laminates) are thin,
custom-made porcelain shells crafted of tooth-colored materials designed to cover the front side
of teeth. These shells are bonded to the front of the teeth changing their color, shape, size, or length. They’re made by a dental technician, usually in a dental lab, working from models and impressions provided by the dentist.

Veneers are routinely used for:

• Chipped teeth

• Teeth that are discolored

• Teeth that are worn down

• Teeth that are misaligned, uneven, or irregularly shaped

• Teeth with gaps between them