About Us and Your Dental Hygienist

Sparkling Smiles is a locally owned & operated independent dental hygiene clinic in beautiful Fredericton, NB. They provide the same dental hygiene care as in a traditional dental office, but their distinction is that they can create a more relaxed and comfortable experience, without dental office noises or smells. All of their dental hygienists are registered with the New Brunswick College of Dental Hygienists.

Sparkling Smiles Dental Hygiene & Teeth Whitening provides dental cleanings, in-office and at-home teeth whitening, specialty dental care products, custom sports guards and much more! Check out the "Services" page for a full list of what they do!

They go above and beyond and offer special touches to ensure your comfort, like cozy warm blankets, heating pad, comfy slippers and TV's for your viewing enjoyment. 

At Sparkling Smiles, there is no need to feel anxious or nervous, as there are no drills or smells like a traditional dental office. Because of the quiet and peaceful atmosphere, clients feel more relaxed while having their dental hygiene and teeth whitening treatments. 

Sparkling Smiles' focus is on the prevention of oral disease, and they are passionate about educating their clients so they can have a healthy mouth and body!

Sparkling Smiles Dental Hygiene is owned and operated by Teri Perkins (Thurber) in Fredericton, NB. 

Teri began her professional career as a registered dental hygienist in 2012 after graduating from Oulton College. Equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to embark on her mission of promoting preventive oral health care, she worked in traditional dental office settings until January 2019. This is when she decided to pursue her entrepreneurial aspirations of becoming her own boss and business owner - this is when Sparkling Smiles Dental Hygiene was born.

At Sparkling Smiles, Teri's passion for making a difference shines through in every aspect of her practice. She's not only concerned with cleaning teeth; she's dedicated to building lasting relationships with her clients. Teri believes in nurturing her clients in a welcoming, calm environment, where they feel valued and supported in their oral health journey. She strives to create a space where individuals feel empowered to prioritize their oral health, regardless of their financial circumstances or background. 

Beyond her role at Sparkling Smiles, Teri is involved in advancing the field of dental hygiene on both provincial and national levels. As the immediate past President of The New Brunswick Dental Hygienists Association (NBDHA), Teri represents over 550 registered dental hygienists in New Brunswick.

She is also a member of The Canadian Dental Hygienist Association (CDHA) and The New Brunswick College of Dental Hygienists (NBCDH). Teri's commitment to promoting independent dental hygiene practices led her to serve as a board member for the Independent Dental Hygienist Practice Advisory Committee with CDHA, where she represents and advocates for independent dental hygienists in NB, NS, PEI, and NFLD.

Outside of her professional endeavors, Teri enjoys spending quality time with her husband, Leigh, and their son, Ozzy. An avid lover of the outdoors, she can often be found gardening, camping, hiking, biking, or diving into home renovation projects. Teri's compassionate nature also extends to her love for animals. If she hadn't pursued a career in dental hygiene, Teri's path may have led her to become a veterinarian! She enjoys volunteering at the SPCA, watching and feeding backyard birds, and spending time with her 2 rescue cats Sandy and Taco.

 Katie is from Woodstock, NB but has called Fredericton home for several years. She completed a Bachelor of Science with Honours in Biochemistry at UNB in 2017 and continued her education by studying Dental Hygiene at Dalhousie University. She graduated in 2019 and during this time, she was selected as the recipient of the "Columbia Dentaform Prize". This award is given to the student who demonstrated greatest proficiency in patient management and education. 

Katie has completed additional training in order to offer local anesthetic for patients and is also self Initiated. She is committed to providing the best possible care for her patients, and this can be seen in her desire to continually improve her clinical skills and knowledge through attending numerous continuing education courses.   

In her spare time, Katie likes to spend time with her husband, Mitch, and cat, Mr. Molly. Katie also enjoys reading and trying new recipes. She has been working on developing her green thumb over the years and has since acquired a number of house plants. Katie has now ventured into the outdoor gardening space and has enjoyed trying to grow different vegetables and flowers.