What types of stains discolor your teeth?
Tooth enamel stains develop from:
- Coffee, tea, and red wine: contain colored pigments well-known for staining enamel
- Tobacco products: nicotine and tar cause yellow and brown stains
- Enamel erosion: acidic foods and beverages erode enamel, causing areas that easily stain
- Medications: tetracycline antibiotics taken during early childhood
Sometimes discolored teeth aren’t due to stained enamel. Instead, as the tooth enamel becomes thinner, which is a normal occurrence with aging, the darker dentin underneath becomes more obvious, making teeth appear yellow.
What are the benefits of professional teeth whitening?
Although you can use over-the-counter whitening products to eliminate mild tooth discoloration, professional whitening offers distinct advantages:
Prevents gum irritation
All whitening products contain bleach that breaks down the stain, but bleaches also irritate your gums, cheeks, and tongue. Your dentist carefully protects soft tissues with a dental barrier and retractor to hold your lips and cheeks away from the whitening gel.
Produces better results
The whiteners used by dentists are stronger, so they typically whiten teeth about eight shades lighter in one hour. You won’t get close to that degree of whitening from over-the-counter products.
Customized products and treatment
Your teeth must be evenly coated with the whitening agent, which is hard to achieve with one-size-fits-all whitening strips or trays available in your pharmacy. Your dentist carefully applies whitening gel, ensuring each tooth is wholly and evenly covered.
What are dental veneers?
Dental veneers are thin shells of porcelain custom fitted to cover the surface of your teeth. Although veneers conceal tooth stains, they do much more than whiten and can be used for multiple cosmetic and restorative purposes because they:
- Hide stained teeth
- Make uneven teeth appear straight
- Conceal gaps between teeth
- Strengthen eroded enamel
- Repair chipped or cracked teeth
How are veneers applied to your teeth?
Before your dentist at Applegarth Dental applies a veneer, you’ll undergo a dental checkup to be sure you don’t have decay or problems that should be fixed before the veneer is bonded to your tooth.
Your dentist prepares your teeth by removing a small amount of enamel to make space for the veneer. After making an impression of your teeth and selecting a color, the info is sent to the lab that makes your veneers.
You’ll wear temporary veneers until your new veneers are ready, then your dentist uses dental cement to bond the permanent porcelain veneer to each tooth.
There’s no need to be embarrassed by your smile. Call Applegarth Dental or book an appointment online to learn about whitening and dental veneers.
