Yellowing, darkness, and dullness in your tooth color can significantly disrupt the appearance of your smile. You might suffer a serious blow to your confidence if you feel unsatisfied with the look of your teeth. If this sounds familiar, you should schedule a consultation with your cosmetic dentist to discuss teeth whitening solutions.
Your dentist can evaluate the types of stains on your teeth to find the best way to get rid of them and give you your desired pearly white tooth color. Discover four dental solutions your dentist might suggest to make your smile brighter according to your aesthetic goals when you read on.
In-Office Teeth Whitening Treatment
Your dentist can address stains just below the surface of your teeth with an in-office teeth whitening procedure. The dentist will take impressions of your smile to create custom trays. Then they fill the trays with bleaching gel, and you wear them over your teeth for several minutes in the dentist’s office.
The bleaching agents lift dental stains to the teeth’s surface, where a dentist can wash them away, leaving your smile several shades brighter. You can achieve these gorgeous results within a single one- or two-hour appointment.
While over-the-counter whitening products might contain bleaching ingredients, your dentist can give you better results. They have training that allows for a more even and thorough application. And they can minimize potential side effects like gum irritation that these products might otherwise incur.
Cosmetic Tooth Bonding
Not all dental discoloration will respond to bleaching treatments. Sometimes, stains develop deeper in the tooth enamel where the bleach cannot reach. But your dentist can still brighten your smile with treatments like tooth bonding.
The dentist can cover stubborn dental stains using composite resin. They prepare the tooth’s surface for this adhesive product by etching into the enamel. Then they sculpt the resin to the teeth according to your smile aesthetic goals.
They cure and harden the tooth-colored material so that it adheres to your smile. It can stay in place, leaving your teeth whiter, for three to five years. However, the resin may stain, so follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions to maintain a bright and beautiful finish.
Porcelain Veneers
A dentist might also recommend porcelain veneers to cover dental discoloration and make your smile brighter. They make these cap-like shells on a custom basis for each patient to ensure a gorgeous and natural-looking finish. These durable fixtures attach to the teeth using bonding material.
The dentist must prepare the teeth to ensure the bonding keeps the veneers in place. This will take more than one appointment to accomplish. But once on your smile, the veneers will remain for fifteen years and will resist staining for long-lasting results.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are known for their restorative benefits, but dentists can use them to make teeth brighter in color as well. Like veneers, dentists build these caps on an individualized basis for their patients. So they can factor in aesthetic goals like a whiter tooth color when creating these fixtures.
The cap will cover the entire surface of the tooth, getting rid of dental discoloration and leaving your smile brighter in appearance. It will not form stains, and thanks to dental cement sealing it into place, the crown can endure for fifteen years. Learn more by scheduling a consultation with your dentist today.