Over time, the color of your teeth may grow yellow, dull, or stained. This can occur due to the consumption of foods and drinks with staining agents or due to factors beyond your control. Aging and medication side effects may also lead to tooth discoloration.
If you want to enhance the look of your smile, you can schedule a cosmetic dental consultation to find a treatment that your dentist can use to whiten your teeth. Read on to find four dental treatments that your dentist can suggest for brightening the color of your teeth.
Professional Teeth Whitening Services
Brushing your teeth and flossing can help you get rid of surface stains on your teeth. But your toothbrush cannot reach stains and other discoloration deeper in the tooth enamel. Your dentist can provide a specified whitening treatment that can penetrate and lift these more stubborn stains.
This treatment begins with a session in your dentist’s office. They will apply a whitening gel to the teeth. This not only bleaches the teeth but also prepares the surface of the teeth for further whitening.
The next phase of the treatment involves the patient taking home whitening trays. These contain this same gel, and the patient wears them as directed to gradually brighten their tooth color. Supervision from a dentist for this process allows the patient to achieve their unique aesthetic goals and minimize uncomfortable side effects like tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.
Dental Bonding Treatment
A dentist can give a patient a whiter and more even appearance in their teeth with dental bonding. This treatment involves applying composite resin to the teeth, sculpting it according to the patient’s smile goals, and curing it for long-lasting smile enhancement.
The tooth-colored resin creates a brighter look for the patient’s smile, and the malleable resin can cover specific stains on the teeth if needed. Patients should note that teeth bonding can stain if they are not careful. With proper care, the bonding can last for three to ten years.
Porcelain Veneers
Patients seeking long-lasting cosmetic enhancement treatment may benefit from porcelain veneers. These dental fixtures include hard shells that a dentist attaches to the front of a patient’s teeth to build a whiter and straighter smile.
Dentists create veneers on a customized basis for each patient to ensure a comfortable fit and a gorgeous and natural-looking finish. The veneers seal into place with bonding material and resist both staining and decay. They can remain over a patient’s teeth for fifteen years if the patient follows aftercare guidelines.
Dental Crowns
You may recognize dental crowns as a restorative dental treatment, but they can enhance the color of your teeth too. Like veneers, a dentist custom makes crowns, so they can factor in the patient’s aesthetic goals in their construction as well.
The crown features a ceramic cap that fits over an affected tooth, sealing into place with dental cement. It can give the tooth a brighter appearance. The dentist polishes the crown at the end of the procedure for a beautiful and natural finish.