Do severely stained teeth prevent you from showing off your smile? If the color of your teeth (or even just one tooth) keeps you from smiling, a cosmetic dentist can help.
But with various treatment options for whitening, how can you know which is best for you?
At Lifetime Smiles, our doctors love helping patients. When you come in for a consultation, our experienced dentists will evaluate your teeth, jaws, gums, and smile.
A thorough discussion about what you like and dislike about your smile, along with the findings from your exam, will help the dentist determine whether teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding, or porcelain veneers are the best choice. You will play an important role in deciding on your treatment.
White teeth are possible, even for deep, dark stains. Talk with one of our cosmetic dentists, Dr. McDonald or Dr. Mallakis, to find out how to achieve a smile you’ll want to show off every day.
Chemical Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening products can brighten your smile. However, not all whitening treatments deliver equal results. Depending on the type and severity of your teeth stains, a cosmetic dentist will prescribe the treatment best suited for your case.
Our most commonly recommended whitening product is Sinsational Smile. Sinsational Smile is a 20-minute in-office teeth whitening system with take home trays and gel that can be used up to 60 times. Sinsational Smile uses their patented pre-filled silicone tray. The jaw remains relaxed and comfortable throughout the entire treatment. The LED accelerating light helps to activate the gel’s whitening at a faster rate, giving it you a brighter smile and whiter teeth in less time. As part of your procedure, you receive a take home maintenance pen to continue to brighten your smile! The best part about Sinsational Smile is the fact that you get little to no sensitivity that most other whitening procedures and products can cause. Our whole office, and many family members, have tried it out, so feel free to ask us about our personal experience.
For more severely and deeply stained teeth, we often recommend KoR Whitening. KoR’s patented whitening gel penetrates more deeply into enamel than any other product available. The whitening system can remove stains other systems cannot, including many fluorosis and tetracycline stains. This treatment was developed with those individuals in mind that would like to brighten their smile, but haven’t had any luck with other whitening products.
Cosmetic Bonding
In some cases, teeth whitening is not the best option. For instance, if you have a gray or black tooth from trauma, teeth whitening will not yield the outcome you desire.
If you have just one or two severely stained or discolored teeth, you may prefer cosmetic bonding.
This treatment involves the use of a composite resin, the same material used for tooth-colored fillings. The pliable resin is placed on the tooth or teeth as a veneer, covering the entire front surface. A curing light hardens the resin to a strong, solid state. With good oral hygiene and no trauma, cosmetic tooth bonding can last years.
You may be interested to learn that cosmetic bonding can cover a multitude of tooth imperfections, including severe staining, tiny cracks, and small chips. It can also close unwanted gaps between teeth. If your teeth would benefit from improved shape and whitening, bonding may be the ideal treatment option.
Porcelain Veneers
Another option for severely stained teeth is porcelain veneers. These thin, shell-like restorations correct a multitude of smile imperfections. Therefore, if you have teeth with several cosmetic problems, veneers might be the best solution.
Veneers are custom-made and shade-matched to create a gorgeous yet natural look. With good oral health and no trauma, these restorations can last even longer than bonding.
What imperfections can porcelain veneers correct?
- Enlarge small teeth
- Reshape malformed or chipped teeth
- Close gaps between teeth
- Cover stained enamel
- Straighten slightly misaligned teeth
To learn more about porcelain veneers, cosmetic bonding, or chemical teeth whitening, call (760) 747-1811 today to schedule your appointment with one of our cosmetic dentists. We look forward to improving your smile!