Professional teeth whitening is an effective way to bleach your teeth, but some staining is deeper than what tray or laser whitening can accomplish. If this happens, and you still want a beautiful white smile, you will need to look for the alternatives. The following cosmetic dental treatments can cover staining and discolouration if whitening doesn't work.
Dental Veneers
The first cosmetic dental procedure you can opt for if teeth whitening isn't effective is veneers. Dental veneers are made of thin porcelain pieces that are cut and polished to fit over your tooth. They do not provide you with any restorative benefits, but simply cover the teeth to improve their appearance.
If you have deeply stained teeth, the veneers can be used to cover them and leave you with bright white teeth. They are only to be used on your front teeth. While not an inexpensive procedure, it is a very effective one if professional whitening doesn't work on certain teeth. There are also Lumineers, a thinner version of the traditional dental veneer. These are less expensive and ideal for people with smaller mouths.
Dental Bonding
One of the least expensive options is to get bonding done. This requires applying a tooth-coloured resin over the teeth where the staining is occurring. This resin will then harden with the help of a lamp. Once it hardens and dries, the dentist is able to polish it to shine and look just like the other teeth. It is a great way to cover staining and discolouration, but can also cover imperfections like cracks, misshapen or oddly-sized teeth. Bonding is also sometimes used to fill gaps between teeth. The process for bonding is quicker than veneers, usually done in a single visit to the dentist.
Dental Crowns
If you want to cover the entire tooth, you can get a dental crown. This is not the ideal solution if you are only covering small tooth stains, but the tooth itself is in good condition. However, if you have a tooth with discolouration that also has some deep tooth decay, cavities, or is susceptible to cracking because it is especially brittle, then a crown is a good alternative. It not only covers the tooth with tooth-coloured porcelain, but it can also protect the tooth from damage and save you from an extraction later on. Since decay often causes discolouration, many people do get crowns for aesthetic and restoration purposes at the same time. Contact a company like Port Orchard Dental Care Center for more information.
Share15 February 2016
If you are someone who hesitates to open your mouth when you smile because you are embarrassed about your teeth, you should know that there are a number of cosmetic techniques that can give you a beautiful smile you will be proud to show to the world. As a cosmetic dentist, I have seen many clients transform their lives simply by fixing their smiles. This blog is meant to encourage people to find out about the possibilities in cosmetic dentistry so they can feel good about their smiles. A beautiful, confident smile really can change your life. I would love to show you how.
