Treatment Options for Tooth Discoloration
Having a smile that's bright, white, and clean is an ideal way to make a good first impression. Unfortunately, there are many different things that can lead to staining or yellowing of the teeth. It's for that reason that many people visit our cosmetic and restorative dentistry center serving Philadelphia. Cosmetic dentists have a number of treatments available that can leave you looking your absolute best.
Right now, we'd like to look at some of the basics when it comes to treating teeth that are stained or discolored. As you'll see, many of these treatments can be very effective even though they are minimally invasive.
Common Causes of Tooth Stains
Tooth discoloration can occur as a result of many things. Some of the most common causes of tooth discoloration and stains include:
- Smoking
- Chewing tobacco
- Coffee
- Tea
- Cola
- Red wine
- Curries
- Beets
- Bluberries
- Tooth injury
- Tooth decay
- Certain medications
- The natural aging process
Below are some of the most popular and common treatments for tooth discoloration. By meeting with a Doylestown cosmetic dentist, you can learn more about all of the options below.
Professional In-Office Teeth Whitening
One of the best options to consider for improving the appearance of your smile is professional teeth whitening treatment. This will involve the bleaching of discolored tooth structure using special hydrogen peroxide bleaching agents.
At-Home Teeth Whitening
While professional in-office teeth whitening is very effective, patients can also use at-home whitening kits. There are both professional-grade at-home whitening kits and over-the-counter whitening kits. In general, the professional teeth whitening kits are more effective than the over-the-counter ones.
Dental Bonding
Dental bonding refers to the use of tooth-colored dental resins to conceal the flaws on the surface of a tooth. The dental resin is color matched and then painted directly onto the tooth by your dentist. Tooth bonding can also be used to address chipped teeth and cracked teeth.
Porcelain Dental Veneers
One of the most versatile and effective treatments for dental stains is Philadelphia porcelain veneers. Also known as dental veneers, porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic that are affixed to the front portions of a patient's teeth. When in place, a porcelain veneer will be able to conceal a stain from view. Porcelain veneer are also used to conceal chips, cracks, minor gaps, slight unevenness, and other minor flaws in alignment.
Dental Crowns
For major stains, sometimes a dental crown is the best option for treatment. A dental crown is a cap that fits right over the tooth. Generally a dental crown is used when the tooth is severely decayed or damaged in order to restore strength and function to the tooth.
Full Smile Makeover Treatment
Since there are many different kinds of dental stain treatments, sometimes multiple treatments can be used in combination with one another in order to achieve a total smile makeover. This combination of treatments will be customized to the needs of the patient during the consultation process.
Schedule a Consultation for Cosmetic Dentistry Treatment
If you would like to learn more about all of your options for enhancing the appearance of your smile, be sure to contact our cosmetic dentistry center serving Philadelphia today. The entire team here looks forward to meeting you in person and going over all of these treatments and related issues in greater detail.