Dental stains and dull-looking teeth can keep an individual from proudly displaying their smile for photos or when out with friends. Over time, tooth enamel can begin to change in color, giving your smile a yellowy or dingy appearance. Even if your teeth are free of cavities and perfectly balanced – if they are stained, they will look unattractive and unhealthy.
While over-the-counter teeth whitening pastes, rinses, and kits may be able to help to a certain extent, undergoing a professional whitening treatment will deliver better results in a faster amount of time. Dr. Rassiwala offers Dublin teeth whitening at Inspire Smiles for patients who are dealing with minor to moderate stains to the external surface of the tooth and want to restore the sparkle back to their smile. When discoloration is more severe, she may recommend porcelain veneers.
Explained below are the differences between Dublin teeth whitening and porcelain veneers to help you determine which would be better suited for your needs. To book your smile analysis consultation with Dr. Rassiwala, please fill out our online form or give us a call at 925-833-9500.
When is Teeth Whitening a Good Option?
Dublin teeth whitening can help address extrinsic dental stains and discoloration. The foods or beverages consumed on a daily basis cause this type of staining. Because enamel is absorbent, it can begin to change in color or stain as a result of dark pigmented foods, such as red wine, coffee, dark sodas, berries, and tomatoes. Teeth can also discolor as a result of age, silver amalgam fillings, or tobacco products and make teeth appear grayish, brownish, or yellowish.
When extrinsic dental staining is the culprit of your dissatisfaction, you will benefit greatly from a professional Dublin teeth whitening treatment. We will take impressions to create customized trays that will fit comfortably over your top and bottom teeth. Once they are ready, you will be given a whitening gel that can be placed inside the trays. If trays are worn at least 30 minutes a day or even overnight, you can enjoy a tremendously brighter smile in just two weeks.
Have Stubborn Dental Stains?
Occasionally professional teeth whitening may fail to deliver adequate results. This may be attributed to more aggressive stains or what is known as intrinsic discoloration. Intrinsic discoloration is when the inner structure of the tooth has been affected, causing the outer structure to change in appearance. It is typically triggered by genetics, tooth decay, or taking tetracycline antibiotics as a child. If your teeth have an unexplained grayish appearance, this may be the result of your mother consuming tetracycline when she was pregnant with you.
Unfortunately, most professional teeth whitening treatments are unable to reverse the effects of severe stains and intrinsic discoloration. In such cases, you will benefit more from porcelain veneers, since these shells are customized to completely cover the front surface of your teeth. Porcelain veneers are also beneficial if you have additional cosmetic imperfections you’d like addressed, such as chipped, gapped, misshaped, or slightly crooked teeth.
Brighten Your Smile Today
Cosmetic dentist Dr. Rassiwala will carefully examine your smile to help determine whether Dublin teeth whitening or porcelain veneers would provide optimal results. To schedule your consultation with Inspire Smiles, please contact us online or give us a call at 925-833-9500.