Has your smile seemed to have lost its shine? If your teeth appear darker, yellower, or duller than they once did, you could feel a blow to your overall confidence that can impact other aspects of your life. Fortunately, your dentist can evaluate your smile and find a cosmetic dental solution that suits your unique medical history and aesthetic goals to give you the pearly white smile of your dreams.
Schedule a dental consultation today to determine a treatment plan that works for you. You can also read on to learn about four treatments from your dentist that can help you achieve a brighter smile.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Your dentist can use targeted whitening treatments available both in their office and as take-home kits. Both options use a bleaching gel that lifts extrinsic stains in the enamel, which develop due to consuming foods and drinks that contain staining agents.
The in-office teeth whitening treatment involves the dentist applying this gel to the teeth and then also giving the patient a sealer layer to protect the treated teeth. You can see a brighter smile with just one session of this treatment.
The take-home whitening option involves custom-made trays which a patient fills with the bleaching product and wears at home as directed. This offers flexibility with a patient’s busy schedule while ensuring professional-grade safety and results in the process. Over-the-counter whitening products will not guarantee this attention to detail.
Tooth Bonding
Professional teeth whitening will address extrinsic stains on your smile. But you might need other cosmetic dental solutions to brighten intrinsic dental discoloration. These deep stains can form due to aging or medication side effects. Tooth bonding treatment uses composite resin to cover specific stains.
In one session, the dentist applies tooth-colored resin, sculpting it to the teeth as needed. Then they harden it with a special light to keep it in place. A final polish ensures a beautiful finish.
Follow aftercare guidelines from your dentist to avoid forming stains on this dental work. With optimal care, bonding can give you a whiter smile for three to ten years.
Porcelain Veneers
Many dentists will recommend porcelain veneers for patients seeking long-lasting and durable solutions to brighten their teeth. This cosmetic dental treatment features custom-made cap-like shells that a dentist will attach to the front of affected teeth with bonding material. This will take more than one appointment to complete. But you can expect veneers to remain on your smile for fifteen years.
The veneers cover discoloration and feature beautiful white and natural-looking caps that resist staining. Consult your dentist to learn if these fixtures suit your goals, schedule, and budget as you seek a brighter smile.
Dental Crowns
A dental crown is known for its restorative benefits, but a dentist can use this ceramic cap to give a patient a whiter smile. This custom-made fixture fits over a tooth and seals into place with dental cement for fifteen or more years of protection and enhancement. It offers full-surface coverage that will hide and enhance stubborn dental discoloration.
Like veneers, crowns will resist staining. A dentist can consider a patient’s aesthetic goals when building a personalized crown to address cosmetic dental goals. Learn more by calling your dentist today.