What If Teeth Whitening Doesn’t Erase Your Teeth Stains?


What If Teeth Whitening Doesn’t Erase Your Teeth Stains?

By Wright Smiles

With good dental care, you might avoid most destructive dental issues, like cavity-causing tooth decay, or severe gum disease that could cost you one or more teeth. Still, you can’t always protect your teeth’s pearly-white appearance from stains and discoloration, which can result from years of exposure to your meals and beverages, among other things. With a professional teeth-whitening treatment at our Southlake dentist’s office, you can erase your teeth stains and brighten your smile’s appearance in little or no time. If teeth whitening won’t suffice, however, then Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron may recommend something other than bleaching to restore their youthful, stain-free glow.

More Than One Kind of Stain

Your teeth are comprised of layers, and the nature of your teeth’s stains dictate which layers are affected. Teeth whitening, a topical treatment that targets extrinsic (surface) stains, can erase the blemishes that affect teeth’s outer layer. Known as tooth enamel, this semi-translucent shield of mineral crystals allows you to see the main body of your teeth, called dentin, underneath it. If the stains you see are due to discoloration in the dentin (intrinsic discoloration), rather than on the tooth enamel, then chemical teeth whitening won’t be able to reach the affected area.

A Wealth of Conservative Cosmetic Options

Dr. Wright and Dr. Heron begin every treatment, including cosmetic ones, with a thorough, personal consultation and examination. During your initial visit, they’ll help diagnose the nature and severity of your teeth stains before suggesting appropriate treatment options. If your stains are extrinsic, you may choose between in-office teeth whitening, which can be completed in one visit in just over an hour, or a custom-made take-home kit that allows you whiten your teeth at home. For intrinsic stains, you may need a more comprehensive enhancement, such as dental bonding or porcelain veneers. If the tooth is internally infected or injured, then it may require a restorative treatment, such as dental filling, root canal procedure, and/or a porcelain dental crown.

ABOUT YOUR SOUTHLAKE COSMETIC DENTISTS:

As a native Texan, Gregory Wright, DDS, opened his private practice in Southlake, TX in 1992. He and Dr. Victoria Heron are happily accepting new patients from Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, and all surrounding communities. To learn more, call our office today at (817) 481-7999.