Have your teeth grown stained, dull-looking, or yellow? Over time, your teeth may lose their pearly white appearance due to poor oral habits or factors outside of your control, like aging.
However, you can restore your ideal bright tooth color by consulting with your cosmetic dentist. They can suggest a dental procedure that will work best with your unique smile to enhance the color of your teeth. Read on to see four treatments your dentist can offer that will give you the whiter smile of your dreams.
How Can I Get a Whiter Smile?
Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment
If you want to brighten the shade of your teeth, your dentist can give you targeted teeth whitening treatment. If you choose to get this treatment in their office, a dentist will apply a whitening gel on your teeth. This gel will lift discoloration from the teeth that you can then rinse or brush away.
Your dentist can also provide a take-home option if you prefer to complete this treatment on your own. You can follow your dentist’s instructions and wear special trays over your teeth that contain the same whitening gel. These will gradually whiten the color of your teeth over a few weeks.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
If you have spots of discoloration on your teeth and want to even out your tooth color, your dentist might recommend teeth bonding treatment. This procedure can be completed within one session at your dentist’s office.
Your dentist will etch into the affected teeth to prepare the enamel to receive bonding. Then they apply resin to the teeth and sculpt it according to your smile aesthetic goals. They use concentrated light to cure and harden the resin so that it adheres to the teeth securely. Be careful of what items you consume because the resin might stain after this treatment.
Porcelain Veneers
You can find long-lasting smile enhancement including whitening with porcelain veneers. These cap-like shells are custom-made to suit your unique smile. The dentist will etch into your enamel to prepare the teeth, as with bonding.
Then they use bonding material to attach the veneers to your teeth. They build a whiter and straighter smile that will remain in place for many years if you continue good oral habits. The veneers will resist stains, but you should continue proper at-home oral care to get the most out of your smile enhancement treatment.
Dental Crowns
You might be familiar with dental crowns as a restorative dental solution. But these ceramic caps can enhance the color of your teeth as well. Like veneers, dentists build crowns on an individualized basis to ensure a comfortable and natural-looking finish.
This means that they can consider the patient’s aesthetic desires as well when making these fixtures. Patients with severe discoloration in a tooth can have this cap cover their tooth and therefore give it a brighter appearance. The crown will resist staining and the cement holding it in place will ensure long-lasting benefits.