Dental staining and discoloration can make your smile look older and less healthy than it actually is. The good news is that this type of aesthetic problem does not need to be permanent. Our Saint Louis cosmetic dentists are here to help you figure out the best way to whiten and brighten your smile. In this short article, we’re going to be talking about some of the most commonly used treatments to overcome dental staining.
One of the keys to treating dental discoloration is to figure out why your smile has started to change in appearance in the first place. Your teeth may develop stains due to foods and drinks; red wine, coffee, tea, chocolate, red sauces, berries, and more can all leave color deposits on your enamel. Alternatively, your teeth could start to look yellow or dull because your enamel has become thinner, and more of the dentin is able show through to the surface of the tooth. Once we figure out why your smile is discolored, we can make some personalized treatment recommendations to fit your needs.
Professional dental whitening treatments are great for minimizing existing environmental stains. During treatment, our team applies a topical whitening formulation to the natural enamel. This gel goes to work lifting entrenched stains from the tooth structure, helping to restore the patient’s smile to its previous level of whiteness.
If you are dealing with structural changes to your teeth, you may have more success with treatments that cover natural enamel, like dental bonding and porcelain veneers. Both of these treatments resurface the existing enamel and cover damage, textural irregularities, and discoloration.
When you meet with our Saint Louis cosmetic dentists, we’ll assess your smile and help you evaluate your treatment options. The best way to get started is to call our office to schedule a consultation, or to use the Contact Us page on our website to submit a question for our team.