When Tricia came in to talk to our Saint Louis cosmetic dentists, she was clearly dissatisfied with the appearance of her smile. Tricia was suffering from a very specific cosmetic problem, tetracycline staining. Her teeth were stained with deep dark streaks, and because these were tetracycline stains, they were not responsive to conventional teeth whitening treatments.
Tricia was preparing for her wedding, and she was determined to improve the appearance of her smile before she walked down the aisle. Luckily for her, our Saint Louis dental office proudly offers cosmetic options for patients with tough-to-treat tetracycline stains. We walked Tricia through her options, and helped her transform her smile before her big day.
As the name suggests, tetracycline stains are caused by the antibiotic tetracycline. When children with developing adult use this antibiotic, their teeth can form dark stains that are actually calcified in the tooth. Because the discoloration is interior rather than external, conventional bleaching treatments are not effective.
Over the years Tricia had tried a number of over the counter whitening treatments to enhance her smile, with no success. We explained that due to the nature of her discoloration, dental veneers might be the cosmetic solution for her.
Dental veneers are made of thin layers of porcelain. They are affixed to existing teeth to change the shape, size, or color of the tooth. Dental veneers are invaluable for tetracycline stained teeth, because they cover the entire visible surface area of the tooth. Dental veneers look white and natural, so your smile can appear stain-free and stunning.
Tricia was thrilled with her dental veneers; her smile looked clean, fresh, and luminous. And most importantly, she had a smile she really wanted to show off on her wedding day! If you, like Tricia, are living with dental stains that you can’t stand, give our Saint Louis dental office a call—we’re here to help you!