If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and noticed that a stained or dull smile is staring back at you, then you are certainly not alone. Many of us develop some degree of dental staining as we get older. The good news is that our Saint Louis cosmetic dentists can help you refresh your smile with effective dental whitening treatments. In this short article, our team is going to review a number of treatments that we use to combat dental discoloration. Let’s get started!
Professional dental whitening is a quick, effective, and affordable way to actually lighten existing stains. The whitening formulations that we use are much stronger and more effective than those formulations that are available over-the-counter. Once the whitening gel is applied to your dental enamel, it goes to work lifting entrenched discoloration. This type of whitening treatment is especially effective on environmental stains, which develop due to color deposits from food, drink, and tobacco products.
While professional whitening treatments work to lessen stains within the tooth structure, dental bonding and veneers cover problematic enamel with fresh, natural-looking materials.
Dental bonding covers dental enamel with composite resin. Once the resin is cured it hardens and bonds to the natural tooth. Because composite resin can be shaded to suit the individual patient’s needs, the results are always natural looking. The entire bonding process can be completed in just one appointment, which is another advantage for busy patients.
You may also choose to cover dark enamel with individually crafted porcelain restorations. Once the veneers are complete, our team attaches them to the patient’s teeth in order to completely resurface and transform the appearance of the patient’s smile. Many people choose veneers to lighten their smiles when they want to simultaneously improve other aesthetic issues, such as closing gaps between teeth.
If you aren’t sure what type of treatment is right for your smile, our Saint Louis cosmetic dentists are here to help you!