Erasing teeth stains is one of the most common reasons to seek cosmetic dental treatment. In many cases, they can be effectively erased with the help of convenient, customized teeth-whitening. The treatment not only brightens your smile, but can be designed to fit into your schedule conveniently. However, there are many different types of teeth stains and discoloration, and sometimes, whitening your teeth may not be the best way to address them. At our El Paso, TX, dental office, we’ll perform a comprehensive examination to diagnose your teeth stains and determine what treatment offers the best solution for improving your smile.
Your teeth stains are intrinsic
The most common types of teeth stains are known as extrinsic, or external, stains. They form on your tooth enamel – the semi-translucent barrier that covers your teeth. Therefore, they can often be addressed with teeth-whitening solution that is applied to your tooth enamel. When stains are intrinsic, it means that they’ve developed underneath the tooth enamel, and whitening solution can’t effectively reach them. Intrinsic discoloration can occur for a variety of reasons, such as the use of certain medications or the presence of certain health conditions.
Discoloration is caused by decay
Another reason why a tooth might become intrinsically discolored is the presence of internal tooth decay. The condition can change the appearance of your tooth as it erodes the structures of your tooth, and discoloration is only one of many potential signs. You might also experience sensitivity or aching in the tooth, especially when you bite and chew. Not only will teeth-whitening fail to reach the internal discoloration, but it and the threat to your tooth’s health will continue to grow worse until the decay is treated.
Your teeth are more than just stained
Even if your teeth are extrinsically stained, they’ll need more than teeth-whitening if one or more of them are also chipped, cracked, or otherwise blemished. Fortunately, we can create a complete smile makeover plan to address all of your smile’s concerns, including whitening to brighten your teeth’s color and appearance. For example, a combination of tooth bonding, porcelain crowns, porcelain veneers, and more can help you create the smile you want, while teeth-whitening can provide the ideal finishing touch to your healthy, natural tooth structure.
Find out which treatment is right for you
When teeth-whitening isn’t the best option, we can help you find the most appropriate treatment to improve your smile’s appearance. For more information, schedule a consultation by calling the Sunny Smiles dental office nearest you in El Paso, TX, today! We also have offices in Chaparral, Canutillo, and Vinton so we can easily serve patients throughout all surrounding communities.