3 Ways A Cosmetic Dentist Can Help You Have A Whiter Smile

29 September 2015
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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If your teeth are discolored, it can affect your self-confidence. You may feel uncomfortable in social situations and regularly try to cover your mouth when you smile or speak. Yet, cosmetic dentistry offers several ways to whiten your teeth, even if you have had stained teeth since childhood. Here are a few ways that a cosmetic dentist can help you have a whiter smile:

In-office Bleaching

If the stains on your teeth are caused by food or drink, they are primarily housed in the tooth enamel, which is the outermost portion of a tooth. Your dentist (like Robert Tartaglione DDS) may use a professional bleaching gel to bleach the stains away. Usually, a special light is applied after the gel is in place to intensify the bleaching effect.

Professional bleaching applications are more effective due to a higher concentration of bleaching components. However, they are also safer than other types of tooth whitening because of the professional application.

Home Bleaching Kit

Your dentist may also offer you a home bleaching kit. These kits are typically approved by the American Dental Association, but they are designed for home use. Your dentist can offer detailed instructions concerning the kit to help ensure that your oral health is not compromised by improper use. 

People who bleach their teeth too frequently can suffer from severe dental sensitivity that can sometimes only be remedied by a root canal.

Veneers

If your teeth have not been stained by food, drink or tobacco smoke, bleaching may not remove the discoloration. Some stains, such as those caused by medication or a congenital defect, may be permanent. Still, your tooth discoloration can be corrected by veneers. 

Veneers are thin slivers of white porcelain that are applied to the front of your teeth. No matter how discolored your teeth are, veneers can transform them. Since the veneers cover your teeth, the source or depth of discoloration is not important. In addition, the veneers can even correct the appearance of chipped or misshapen teeth.

If you suffer from dental discoloration, you can have whiter teeth. Although there are many over-the-counter tooth whitening kits available, these kits are not designed to whiten as effectively as a professional treatment. In addition, they are only safe if used as directed. To safely get your teeth their whitest, contact a cosmetic dentist in your area. He or she can assess your teeth and determine the best professional whitening treatment for you.