Many people aspire to have a pearly white smile. But teeth might grow discolored over time for a number of reasons. If you see stains, yellowing, or darkening in your teeth, you can enhance their color with help from your dentist.
A dentist will evaluate your unique smile to find a dental solution that will suit your specific needs and aesthetic goals. They can offer several types of procedures that will brighten your teeth. Read on to learn about four treatments your dentist can provide that will give you the whiter smile of your dreams.
How to Whiten Your Teeth with Your Dentist
Professional Teeth Whitening
If you want a whiter smile, your dentist can offer targeted teeth whitening treatment with professional-grade products and techniques. Their in-office procedure can brighten your tooth color several shades for fast results.
The dentist will apply a protective gel to the gums first to avoid irritation. Then they put bleaching gel on the teeth. A special light or laser activates the ingredients, lifting stubborn stains that can then easily wash away with the gel. To complete this treatment, you will need to follow your dentist’s take-home instructions too.
Your dentist can also give you a whitening kit so that you can brighten your smile fully from the comfort of your own home. They provide you with custom-fitting trays filled with whitening gel. Wear them as directed to gradually whiten your smile.
These treatments can give you better results than whitening kits purchased over the counter at your local shop. Personalized attention offers precise smile enhancement with minimized side effects.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Teeth bonding treatment uses tooth-colored composite resin to sculpt your teeth, covering stains and giving you a whiter smile. The procedure starts with a dentist etching into the enamel to prepare the teeth. Then they apply and mold the resin and cure it to harden it. A final polish finishes the treatment, all done within one dentist appointment.
This affordable procedure yields highly effective results that can last for three to ten years with proper care. Follow your dentist’s aftercare instructions for optimal results because bonding can stain if you are not careful.
Porcelain Veneers
For long-lasting smile enhancement, your dentist might recommend porcelain veneers. These custom-made shells attach to the front of your teeth using bonding to build a whiter as well as straighter and more even smile.
Veneers resist staining so that you can see a brighter finish to your smile for fifteen years or longer with good maintenance of your oral health. This will take three or more appointments to complete, but with enduring results, veneers are worth any hassle or cost.
Dental Crowns
Though known for their restorative benefits, dental crowns can give you a whiter smile too. Crowns feature ceramic caps that fit over an affected tooth and seal into place with dental cement. Dentists construct crowns on a custom basis, so they can factor in your smile aesthetic goals as well as your comfort.
Crowns will not stain and can stay in place for fifteen or more years. Consult your dentist to learn more about the cosmetic possibilities of this treatment.