Teeth whitening is often the first treatment people consider turning to when they are unhappy with the colour of their teeth. It is a very effective treatment for many people, particularly when the problem is relatively mild and just needs whitening a few shades to give you your smile back.
Sometimes though, teeth can be more heavily stained, not only on the surface through years of smoking for example, but also inside the tooth. This inner darkening is a natural process and teeth whitening can help here too, depending on how dark this part of the tooth has become.
There is a lot that we can do to avoid stained teeth, or at least delay them. Some staining is caused by things that come into contact with the teeth. Tea and coffee are common examples, while smoking can cause particularly stubborn brown or yellow staining. Red wine and some strongly coloured foods can also gradually affect the appearance of the teeth. Limiting or excluding these will certainly help to maintain whiter teeth for longer.
This type of staining is usually found on the surface of the enamel. Professional cleaning by the Clarence Dental Practice hygienist may remove some of it, while teeth whitening can often lighten the natural tooth beneath.
However, there are other causes of tooth discolouration that are less under our control.
A tooth may become darker after an injury, for example. Sometimes a tooth that has been damaged years earlier gradually changes colour, even though the original accident has long since been forgotten. Teeth can also become darker following root canal treatment. In these situations, the discolouration is within the tooth rather than simply on the surface.
There is nothing wrong with teeth whitening when it is the right treatment for the problem. The difficulty comes when whitening is expected to correct a type of staining that it is not designed for.
This includes not only badly stained teeth, but also teeth that have had previous restorations such as fillings. Even when you have had a tooth coloured filling, this can leave an uneven and noticeable level of whiteness in the tooth. The surface may also look a different shade of white to those around it due to a darker filling showing through (especially in the case of amalgam fillings).
A proper assessment then, is important before deciding on cosmetic dental treatment. It is much better to understand what whitening is likely to achieve before any treatment begins.
Dental veneers work in a different way from a whitening treatment. Rather than trying to ‘bleach’ the natural tooth, a veneer covers the visible surface with a thin layer of carefully selected material; usually porcelain.
The colour can be chosen to blend with the rest of your smile, or, where several teeth are being treated, to create a more consistent overall appearance.
Porcelain veneers are individually made to fit the teeth. They can also be used to improve small imperfections in shape or position, or even a chipped or cracked tooth, which means that the benefit is not necessarily limited to colour alone.
For somebody with a dark tooth that has not responded well to whitening, this can provide a much more predictable cosmetic result.
While a teeth whitening treatment usually targets all or most of the teeth, using veneers does allow our Staines dentists to improve the appearance of a single tooth. For example, if you are happy with your smile bar one tooth, or perhaps have had your teeth whitened but one tooth now doesn’t match the others, a veneer can be applied to that tooth alone where appropriate.
In other cases, several teeth may have similar discolouration and a number of veneers may be considered. Our aim is to make the smile look natural rather than simply making every tooth appear as white as possible.
Cosmetic treatment should not be used to cover up untreated dental problems. Before veneers or teeth whitening treatments are considered, the teeth and gums should be examined carefully. Decay, gum disease or other problems may need to be treated first. A tooth that is badly weakened may also require a crown or another form of restoration rather than a veneer.
This is particularly important when a tooth has become dark because of an old injury or previous treatment. The reason for the discolouration needs to be understood before deciding how best to improve its appearance.
You have probably heard tales of veneers becoming detached? This can happen but rarely does so. It can largely be avoided by avoiding habits like biting pens or your fingernails or using teeth to open packets. Where it does happen, it is often towards the end of the lifespan of the adhesive that holds it in place. Providing that the veneer is still intact and still of the colour required, this can simply be re-attached with new adhesive.
It is important to understand that you should not attempt this yourself. People have done this using household glue with disastrous results! So please leave it to the professionals.
You should continue to brush and floss your teeth as before, including any veneer covered teeth. Make sure not to just brush the veneer but the rest of the natural tooth too. Ignoring this could lead to decay and change the shape of the tooth, rendering the veneer less secure.
If you are considering whitening your teeth and would like to discuss the best way to do that, why not arrange to have an initial consultation with us? You can do this by calling the Clarence Dental Practice today on 01784 463 695 and we'll be delighted to help.
Address: 21a Clarence Street, Staines upon Thames, Surrey, TW18 4SU
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