Teeth Whitening

Many people hear the term “Teeth Whitening” and will immediately think about the cosmetic procedure that involves the utilization of a bleaching agent to lighten the exterior surfaces of the teeth. However , there are some “Teeth Whitening” situations which do not involve bleaching agents at all!

If Teeth Are Stained…

Consider the person that comes into the dental practice wanting their teeth whitened because they have noticed a discolouration building up gradually over time. As a result their teeth are quite yellow, apart from the tips of the teeth which remain their natural white color. Most often the cause of this sort of discolouration is an accumulation of plaque and tartar, often further stained by foods and drinks. Similarly, an individual who attends with darker stains may discover that the discoloration is essentially caused by the foods and beverages that they have been consuming. Coffee and tea, red wine, berry jams and anything else that stains clothing can certainly stain the teeth! Most often, these teeth can be brightened with a professional dental cleaning.

Some stains caused by nicotine can be removed by professional dental cleaning, though some nicotine stains are very difficult to remove.

Discoloured Fillings

Occasionally the discoloration that has been noticed is actually caused by a filling or a group of fillings, either in the front or back teeth.

A person may hate the dark amalgam fillings in their back teeth, and request that the teeth be made to look whiter. The recommended treatment for this situation may well be to replace the old amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured restorations, either composite resin or porcelain.

Fillings in front teeth are often made from tooth-coloured composite resin, and these generally blend in so well when they are new that they seem invisible. Over the course of time the outside of composite resin fillings can wear down and become porous, so stains from foods and drinks can discolour them. Occasionally these fillings will begin to leak, allowing discoloured fluids to leach under the filling, creating a greyish or brownish hue. Once more, the treatment that will create a whiter smile involves replacing the fillings: no bleaching is needed.

Discoloration Caused By Tooth Decay

Decay may also cause discolouration of the teeth. If the decay has started between the teeth (which is one of the most typical places for it to start) the actual cavity may not have been noticed by the individual: however, as the decay progresses more deeply into the tooth, it can create a darkened shadow beneath the enamel, which becomes more and more visible. No amount of cleaning will remove these stains: this situation requires a restoration of some type, usually a filling, or possibly a crown if the cavity is large.

Discoloration Due To Trauma

If a person’s teeth have ever suffered a traumatic injury, these teeth will often become discoloured. This discoloration might be temporary, or it could be permanent: only your dentist will be in a position to determine this through tests and x-rays. If the tooth’s nerve has died as a result of the trauma, the tooth usually needs root canal treatment. If this is the case, the tooth can be bleached internally once the root canal treatment is finished to bring it back to its original color.

Some front teeth just can’t be treated effectively with teeth whitening agents. If the tooth has been stained internally by antibiotics during its development, or if the tooth is heavily filled, or if the tooth appears immune to teeth whitening solutions and gels, sometimes the only effective way to lighten it is to place a porcelain veneer or crown.

Ask Your Dentist

The process of whitening teeth will, in many cases, involve teeth whitening agents, but sometimes other treatments are needed. Your dentist is well-placed to diagnose the cause of tooth discolouration and to suggest treatments which will remove it. Always ask your dentist if you have any questions about the colour of your teeth and the method needed to brighten them.

The dentists at Corinna Dental take great care to listen to their patient’s dental wishes and to deliver them. If you are looking for a Canberra Dentist or a Woden Dentist to provide your general and cosmetic dentistry, Corinna Dental can help.

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