This is the best dentist office I have been to, and the only one I will ever go to again. Dr. Ligon and his entire staff are friendly, informative and take excellent care when you are in the chair. Extraction, root canal and deep cleaning — NO Pain, whatsoever! Highly recommend. You will not be disappointed.
Dental stains are a common problem. Everything from drinking coffee to taking certain medications to just getting older can make your teeth look dingy. Fortunately, we have several treatments for fixing stained teeth, one of which will be right for you.
A consultation with one of our dentists is the best way to find the solution that best suits your smile. Call Dallas Street Dental at 479-668-3109 today to schedule one in our Fort Smith, AR office. In the meantime, read more about your options here.
Find Four Options for Eliminating Teeth Stains
We offer four options for fixing stained teeth:
- Teeth Whitening – We offer two different teeth whitening treatments, both of which offer brighter results than drugstore products.
- Dental Veneers – When we apply these custom-made porcelain restorations to the front surface of your teeth, they will hide stains and other imperfections too.
- Dental Bonding – This procedure involves applying layers of tooth-colored resin to teeth to cover staining.
- Dental Crowns – Though crowns are often used to repair damage such as cracks or breaks, they can also be used to conceal stains.
We’ll take multiple factors into consideration when making a recommendation, including the cause of your staining, your budget, and the overall condition of your teeth. No matter which solution you choose, we’ll also advise you on how to keep your teeth looking their best and brightest.
Surface Stains Respond to Whitening – But Intrinsic Stains Will Not
There are two primary kinds of staining: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains occur due to external factors like consuming certain foods and beverages or smoking. Those stains are the easiest to remove as well as the easiest to prevent from happening in the first place. In general, you’ll have more options for fixing them, including a thorough dental cleaning or professional teeth whitening.
Intrinsic stains are often due to genetics and/or aging. If you were born with thin enamel or it gets thinner as you grow older, it may become possible to see a substance inside your teeth called dentin. This usually makes your teeth look yellow.
Since it’s not possible to actually remove intrinsic stains, it makes more sense to cover them up.
Pro Whitening Is the Least Expensive & Least Invasive Option
When bacteria adheres to plaque, a sticky substance on the surface of your teeth, it can cause decay and gum disease. It also gives your teeth a yellowish or brown tone. That’s why it’s so important to remove plaque with daily brushing and flossing. A thorough dental cleaning, including a polish of your teeth, often improves the appearance of your smile. But to really brighten teeth, you can use professional whitening.
Whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide and/or carbamide peroxide, which create a chemical reaction that breaks apart stains. Professional products contain a higher concentration of these ingredients so they work better than those purchased from drugstores. They also contain ingredients designed to minimize sensitivity.
You’ll have your choice of an office treatment during which we apply three separate applications of whitening gel or a solution that combines an office treatment with follow-up home treatments. Either way, your smile will look great!
Whitening is the least invasive option for fixing stained teeth and it costs less than other solutions. However, it won’t last as long. You will need to regularly repeat the treatments to keep your teeth looking bright.
Understand the Differences Between Veneers, Bonding & Crowns
Veneers and crowns are both restorations custom made to fit your teeth. A veneer covers the front surface of a tooth, while a crown covers the entire tooth. They are made from beautiful and durable materials like porcelain and zirconia. In contrast, a bonding treatment involves applying resin, the same material used for white dental fillings, to your teeth.
The materials we use for veneers and crowns resist staining and damage better than the composite used for bonding. So they will typically last much longer than a bonding treatment. They’re also more versatile in altering the appearance of teeth. They improve the overall condition of your teeth by strengthening them. We can usually create a wax model that will give you a good idea of how your smile will look when you get these restorations.
When compared to these choices, bonding offers three advantages:
- It costs less
- It can often be done in one office visit, while it takes two appointments to get a veneer or a crown
- Unlike a crown or veneer, which requires us to remove some enamel from your teeth, we will simply roughen your tooth’s surface to help the composite adhere to it
During your consultation, our dentists will answer all of your questions, examine your teeth, and help you identify the solution that best suits your smile. Fixing stained teeth can dramatically improve your smile. Get started on your transformation by calling 479-668-3109 for an appointment at Dallas Street Dental.