Discoloration on the surfaces of the teeth can often be treated with teeth whitening. However, certain types of staining don’t respond to whitening treatment. If your teeth are severely stained, veneers can restore your white, perfect smile.
Types of Tooth Discoloration
Teeth can be discolored in one of two ways—either intrinsically or extrinsically. Extrinsic staining affects the tooth surfaces and is usually treatable with teeth whitening. Intrinsic staining affects the deeper layers of enamel and dentin and often does not respond to teeth whitening. For this type of staining, veneers are often an excellent solution. [pullquote]If your teeth are severely stained, veneers can restore your white, perfect smile.[/pullquote]
Causes of intrinsic staining include:
- Exposure to excess fluoride
- Exposure to certain medications
- Injury to the tooth interior
If you’ve tried whitening treatment and it hasn’t worked to your satisfaction, talk to your cosmetic dentist about veneers. A veneer requires very little remodeling of your tooth and is relatively simple to place. It also is durable and will keep your smile shining for many years.
Cosmetic Treatment with Veneers
A veneer is a very thin porcelain shell that is custom made to fit over the front surface of your tooth. Your cosmetic dentist removes a thin layer of enamel from your tooth to make room for the veneer, then it is cemented in place. Porcelain is strong and durable, and looks very much like natural enamel because of the way it reflects light. Since the porcelain is color matched to your teeth, your treated teeth will be practically indistinguishable from your untreated teeth.
Once your teeth are treated, you’ll need to be careful not to expose your new veneers to staining agents like coffee, tea, or dark-colored foods. Although porcelain is stain-resistant, you’ll want to do your best to avoid possible staining. Unlike natural enamel, porcelain cannot be whitened with whitening treatments. You’ll also want to avoid biting hard objects that could chip the edges of the veneer.
If you have severe discoloration that has not responded to teeth whitening, please contact our office at 416-922-1012 to find out how veneers can help you.