Cosmetic Dentistry Treatments for Teeth Color Correction

Cosmetic dentists aim to address issues that affect the appearance of a person's teeth. The look of a person's teeth is one of the first things that others notice about them during social interactions, and not being happy with the appearance of their smile can lead to reduced confidence.

When it comes to things that people do not like about their teeth, their color is typically on top of that list. Fortunately, cosmetic dentistry has a solution for any type of stains and discoloration.

How cosmetic dentistry treatments improve the color of teeth

Here are popular ways that dentists go about improving the color of teeth. All these methods have been proven to be effective, and some deliver noticeable results after a single treatment.

1. Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening treatments are the most effective way to get rid of most types of stains. It involves coating the patient's teeth with a bleaching agent, like hydrogen peroxide, and leaving it there for about an hour so it can remove stains. Lasers can be used to speed up the chemical reaction.

Teeth whitening usually involves using a customized mouthpiece to dispense the whitening product. The product is applied to the mouthpiece, and the patient bites down on it. It immerses all their teeth in the solution/gel, removing stains from the different layers of a tooth. Patients who get teeth whitening treatments often get noticeable results after a single treatment.

2. Composite bonding

Composite bonding is performed using resins that are mixtures of glass and plastic. These composites can be matched with the color of the patient's teeth and can be used to cover up stains. The discolored tooth is prepared with an etching solution that roughens its surfaces. This allows the composite to bond better with the tooth. The composite is applied to the tooth until any stains and discoloration are covered up, then it is hardened with a curing light.

3. Veneers

These tooth-shaped shells are cemented to the front of teeth and are great at covering stains. Installing veneers usually necessitates the removal of enamel. This is done to prevent the veneers from making the patient's teeth appear unnaturally bulky. Removing enamel is irreversible, so the tooth will always need to be protected with a restoration.

The installation of veneers often requires two trips to the dentist. During the first visit, the patient's teeth are prepared and they are fitted with temporary veneers. During the second visit, the temporary veneers come off, and the patient's customized veneers are cemented to the teeth.

4. Crowns

Crowns can also be used to cover up stains and discoloration. They are used to whiten teeth that are covered with stains on all sites. The process also requires the removal of enamel, but the crown covers the visible part of the tooth, hiding its flaws.