If your teeth are yellow or stained, it can really affect your self-esteem. White, pretty teeth are expected by society and that makes it difficult to feel good about your smile if your teeth are discolored. Fortunately, there are options for whitening your teeth. Your dentist can offer professional-strength bleaching trays or laser treatments. If those treatments aren't suitable, veneers might be the solution. You'll want to talk to your dentist about the right way to whiten your teeth based on your oral health. Here are some signs you might be a good candidate for a whitening procedure.
The Discoloration Is Caused By Stains And Not Damage
Whitening treatments are most effective on yellow stains from food and smoking. If your teeth have dark discoloration from an injury or as a result of taking medications, then laser treatments or bleaching trays might not help as much. If you've been trying to whiten your teeth at home and not having good results, it's possible your teeth won't respond to whitening treatments.
It's also possible you need more powerful treatments than you can buy over the counter. The whitening products provided by your dentist are stronger and get better results. Your dentist will examine your teeth and determine if laser whitening or bleaching gels are right for you.
You Don't Have Many Crowns Or Fillings
If you have crowns or resin fillings, their color was matched to the color of your other teeth when you got them. Whitening treatments only work on natural enamel. If you have fillings or crowns in the front that are visible when you smile, they may not blend in any longer once you've had your teeth whitened.
After examining your teeth and the location of your past dental work, your dentist might decide a different whitening approach is needed such as bonding, veneers, or new crowns. If you've had a lot of dental work in the past or if you have gum disease or worn enamel now, whitening your teeth is more challenging and you may need a different option than bleaching gel or laser treatments.
You Don't Have Overly Sensitive Teeth
Sensitive teeth are not neccesarily a deal breaker when it comes to tooth whitening. However, you definitely want to let the dentist know about your condition so your treatment can be modified. Peroxide can cause tooth sensitivity, although the condition goes away when it is caused by tooth whitening. If you already have sensitive teeth, the dentist may want to use a milder solution or adjust the timing of laser treatment.
You might also be given a desensitizing treatment so you don't have any discomfort. If you have sensitive teeth, you may need to use toothpaste for sensitive teeth for a time before teeth whitening can proceed. You'll want to heed the advice of your dentist so the whitening treatments don't cause pain. Contact a clinic, like Steliotes Dental Spa, for more help.
