Veneers:

Veneers are thin coverings that are placed over the front (visible) part of the tooth. They look like natural teeth. Veneers can be used to correct a wide range of dental issues, such as: teeth that are stained and can’t be whitened by bleaching. chipped or worn teeth.

Teeth Whitening:

Are you considering teeth whitening to help reinvigorate a smile tainted by discoloration? Professional, in-office teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dental procedure in the world today. Unlike home-use systems that incorporate low-dose bleaching agents, in-office whitening takes place under carefully monitored conditions which allow for the safe, controlled, pain-free use of a relatively high concentration of bleaching gel – yielding results that are visible immediately.

This is the safest form of bleaching.

Gum and tooth sensitivity (formerly drawbacks to in-office bleaching) are more controllable today due to thicker peroxide gels (that don’t soak into the teeth as much as previous gels) and the use of desensitizers such as potassium nitrate and fluoride. Chair-side whitening removes organic stains or discolorations primarily caused by:

• Over time, the teeth darken with a yellow, brown, green or grey cast (which may be due to heredity and/or eating habits). Yellowed teeth tend to whiten most readily.
• Consumption of certain foods (notably coffee, red wine, sodas and dark-colored vegetables and fruits).
• Tobacco use.

Stains Resistant to In-Office Whitening

• Teeth with certain stains – typically those that are inorganic – do not respond well to in-office treatment. In fact, these teeth may look even darker after the surrounding teeth have been whitened.
• Trauma, which causes the dentin to darken.
• Tetracycline antibiotics ingested during tooth-formation. These drugs chemically bind with the crystalline structure of both the tooth’s enamel and underlying dentin.
• Overexposure to fluoride, which can cause fluorosis, resulting in tooth discoloration.