Discolored teeth are a common problem for which many people visit the cosmetic dentist. In most cases, discoloration is easily treated with teeth whitening. If you need teeth whitening in Boulder, here are some guidelines to help you decide what approach might be most appropriate to your needs.
Types of Teeth Whitening
In office teeth whitening usually takes about an hour. With both Zoom! teeth whitening and BriteSmile teeth whitening, a whitening gel is applied to the teeth, then activated with a special light. The gel is left on the teeth for about twenty minutes, then removed and reapplied. After the complete treatment, your teeth will be considerably brighter and more attractive. This kind of teeth whitening can lighten your teeth from seven to ten shades after a single treatment.
For more stubborn staining, your cosmetic dentist might recommend a take-home kit. This kind of tooth whitening kit consists of custom trays and a whitening agent. The whitening agent is placed in the trays, and you will wear the trays for about fifteen minutes, twice a day. After about two weeks of this treatment, you will see significant lightening of the surfaces of your teeth.
Causes of Discolored Teeth
Teeth can become stained due to everyday wear and tear, as well as everyday exposure to certain foods and beverages. The most common causes of tooth discoloration are:
- Nicotine
- Coffee
- Tea
- Dark colored foods or beverages
All these causes of tooth discoloration can be treated with in office or take home teeth whitening. This kind of discoloration affects the outer surfaces of the teeth, so treatment with a whitening agent allows these outer surfaces to be restored to their original color.
For other forms of staining, such as that caused by exposure to fluoride or certain antibiotics, different types of teeth whitening might be necessary. In extreme cases, the most effective treatment might be porcelain veneers.
To find out the most appropriate treatment for your stained teeth, please contact the office of Dr. Carolyn Kupka.
