Tooth Whitening And Veneers

If you want a beautiful, white smile, tooth whitening may be the way to go. However, some stains are resistant to whitening. If that is the case for you, porcelain veneers are a great solution. If you have multiple dental flaws that you would like to correct, you may also prefer the versatility of veneers over a combination of whitening and other procedures.

Tooth Whitening

Your cosmetic dentist can whiten your teeth in his office or he can provide you with a take-home whitening kit. The kits that dentists can provide are superior to the whitening products that you can buy in a store.

Tooth whitening is a safe and non-invasive procedure that works for most people. If you are considering cosmetic dentistry, it makes a great introductory procedure. Whitening your teeth can make you look younger and even minimizes the appearance of dental flaws such as minor crookedness.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are a very versatile, multi-purpose cosmetic dentistry solution. They can correct the appearance of:

Discoloration
Minor crookedness
Chips and cracks
Small gaps
Misshapen teeth
Unevenly sized teeth

Porcelain veneers can be used as an alternative to tooth whitening for discoloration that is resistant to the whitening process.

Understanding Discoloration

There are many reasons why teeth become discolored. Normal wear and tear, the foods and beverages you consume, smoking, and other lifestyle factors can cause discoloration that typically responds very well to tooth whitening.

Stains from certain medications, including tetracycline, dental trauma, and fluorosis occur on the inside of your teeth. This type of staining may or may not respond to tooth whitening. When it does not, veneers can be used instead.

Damaged tooth enamel satins more quickly than smooth, healthy enamel. It can also lead to decay and serious dental problems. While the stains themselves may initially respond well to whitening, your teeth need to be sealed and protected. Small chips, superficial cracks, and some tooth erosion can be covered and sealed using veneers.

Tooth Whitening and Porcelain Veneers

Depending on your personal needs and cosmetic dentistry goals, you may be considering a combination of tooth whitening and veneers. For instance, you may not need or want veneers on all of the teeth you would like to lighten.

Veneers and other restorations do not respond to tooth whitening. When you choose whitening in combination with veneers or other restorations, your cosmetic dentist will whiten your teeth first so that your restorations are color-matched to the proper shade. For complete smile whitening, your dentist can also replace metal or discolored fillings and gold crowns with beautiful porcelain restorations that look just like your natural teeth.

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