Is your smile being let down by stained or discoloured teeth? If so, you may be wondering how to fix discoloured teeth. Fortunately, there are several ways to deal with tooth discolouration such as teeth whitening and dental veneers but first, you need to identify the cause of staining.
Tooth discolouration commonly occurs in the form of surface stains, because of significant changes in the tooth material or as a combination of both.
That said, there are in essence 2 main types of tooth discolouration:
- Extrinsic staining – These are surface stains that appear on the surface of the tooth enamel caused by highly pigmented foods and drinks that we regularly consume or by smoking cigarettes. These types of stains usually respond well to teeth whitening carried out by a dentist.
- Intrinsic tooth staining – This refers to stains that occur below the tooth enamel often caused by overexposure to fluoride, particularly as a child, and certain medications. Thinning tooth enamel as we age also reveals the darker dentin below the tooth and this can make teeth take on a yellow hue. This sort of tooth discolouration is harder to fix but can often be covered over using cosmetic dental veneers.
How to fix discoloured teeth?
It helps to know what type of tooth discolouration you’re dealing with so the first course of action should be a visit to your dentist. Poor oral care can often lead to tooth discolouration and your dentist may simply recommend a dental clean followed by professional teeth whitening. These actions may be sufficient to remove all your surface stains and hardened plaque and then it’s down to you to improve your oral care with daily brushing and flossing.
We mentioned earlier that dental veneers may also be recommended if your tooth discolouration is caused by intrinsic ‘deep down’ staining and/or ageing. Dental veneers involve covering the front surface of stained teeth with a tooth-coloured material to conceal any unsightly staining and blemishing.
Here at Total Care Dental Studio, we provide composite resin and porcelain dental veneers, both of which achieve similar results only differently. Composite veneers are more budget-friendly and are created directly on the teeth using the same material that we use for white tooth fillings. The composite material is applied, moulded, shaped and then hardened with a special light. Typically, they last between 5-7 years and require just one dental visit.
How to fix discoloured teeth with porcelain dental veneers?
This is a different process that involves custom dental veneers being created in a dental lab. There’s no need to have every tooth covered with dental veneers, just the teeth that you are unhappy with. Patients often choose to have all of the upper teeth in their smile line covered to create a dazzling white smile.
Porcelain dental veneers are a solid option when concealing tooth discolouration and because porcelain has similar translucent properties to tooth enamel, they’re exceptionally natural-looking. Porcelain veneers are usually completed in 2 dental visits and can last for 10-15 years, making them a cost-effective investment in your smile.
So now you know how to fix discoloured teeth why not schedule an appointment with the friendly team at Total Care Dental Studio and let us see how we can help you get your pearly whites gleaming again.
Call us today on (07) 3186 8517 and say goodbye to tooth discolouration forever.
Note: Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding, you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.
