Are you tired of your stained teeth, and wondering what’s the best way to erase them? Did you know that there’s more than one kind of tooth stain? Though they may appear similar at times, stained teeth can vary in a number of ways, including why they occur and where they appear on your teeth. Like most issues that arise from numerous causes, improving your stained teeth depends on why and how they’re stained in the first place.
Extrinsic vs. Intrinsic
A healthy tooth is comprised of layers, the most dominant being a dense, bone-like material called dentin. Surrounding the main structure of your tooth is a semi-translucent layer of highly-resilient mineral crystals, better known as tooth enamel. When stains develop on the surface of your enamel, such as from food and beverages, they’re known as extrinsic stains, and can often be erased with a professional teeth whitening procedure. If your tooth changes color from within its dentin (intrinsic staining), then the issue could be more serious
What Causes a Tooth to Change Color?
Discoloration in one or more of your teeth can mean many things, from an underlying dental infection to a systemic medical condition. A broken or chipped tooth can also change color from the inside due to trauma to the tissues in its pulp (nerves and blood vessels). Certain antibiotics, like tetracycline, and overexposure to fluoride as a child can also produce distinct shades of intrinsically stained teeth.
We Can Improve Your Smile
As common as stained teeth are, much of cosmetic dentistry has grown around improving the appearance of stained teeth without the need for extensive treatment. While teeth whitening can erase most extrinsic stains, Dr. Hakimzadeh may have to prescribe a more potent procedure to address intrinsic ones. Tooth discoloration can often be addressed with cosmetic dental bonding, a porcelain dental crown, or a set of custom-designed porcelain veneers that are bonded to the fronts of your teeth.
About Downey Family & Cosmetic Dentistry:
Dr. Hadis Reyhani, Dr. Ben Reyhani, and Dr. Pasha Hakimzadeh, DDS, provide a wealth of combined experience, along with innovative technology and personalized care, to help improve our patients’ dental health and function and help them enjoy smiling again. To schedule a consultation, call Downey Family Cosmetic Dentistry today at (562) 472-2433.
