Ah, the quest for a dazzling, white smile. For many people, discolored teeth just won’t do. If this is you, we have great news — the cosmetic dentistry experts at Shoreline Dental Studio can help you achieve the stain-free smile you deserve. Here, we cover four cosmetic dental treatments that will bring a sparkle to your smile: cosmetic dental crowns, porcelain veneers, teeth whitening, and composite bonding.
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Dental Crowns: A Complete Cover Up
Dental crowns are permanent, custom-made caps that fully cover teeth and discoloration. They’re a go-to option for stained teeth that have also been damaged or weakened. Crowns can be made from various materials, including porcelain, ceramic, and even gold! Cosmetic dental treatments like a crown involve removing a part of your tooth’s structure, so it’s more invasive than options like teeth whitening or composite bonding.
At Shoreline Dental Studio, we offer our patients porcelain Zirconia crowns. Porcelain crowns are extremely durable and can last up to 15 years with proper care. They not only cover up tooth discoloration but also restore and strengthen teeth functioning. As far as cosmetic dentistry procedures go, getting a crown typically takes a couple of visits to our San Clemente or Mission Viejo dental office. One visit involves your Orange County dentist preparing your tooth and diagnostics, the second visit is for fitting the crown over your tooth.
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Porcelain Veneers: A Smile Facelift
Porcelain veneers are a second permanent option on the list of cosmetic dentistry procedures you can turn to for stained teeth. What are they? Simply put, veneers are wafer-thin porcelain shells custom-made to cover the front surface of your teeth, transforming the look of your smile. They’re an option for getting a bright smile when the stains on your teeth won’t respond to whitening treatments.
Veneers by your experienced Shoreline Dental Studio dentist will look natural, thanks to several features: the porcelain material that mimics the light-reflecting, slightly translucent properties of natural teeth, the precise handcrafting and custom artistry that goes into creating your veneers, and, of course, the careful, collaborative planning and digital diagnostics that start your journey with veneers.
Getting veneers typically takes two visits and requires removing a thin layer of tooth enamel. Before you receive your new veneers, you’ll wear a temporary acrylic version for a few weeks, giving you the chance to experience the look and feel of your new smile and allow you further input on the final look.
With proper care, veneers can last 7 to 15 years. Another perk of veneers? They’re resistant to stains so you don’t have to worry about your discolored smile returning.
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Teeth Whitening: The Fast Fix
Now, you might wonder how to fix a stained smile without changing your teeth like you must with crowns and veneers. Teeth whitening is, by far, the most popular choice when it comes to getting a smile “ before and after” that’s quick, has the lowest cost, and is the least invasive.
As you might already know, teeth whitening is available as a professional treatment or an over-the-counter drugstore DIY. The third option is to take professional products home from us to apply yourself. However, in-office whitening usually gives the fastest and most dramatic results, often lightening teeth by several shades in just one visit.
The difference between professional vs. drugstore teeth whitening? Professional teeth whitening is a customized system with professional strength formulations. And if you experience sensitive teeth during in-house teeth whitening treatment, our Shoreline team has customized strategies to ensure a safe and comfortable experience.
How does teeth whitening improve stained teeth? Hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide break down stains, making discoloration on teeth less concentrated and your teeth brighter. However, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Whitening works best on yellow stains and might be less effective for gray or brown tooth discoloration. Whitening treatment also needs repeating periodically, especially if you love foods and drinks that stain teeth.
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Composite Bonding: The Artistic Touch-Up
You can also address tooth discoloration with composite bonding. This cosmetic dentistry procedure involves applying tooth-colored composite resin to teeth to improve appearance. It’s an option for fixing minor imperfections like chips, cracks, or discoloration that doesn’t respond well to whitening.
Bonding usually requires just one visit and minimal tooth alteration. Your dentist will paint thin layers of tooth-colored resin to the problem area which bonds with your teeth. Then the resin is sculpted and shaped to seamlessly match your natural teeth, then hardened with a special light. Bonding isn’t as long-lasting as veneers or crowns, typically holding up for about 5 to 10 years, but it’s an option for a small and quick cosmetic fix.
Dr. Ritzau, Dr. Livingston, Dr. Saad and Dr. Winters often recommend composite bonding for our younger patients and teens who need to wait for their teeth to fully mature before getting a permanent treatment like a crown or veneers.
