Stained teeth are usually caused by eating or drinking items such as coffee, cola, cherries, and tea. Cigarette smoking can also stain your teeth. These types of stains are called extrinsic stains. If your mother took the antibiotic known as tetracycline when she was pregnant with you, your teeth might come in stained gray. This type of staining or discoloration is known as intrinsic staining. Here are some effective treatment options for both extrinsic and intrinsic staining.
Extrinsic Staining Treatments
Bleaching is usually very effective against superficial or extrinsic tooth stains. While at-home bleaching products such as strips and trays usually work well, professional laser bleaching is usually more effective. This is because your dentist uses a higher concentration of the bleaching agent.
Intrinsic Staining Treatments
Deeply embedded stains and intrinsic stains usually do not respond to bleaching in the way that superficial stains do. Because of this, you may need to consider tooth bonding in Chicago for your stubborn dental stains.
Tooth bonding is a process where a resin substance is applied to your teeth and then cured with a special light or heat lamp. While the tooth bonding process does not actually get rid of the stains on your teeth, it conceals them very well. Bonding is also effective for teeth that are chipped and for teeth that contain small fissures of cracks.
To learn more about tooth bonding in Chicago or to schedule an appointment, contact Art of Modern Dentistry.
