Whitening your teeth can take years off of the appearance of your smile. Young and healthy dental enamel is naturally white, luminous, and fresh-looking. If your teeth have developed stains or discolorations over the years, there are things that our Santa Monica dentists can do in order to help restore your smile to its previous level of whiteness.
The first thing to keep in mind is that often your smile will look whiter and brighter after a professional dental cleaning. During an in-office cleaning, our dentist removes stuck-on plaque and tartar, both of which can mar smiles.
If you’ve developed environmental stains—discoloration due to foods, drinks, and tobacco products—you may benefit from professional dental whitening treatments. During treatment, our dentist applies a topical whitening gel to your dental enamel. This gel goes to work lightening the stains on and in the top layers of your teeth. Some people are able to lighten their smiles by up to eight shades using in-office whitening.
There are also dental treatments that are designed to cover dark or dull enamel with brighter and whiter substances. Dental bonding, for example, allows our team to cover the visible tooth structure with custom-shaded dental resin. Once the resin is cured and hardened, it looks just like natural enamel and is able to stand up to daily wear and tear. Porcelain veneers, likewise, can be used to cover unsightly enamel. Veneers are individually crafted aesthetic restorations that are then permanently attached to the existing dental structure. Every aspect of the veneer is personalized to suit the patient’s appearance and needs.
With so many cosmetic treatments available today, there is truly no reason to continue living with unsightly dental stains or discoloration. Call our Santa Monica cosmetic dentists to learn more about your treatment options, and to schedule a consultation with our team!