What Can I Do About My Discolored Teeth?

An attractive smile is one of your best assets, socially, at work, and even around your friends and family. When your teeth are dingy or yellowed, it can have a big impact on your appearance and your self-confidence. 

Plenty of people understand that — in fact, last year nearly half of Americans turned to teeth whitening treatment to help them get more beautiful smiles.

As a top-rated cosmetic dentist in Waterford, Michigan, Marvin Taylor, DDS, offers several options for helping smiles look their best, including treatments for both superficial staining and deep discoloration. Here’s how Dr. Taylor’s Family Dental Center can help you get your best smile ever.

Why your smile looks dingy

Teeth are made of layers of material, beginning with the hard enamel coating on the tooth surface. Most teeth staining occurs in the uppermost layers of your teeth, usually as a result of one or more of the following factors.

Food and drink pigments

Most foods and beverages you consume contain some sort of coloring, whether it’s natural or artificial. Any of those pigments can wind up discoloring your teeth. 

Tobacco use

Tobacco and tobacco smoke contain a lot of natural pigments. As you inhale or chew tobacco products, the residue clings to your teeth, penetrating to the deeper layers and causing yellow or brown stains. Tobacco use is one of the leading causes of tooth staining.

Soft enamel

If your tooth enamel is naturally soft or if it’s been damaged by aggressive brushing, trauma, or acidic foods and drinks, pigments can penetrate more easily, resulting in stains and overall dinginess.

Less often, stains and discoloration occur in the deeper layers of teeth. These deeper stains are called intrinsic stains and they’re usually associated with issues like long-term use of certain medications, an injury to a tooth, or an underlying medical condition. Very large, dark fillings can also cause some teeth to appear gray or dark.

Before

After

Choosing the right treatment

Once we determine the type of staining you have, we’ll prescribe the best treatment to eliminate stains and help your teeth look their whitest, brightest, and healthiest. 

Since superficial stains and intrinsic discoloration affect different parts of the tooth material, each type of discoloration needs a different approach to see the best results.

Superficial stains and yellowing

For superficial tooth stains and discoloration, our practice offers two state-of-the-art teeth whitening treatments using the ZOOM!® and EPICTM systems. 

ZOOM! teeth whitening uses a patented whitening gel that’s applied to your tooth surface. The gel is activated by a special blue light. After about an hour, we rinse the gel away, revealing your dazzling, white smile.

EPIC teeth whitening uses an advanced laser system to penetrate the superficial tooth layers. The laser acts to disperse stains and leave your teeth up to six shades whiter in about 20 minutes.

Intrinsic discoloration

For stains in the deeper part of your teeth, we may recommend a dental crown, cosmetic bonding, or a porcelain veneer. All of these options cover up the stained tooth, providing a protective barrier along with a healthier, brighter appearance. 

Crowns and veneers use hard, durable, and natural-looking materials that can be tinted to blend in with your surrounding teeth for beautiful results. 

Bonding uses a tooth-colored resin that’s applied directly to the tooth surface, so you can typically see your results in just one office visit.

Make your smile whiter, brighter, and more beautiful

Don’t let a dull smile or yellowed teeth take a toll on your self-confidence. Schedule a visit at our office to learn how our team can help you enjoy your most beautiful smile ever. Give us a call or use our online form to schedule your consultation today.