Teeth whitening at the Cosmetic Dentist Novato office is one of the easiest and most affordable ways remove stains and restore your smile to its beautiful, youthful appearance. Even though teeth whitening can produce amazing results, certain types of stains are resistant to professional teeth whitening.
Extrinsic, or surface staining relates to habits that you can control. Diet, oral hygiene, and lifestyle habits all impact your surface tooth enamel. These are the easiest stains to remove.
The reason is that extrinsic stains are still sitting on the surface of the tooth and have not penetrated into the enamel and dentin. For this reason, they are easily removed by the dentist during a professional teeth whitening. Extrinsic stains occur as a result of consuming stain-producing foods and beverages like red wine, coffee, blueberries, dark teas and cola drinks. Nicotine use is one of the worst culprits will severely discolor teeth.
Intrinsic staining of teeth occurs from the inside out and indicates that the interior of the tooth has been damaged. These types of tooth stains may be a result of trauma to the tooth, excessive exposure to fluoride or the use of tetracycline. Dental decay and disease may initially impact the exterior of the tooth, but can eventually erode the interior of the tooth. Intrinsic stains are more difficult to remove completely, but it may be possible to lighten them with professional teeth whitening.
It is possible that an alternative cosmetic treatment may be the best course of treatment if your teeth are severely discolored. The only way to know for sure is by contacting our Cosmetic Dentist Novato office to arrange a free consultation. We will evaluate your situation and decide the best option for you to achieve a truly beautiful smile.