If you consumed too much fluoride when you were a child, you may now have stains on your teeth as an adult that were caused by the fluoride. This is a condition called dental fluorosis, and you may have mild or severe stains from this. If you have severe staining on your teeth from this and are tired of living with these stains, you should visit a cosmetic dentist in your area to find out if one of the following options would be good for treating these stains.
Tooth Whitening
Professional teeth-whitening services are one option you could talk to a dentist about if you suffer from dental fluorosis stains. Getting your teeth whitened at a dental clinic usually involves a bleaching process. This process can sometimes help hide dental fluorosis stains, but not always. It will depend on how bad the stains are on your teeth, and your dentist will determine if this is a good option to try.
If you do go through with this method, don't be surprised if the stains are more prominent right after you complete the procedure. It is very common for this to happen, but over time the stains should lighten up, and you might find that you can no longer see them after a while.
Composite Bonding
If your dentist feels that teeth-whitening services will not help with your stains, he or she might recommend using composite bonding. This method will not eliminate the stains, but it is very useful for hiding them. Composite bonding is a material used to fill in cavities, but it is also used for other purposes, including to hide stains.
When dentists use this method, they basically spread the composite material over the teeth and then sand them off. The result is a coating over your teeth that hides the stains. While you cannot see that this was placed on your teeth, because it looks natural, it will hide the stains you had. Your dentist can tint the material to any shade of white too, and this is a common way people whiten their teeth with a method that does not involve bleaching.
Veneers
The only other option you could really choose for this purpose is dental veneers, which are small shells made of porcelain that are placed over your teeth. This method will also hide the stains on your teeth; however, it is the most expensive method of all to choose for hiding stains caused by dental fluorosis.
Having stained teeth can be embarrassing, but you do not have to live with these stains. Visiting a cosmetic dentist is a great way to find out what your options are for achieving a nicer-looking smile.
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