Teeth stains are an unfortunate element of dental health that can develop gradually over the course of time. These stains have the potential to negatively impact the appearance of one’s teeth, which in turn can have detrimental impacts on one’s self-esteem and image.
However, something that isn’t commonly known is that there are multiple kinds of teeth stains. Knowing what you’re dealing with can potentially assist you with improving the appearance of your teeth and removing them.
Understanding Intrinsic and Extrinsic Teeth Stains
If you’re suffering from teeth stains, or just would like to know more about teeth whitening services, take a look at this guide that can help you determine what the best course of treatment is for you.
What Are Teeth Stains?
Most people are ultimately familiar with teeth stains. Simply through the process of eating and drinking in our daily lives, the teeth are liable to incur stains. Consuming certain food and drinks such as coffee and sugar has the potential to exacerbate this issue.
Understanding Intrinsic and Extrinsic Teeth Stains
There are two primary types of teeth stains that are commonly experienced: intrinsic and extrinsic teeth stains. In addition, as one gets older, they’re liable to experience a third type of tooth stain that is related to age. Understanding which type is affecting you personally can help you and your dentist prepare the right type of treatment. Some of the details regarding these types of stains are as such:
- Extrinsic Stains: Extrinsic teeth stains affect the outer layers of the teeth. This part of the teeth is known as the enamel. These types of stains often develop thanks to external factors such as lifestyle habits and one’s diet.
- Intrinsic Stains: Intrinsic stains are another one of the common types of teeth stains. These types of tooth stains impact the part of the tooth known as the dentin, which exists at a deeper level than the enamel. These types of stains typically indicate the presence of a deeper health issue, or that there is an adverse reaction of some type to a medication.
- Age-Related: As one ages, the chance of developing teeth stains tends to increase. The types of stains that develop in these scenarios tend to be a combination of intrinsic and extrinsic stains. Sometimes, these stains can be somewhat more difficult to treat due to the fragile nature of aged teeth.
Your dentist will identify which types of stains you’re experiencing during an examination of your teeth. After examining some of the details of your teeth, they should be able to make a diagnosis and determine what the best path for treatment is.
Treating Teeth Stains
There are several different methods available for teeth stains. Some of the following treatments are commonly employed:
- Teeth Whitening: Professional teeth whitening is distinct from over-the-counter methods thanks to some of the powerful professional tools that are available for dentists. Oftentimes, professional teeth whitening methods are able to remove most stains that are present on the teeth in a single visit.
- Dental Veneers: Porcelain veneers are custom-made to fit the surface of one’s teeth, and have the potential to provide a long-lasting change in appearance to teeth that have become stained or damaged.
- Crowns: Crowns are usually employed in situations where the teeth have become heavily damaged or discolored. Crowns provide an artificial cap to teeth that have become heavily damaged and are able to make up for some lost stability.
- Dental Bonding: Dental bonding is often employed in situations where intrinsic stains are present. These bonds can be used to cover the discoloration and generally make the appearance of one’s teeth more appealing.
Of the above methods, your dentist should be able to determine which would be the most useful in your situation. You can help your dentist by providing information on how your condition has developed.
Sometimes, certain treatments can be employed to treat multiple dental conditions at once. You should discuss with your dentist whether or not you have more dental conditions that need treatment. It’s possible that you could save yourself time and money in the long run by treating multiple conditions at once, improving the health of your teeth greatly.
Making Teeth Clean in Riverside
Dentistry Riverside is one of the best resources available for patients in Southern California. If you’re shopping around for cosmetic dentistry in Riverside and would like to discuss what options are available for you, contact our office today to set up an appointment.