One of the most common cosmetic treatment questions we hear is how can our Bromley patients improve the appearance, usually meaning the whiteness, of their teeth. Patients will often say that their teeth are healthy enough but they look a little darker than they would like. In many cases this leads to the next question, should they consider teeth whitening, or would veneers be a better option?
Both treatments can certainly improve the appearance of your smile, but they are designed for slightly different situations. The choice between them normally depends on the type of staining present and on the condition of your teeth themselves. A short conversation during an examination at the Smile Dental Practice in Bromley usually helps to clarify which direction makes the most sense.
Tooth discolouration is very common, and in most cases it develops gradually. Everyday habits often play a role and tea and coffee are a good example. Many people drink several cups a day, and although the effect is slow, the pigments in these drinks can attach themselves to the enamel. After enough time the shade of the teeth may look a little darker than it once did. Red wine can have a similar effect, as can strongly coloured foods. None of this suggests poor dental care, it’s is simply a reflection of a normal diet and lifestyle.
Smoking is another well known cause of staining. Tobacco deposits cling to the surface of the teeth and can leave yellow or brown staining that become more noticeable with time. Although this is problematic, it is less so when compared with other harm that smoking can cause, including oral cancers and periodontal disease.
Age also has a part to play. Enamel is slightly translucent, and the dentine underneath darkens over time. Consequently, the colour of the dentine begins to show through more clearly. Even teeth that are perfectly healthy can therefore appear darker than they did in our younger days.
Occasionally the cause lies inside the tooth itself. A knock or injury can lead to a tooth becoming darker, and certain medications taken during childhood have been known to affect the colour of developing teeth.
Teeth whitening is often the first treatment that dentists discuss when someone would like a brighter smile. The principle is straightforward; a specially formulated whitening gel is used to lighten the shade of the natural teeth.
In most practices the teeth whitening process is carried out using trays that are made to fit your teeth securely but comfortably. A small amount of whitening gel is placed in the trays and these are worn for a short time each day. The change in colour happens gradually, usually over a couple of weeks or so. One advantage of this whitening method is that not only is it effective, but also requires no invasive dentistry. The result tends to look natural because the original shape and character of the teeth remain unchanged.
Whitening, however, does not solve every type of discolouration. If a tooth has become deeply stained from within, the improvement may be limited. In those situations another option may need to be considered.
Dental veneers approach the problem in a different way. They don’t change the colour of your natural teeth but provide an artificial ‘veneer’ which is attached to the front of the teeth. These are usually made from porcelain and can be made to match the shade of white that you want. This is ideal for those who are worried about having a smile that they feel looks artificially bright. The whiteness can be adjusted to your requirements. Veneers can also be used for correcting teeth with minor ‘flaws’. These might include small chips or cracks in the teeth.
Because a veneer needs to sit naturally on the tooth, a small amount of preparation is usually required. Dentists therefore tend to consider veneers carefully before recommending them as the first line of treatment. This is where our experienced Bromley dentists such as Dr Akruti Patel (GDC 177366) can really help.
When someone asks whether whitening or veneers would be better, the answer usually becomes clearer after a proper look at the teeth. If the teeth are in good condition and the discolouration is mainly due to surface staining, whitening is often the obvious place to start. Many of our patients are pleasantly surprised by the improvement that whitening alone can achieve.
If the staining is very deep, or if the tooth colour varies quite a lot from one tooth to another, veneers may offer a more predictable result. Of course, your expectations also matter. Some people simply want their smile to look a little fresher whereas others hope for a more noticeable cosmetic change. Talking through these expectations helps guide the choice of treatment.
In everyday practice it is quite common to begin with whitening and then reassess the result. If the colour improves enough to satisfy the patient, no further cosmetic work may be required. For many people, trying a teeth whitening procedure is their first option, partially due to cost but also due to its non-invasive nature.
If the results are not as hoped, veneers are still an option that can be turned to. If you’ve been considering having your teeth whitened and would like to discuss this with us, your first step should be to book an initial consultation with one of our local cosmetic dentists. We invite you to make the first step by calling the Smile Dental Practice Bromley on 020 8462 2473.
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