Cosmetic dentistry services

Types of Tooth Whitening

McKinney TX Cosmetic DentistryWho doesn’t want a whiter smile? Regardless of your stage of life, white teeth make you look younger, feel more confident and even boost your success at work. Professional teeth whitening is an excellent solution if you want to overhaul your appearance in a quick, affordable way. Before you set your expectations, however, you should know that no two smiles are alike. There are different types of tooth stains, and each patient can respond differently to a professional teeth bleaching session.

The degree of whiteness you attain and the treatment time necessary to reach those results will depend on the type of tooth stains you have. Here’s a closer look at three types of tooth stains:

Extrinsic Stains

These popular stains are also referred to as “surface stains.” Extrinsic stains are caused by regular consumption of common culprits such as coffee, tea, red wine and dark sodas. The discoloration caused by smoking and the natural aging process are also in this category. Fortunately, these stains are the easiest to remove simply because they are on top of the tooth enamel or the outermost layer of your teeth.

Intrinsic Stains

More stubborn stains to reverse are intrinsic stains. These refer to the yellowing or discoloration that occurs from the inside out. In other words, the tooth stain is deeper and visible through the enamel. Dental injury/trauma, tetracycline antibiotics and infection can contribute to intrinsic tooth stains. In addition, if a child gets excessive fluoride before the enamel is fully formed, intrinsic stains can form. These types of stains can be reversed in some cases, but may take much longer.

Combination Staining

It is common for patients to have a combination of both extrinsic and intrinsic staining. Such patients may find that a single professional whitening treatment immediately lightens those extrinsic stains, but if the discoloration lies deeper within the tooth, ongoing treatment with a peroxide-based penetrating whitener may be needed to obtain ideal results.

At Red Oak Family Dentistry, we are proud to offer the latest and most proven teeth whitening systems available. We always take your comfort and smile health as a top priority when reversing tooth stains. If you have struggled to get the whitening results you’d hoped for, you may have stubborn intrinsic staining. Our office proudly offers other options for persistent discoloration, including porcelain veneers and dental bonding.

Posted on Behalf of Red Oak Family Dentistry

Red Oak Family Dentistry
5345 W University Dr, #200
McKinney, TX 75071
(214) 556-5664