Porcelain Veneers for Discolored Teeth
Teeth that are stained, yellowed, or discolored can be completely concealed by porcelain veneers. These thin shells of dental-grade porcelain are placed over the front surface of a tooth to hide virtually any dental imperfection.
Dr. Mark Davis can provide porcelain veneers for discolored teeth at his Scottsdale, AZ dental practice. Learn how this cosmetic dental treatment can give you a camera-ready smile.
Why Veneers for Tooth Discoloration?
Tooth discoloration can typically be treated with teeth whitening treatment. That is because most tooth staining is caused by habits, such as coffee-drinking and smoking, that stain the tooth from the outside. This is called extrinsic staining and can be corrected with teeth whitening treatments.
On the other hand, intrinsic staining is when the inner structure of the tooth (the dentin) becomes discolored. Trauma can cause intrinsic staining, as can certain antibiotics taken at a young age.
Intrinsic staining is typically not responsive to teeth bleaching solutions. In such cases, the tooth will need to be covered, such as with a porcelain veneer, to achieve the ideal dental color.
A Closer Look at Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are designed to rest over a tooth, effectively covering up discoloration and other flaws like chips, cracks, and minor misalignment. To receive a dental veneer, your tooth will be prepped, including having some enamel removed, and then impressions will be taken.
Over the next couple of weeks, a dental laboratory will custom-craft your veneer to match the shade and shape of your natural teeth. When your veneer is ready, you will return to our practice to have the it placed. This involves lightly buffing the tooth and then adhering the veneer with dental cement.
Maintaining a Bright Smile
Your porcelain veneer is resistant to staining. Of course, the shade of your natural teeth can become discolored over time. A great way to avoid tooth discoloration is by minimizing how often you drink dark-colored drinks like tea, coffee and red wine. If you need to freshen-up the brightness of your natural teeth, teeth whitening treatment is the best option.
Patients should note that just as porcelain veneers cannot be stained, they also do not respond to teeth whitening treatments. As such, if you whiten your natural teeth, they may become a different shade than your veneers.
Your dentist can adjust your teeth whitening treatment to achieve a certain level of brightness to account for concerns such as existing veneers. Generally speaking, it is recommended that patients undergo teeth whitening treatment before having veneers placed to ensure your smile has a consistent bright shade.
Learn More about the Benefits of Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers have become a popular cosmetic dental treatment in recent years thanks to how effectively they can transform a smile. Find out how a porcelain veneer can mask your tooth discoloration or other dental drawback by giving us a call today at (480) 595-1300. You can also fill out our online form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
