A healthy white smile is on everybody’s wish list but discolored teeth may be troublesome for some. There are many reasons why teeth may get discolored. Some discoloration can be intrinsic (internal) due to age factors, accidents, disturbance during tooth enamel’s development, birth defects or extrinsic (external) that is staining caused by lifestyle factors such as drinking too much coffee, poor oral hygiene, smoking, chewing tobacco or may be due to prolonged use of some medications.
Treatment options to whiten teeth may vary depending on the cause of the discoloration and how much the tooth is discolored.
Extrinsic/external stains can be treated by:
- Avoiding the foods and beverages that cause stains
-In-office whitening procedures (teeth bleaching)
- Oral prophylaxis (scaling & polishing)
Intrinsic stains can be treated by:
-Veneers
-Crowns
Dental veneers are thin, tooth-colored shells that are attached to the front surface of teeth to improve their appearance. They’re often made from porcelain or resin-composite materials and are permanently bonded to your teeth.
On the other hand crowns cover the entire surface of the teeth to improve their overall appearance. There are various materials used for fabrication of crowns depending on the requirement/condition.Both Veneers and crowns can be used to treat a number of different cosmetic concerns, including chipped, broken, discolored,spacing,overlapping or smaller-than-average teeth.