Current research supports tooth bleaching as a generally
safe and effective method to improve tooth esthetics, provided it is
undertaken under a dentist’s supervision.
During the initial consultation, we will determine the
cause of tooth discolouration, the likelihood that the desired effect
will be achieved with bleaching and the potential for negative effects.
Tooth discolouration may
result from dental caries (tooth decay), aging,
food and beverages, smoking, medications or other causes. Unlike natural
enamel, crowns, fillings and other dental materials are unaffected by
bleaching compounds and may appear darker relative to teeth that have
been whitened by bleaching. In addition, in patients with irregular
tooth discolouration (due to medication, aging or fluorosis), bleaching
may yield irregular and unsatisfactory results, and other or additional
treatment may be required.
The effects of tooth bleaching can be expected to last
up to 2 years, depending on lifestyle choices such as smoking and
consumption of staining foods and beverages. The degree to which teeth
appear whiter, the evenness of shading and the speed at which the change
occurs depend largely on the concentration of the bleaching chemicals
and the mechanism of delivery (mouthguard tray, strip delivery or
paint-on method). The current literature does not indicate that power-
or light-assisted (laser) bleaching produces whiter teeth, although the
bleaching process occurs more quickly with these methods.
Veneers
Porcelain Veneers
A veneer is a thin shield of porcelain that is used to cover the
front surface of the tooth. They are designed as a permanent way to
change or enhance the look of stained, chipped, broken, or undesired
teeth. A minimum of two appointments is often necessary to complete the
procedure.
Tooth Coloured Fillings
Composite Fillings
Today, more patients ask their dentists about white
fillings because they want their teeth to look natural when they laugh,
talk and smile.
White fillings, also called composite fillings, are made
from tooth-colored materials that restore the natural appearance of a
decayed or previously filled tooth. Because they blend well with tooth
enamel they don’t look like fillings.
Porcelain Inlays, Onlays and Crowns
Inlays and Onlays
Since dental inlays and onlays can be made from durable,
tooth-colored porcelain, they offer much more enduring and
natural-looking results than metal fillings. In addition, their
customized nature allows dentists to securely bond them to the tooth
surface, adding structural integrity and preventing bacteria from
entering and forming cavities.
Whereas dental inlays are designed to treat decay within the
cusps, or top projections, of a tooth, onlays are used to treat decay
that extends to one or more of the cusps. Onlays are placed in much the
same way as inlays. First, an impression of the decayed tooth is taken,
and a temporary onlay is placed over the tooth. The impression is then
sent to a lab, where a dental technician creates the onlay according to
the tooth’s dimensions. When the patient returns to the dentist's
office, the temporary onlay is removed, and the permanent restoration is
placed on the tooth and securely bonded using high-strength dental
resins.
Crowns
Porcelain Crowns
All ceramic crowns may be made of porcelain, resins, or dental
ceramic materials. They create an extremely natural-looking appearance
and are typically used on front teeth. The tooth-colored ceramic
material is translucent, like the enamel of your natural teeth, and size
and shade can be carefully matched to complement the rest of your smile.
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