Teeth whitening removes stains or other discoloration from the tooth’s surface. There are different methods of teeth whitening; we provide in-office, take-home, and power bleaching. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that can improve the appearance of teeth. We provide professional teeth whitening treatment in San Antonio, TX, to improve the cosmetic appearance of our patient’s smiles.
We can whiten teeth to remove the effects of coffee, cigarettes, and other substances that permanently stain or discolor teeth. Aging, taking certain medications, and too much fluoride may also cause tooth stains. We can treat these problems with crowns and veneers. No matter the cause of your tooth stains, we can find the proper treatment.
What Causes Tooth Stains?
You may have discolored, darkened, or yellowed teeth for one or more reasons. Common causes of tooth stains include:
- Tooth Damage: You may notice your tooth has turned gray after you chip or break a tooth because of the blood vessels within the tooth. After a dental injury, there is decreased blood flow to your tooth. Your tooth can darken after you damage a tooth.
- Foods and Drinks: Coffee, tea, wine, berries, and other foods and drinks contain chromogens. Chromogens are chemical compounds that “dye” teeth. Even if you brush and floss, you can experience tooth stains because of what you eat and drink.
- Medications: Tooth discoloration may be a side effect of some medications. Antihistamines, antipsychotics, and other medications can increase your risk of tooth stains.
- Aging: As you age, your tooth enamel, or outer tooth layer, may wear away. As your enamel wears down, it exposes the dentin, a dark underlay beneath it. As you experience tooth wear, you can experience discolored or darkened teeth.
- Fluorosis: Dental fluorosis is a condition that occurs when excess fluoride creates white or brown spots on teeth. While these spots are harmless, they affect the look of your smile.
- Tobacco Use: Smoking cigarettes, vaping, and using other tobacco products regularly leads to multiple oral health issues. In addition to bad breath, gum disease, and tooth decay, tobacco products can lead to tooth discoloration. The nicotine in tobacco can make the teeth appear yellow.
Types of Tooth Stains
The cause of your tooth stains can impact your treatment. There are two common types of tooth stains:
- Intrinsic Stains: These stains occur within the tooth. Common causes of intrinsic tooth stains include tooth damage, aging, and some medications. Intrinsic stains are harder to remove and often do not react to professional whitening treatment.
- Extrinsic Stains: These tooth stains occur outside of the tooth. Foods, drinks, and tobacco use are common causes of extrinsic stains. We can remove these stains with in-office and take-home whitening treatments.
Our office may recommend different whitening treatments depending on your type of tooth stain. For example, we will not recommend professional whitening treatment if you have intrinsic stains. Instead, we will recommend cosmetic or restorative treatment.
Teeth Whitening in San Antonio, TX
Store-bought whitening gels, strips, and toothpaste often do not provide lasting, visible results. Most whitening treatments may also offer inconsistent results. Increased sensitivity is also common with whitening strips, kits, and other products.
Our professional teeth whitening treatment can help you achieve better results than store-bought treatments. We customize whitening to fit you.
Take-Home Whitening
If you want to whiten your teeth in your home, we recommend take-home teeth whitening treatment. First, we will take impressions of your teeth in our office to create a custom whitening tray.
Then, once your custom tray is complete, you will return to our office. We will provide whitening gel, trays, and at-home instructions. Using these instructions, you will know how long to wear your trays daily for the best results. We will make recommendations based on the extent of your staining and your tooth sensitivity.
In-Office Whitening
Power bleaching teeth whitening treatment uses higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide than other treatments. During power bleaching, we apply whitening gel to the teeth. Then, we use a light to activate the ingredients in the gel.
We will not recommend power bleaching for patients who experience tooth sensitivity. However, patients with strong tooth enamel who want immediate whitening results benefit from power bleaching.
To keep your teeth bright after a whitening treatment, avoid coffee, tea, and other drinks that can discolor teeth. Brush and floss twice a day to remove surface stains from the teeth. We can also provide touch-up treatments in our office 6 to 12 months after your initial treatment.
Is Teeth Whitening Treatment For Me?
Keep in mind that teeth whitening is not safe or effective for everyone. We recommend that patients receive a dental exam before starting treatment. Dr. Abazid will advise patients about the most appropriate procedure for their smiles.
He will also discuss the expected treatment results. In most cases, we can brighten and whiten yellow and gray teeth. However, whitening may not work well on some stain colors.
We may not recommend whitening for people with gum disease, receding gums, or sensitive teeth. Dr. Abazid may advise against specific treatments for patients with worn enamel. The tooth enamel is the outer layer of the tooth. When there is no enamel on an exposed tooth root, we cannot whiten the tooth root.
In addition, we must fill tooth cavities before treatment. Otherwise, patients can experience additional sensitivity if the whitening gel comes in contact with decay or the tooth’s interior.
Alternatives to Teeth Whitening
We offer cosmetic and restorative dental treatments for patients with high tooth sensitivity or deep tooth stains. These treatments are also effective for patients who do not want teeth whitening. Patients with deep tooth stains that do not react to whitening may need another treatment.
Porcelain veneers are thin shells that we bond to the front of teeth. Veneers can cover one or all teeth that show when you smile. Dental veneers are some of the best options for patients with tough tooth stains who want to brighten their teeth.
Patients with tooth damage and staining benefit from dental crowns, or caps that fully cover single teeth. We use porcelain crowns that we color-match to brighten teeth. Color-matching ensures that the crowns fit in with the shape and shade of natural teeth.
Brighten Your Smile
Erase years of tooth stains with teeth whitening treatment today. Call our dental office for a teeth whitening consultation in San Antonio, TX, at 210-939-9689. Feel free to schedule an appointment with Dr. Abazid on our website.
Our dental office serves patients in the Apple Creek, Alamo Farmsteads, Oak Hills, and Leon Valley communities.