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Front
Teeth:
Many situations result in discolored front
teeth:
Treatment After Root Canal:
After a root canal, if the tooth isn't broken, whitening may
solve the problem. The procedure involves your Dentist making a small opening in the back of the
tooth and inserting a cotton pellet that contains a whitening agent, also
called bleach. In some cases a heated instrument is applied to activate the
bleach. The procedure may be repeated through a series of appointments to
achieve the desired result. Periodic re-whitening (once a year or once
every several years) may be necessary to maintain the tooth's whiteness.
If the tooth has received root canal
treatment and is broken or chipped, it
may be necessary to crown
the tooth. A crown covers and protects the tooth from further damage.
Crowns made of porcelain or porcelain-covered metal can correct the
discoloration that often occurs after root canal therapy.
If a front tooth is only
minimally damaged and discolored, it may be possible to whiten it with the
use of a porcelain
veneer or with whitening followed by a veneer. A porcelain veneer is a
thin shell of porcelain that generally covers the front and top of a front
tooth. Since veneers are translucent, it may be necessary to
periodically bleach the tooth to keep it looking white and natural.
Stain
Or Discoloration Caused By Foods Or Smoking:
A whitening solution may be
applied during a series of appointments in the Dental office. The solution is activated with a
special light or by a laser.
Home
whitening has become very popular in recent years. A whitening
tray is custom-fabricated, filled with whitening solution and then worn
for several hours each day. Home whitening is generally more predictable,
less expensive, and longer lasting than in-office whitening procedures.
Over-the-counter whitening kits contain whitening solutions that
are generally much weaker than those provided by a Dentist.
For a one-appointment solution to discolored teeth, bonding
may be the answer. After lightly roughening the teeth, the Dentist places
a plastic bonding material on the teeth, sculpts and shapes it, then
hardens it with a high-intensity light.
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Back
Teeth:
As
with front teeth, many situations result in discolored back teeth:
- genetics
- drugs taken during tooth
formation
- infected
teeth
- root canal
treatment
- smoking
- foods
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Silver amalgam fillings are the primary
cause.
Silver fillings contain copper, mercury, tin, and silver that can, over
time, blacken the teeth and the gums.
Today, Dentists have several varieties of white filling materials
that can be used to
replace dark silver fillings and are described as follows:.
Direct Resins:
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Direct resins can be placed directly on
the tooth in a single appointment. The procedure includes selecting
the correct shade of resin, pressing it into place, sculpted, hardened with a special light, and finally
adjusted and polished. Direct resins are economical, strong, and
make for adequate
restorations, but are generally less durable than the other white filling
materials listed below. |
Indirect Resins:
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"Indirect" means that
the restoration is constructed on a model in a laboratory rather than directly in
a patient's mouth. Since a laboratory is involved, the procedure
becomes a two-appointment process. The dental lab uses additional techniques to harden these restorations and
make them significantly more durable. |
Indirect Hybrid
Resins:
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Indirect hybrid resins,
a recent development, combines the durability of porcelain with
the flexibility of resin (plastic). As with indirect resins, these
restorations are constructed in a laboratory beneath heat and light.
Two or
more appointments are necessary, but the result is an extremely
high-quality restoration. |
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