Root Canal — The Road to Pain Relief
Each year in the United States, about 15 million root canal procedures are performed, helping millions to find much-needed relief from pain and, perhaps more importantly, help them hold onto their teeth.
How to Whiten and Brighten Dull and Dingy Teeth
There’s no mystery regarding the power of white, bright teeth. 99% of people consider their smile their most important social asset. Unfortunately, life has other plans for your teeth; they’ve become dull, dingy, and discolored, forcing you to be more tight-lipped.
The good news is that there are solutions for transforming your smile into one you’ll be proud to show off. At Peninsula Dental Excellence, Drs. Jeff Yoshihara and Colin Au are experts in cosmetic makeovers, and we offer several options for whitening and brightening dull and dingy teeth.
What happens to your teeth over time
Many forces conspire to rob your teeth of their whiteness. First, consider all that you eat and drink in terms of staining. From your morning cup of coffee to your evening glass of red wine, certain foods and beverages can wreak havoc on white teeth, leaving stains that daily brushing can’t eliminate.
Second, the whiteness of your teeth is powered by your enamel, which can break down as you age. As a result, your enamel thins, allowing the brown dentin inside your teeth to show more, creating the yellowing effect.
While the two forces above are the most common drivers of tooth discoloration, certain antibiotics, genetics, or treatments (chemotherapy and radiation), can also cause your teeth to lose their whiteness.
Professional teeth whitening
The quickest and easiest solution for dull, dingy teeth is a round of professional teeth whitening here at our office. Sure, you can use over-the-counter whitening products, but these are slow-going and often very messy, and your results will fall short of what we can accomplish here.
If you’d prefer a more gradual approach to teeth whitening but still want professional results, we can supply you with an at-home whitening kit that will deliver the same results in about 2-3 weeks.
Cosmetic dentistry
If the discoloration in your teeth goes beyond the ability of professional teeth whitening, we offer cosmetic dentistry solutions, including:
- Dental veneers — thin shells that we place over the fronts of your teeth
- Dental crowns — if you have one tooth that’s discolored, we can cap it with a crown
In addition to whitening discolored teeth, these treatments can also cover up other flaws in your teeth, such as misshapen teeth or chips and cracks.
If you’d like to breathe new life into your dull and dingy teeth and smile with confidence again, please contact our office in Mountain View, California, to figure out which whitening solution is best for you.
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