You’ve finally had it. You are sick and tired of looking at your worn down, yellow, discolored teeth.
Today is the day you are going to break down and get one of those teeth whitening products at the store. You can’t believe you let your teeth get in this condition, but you sure aren’t going to let them stay that way.
Before you rush to the store, take a deep breath …
First, how much do you know about those whitening products on the shelf? Do you know if work or how effective they may be?
Do you have sensitive teeth? Have you had fillings or dental bonding done in the past?
Maybe before you rush to the store, you should schedule a consultation with our dentist at Bayou Dental Group in Monroe, LA.
You may want a whiter smile, but in some cases teeth whitening is not the best way to go.
When Whitening Won’t Work
If you are going to use a teeth whitening product, then professional teeth whitening under the supervision of a dentist is your best bet. Some people experience tooth sensitivity after teeth whitening.
Some whitening products are more acidic than others, and if they are not used correctly, they may damage the protective enamel on your teeth.
This is part of the reason we recommend visiting a dentist before attempting to use any whitening product.
We want to examine the health of your teeth. Whitening products can remove stains from your teeth, but staining is only one of the reasons that your teeth may be discolored.
Your teeth may change colors as a side effect of certain medications. Your teeth can become yellow or dark due to tooth decay. Abscessed teeth and root canal problems also may cause your teeth to change colors.
And if you have fillings or tooth bonding, these may not be affected by teeth whitening products.
If any of these are a consideration, then you may want to consider an alternative method for whitening your smile.
Veneers To The Rescue
Porcelain veneers are an excellent alternative for someone who wants whiter teeth, and this is a solution that will work on any problem.
Veneers are like a shell that you can attach to your teeth. This shell is what the rest of the world will see, rather than your dark, discolored, or yellow teeth.
This isn’t a perfect analogy but think about your cell phone. It may look worn down and used, scuffed up and dirty after you’ve had it for a while.
A case or cover for your phone can change how it looks whenever you have it out where other people can see it. In a similar but more permanent way, veneers can transform your smile.
Instead of trying to remove the discoloration, veneers hide them from sight. Veneers are bonded to your natural teeth to give you the appearance of a whiter, brighter smile.
Custom Made For You
Every set of veneers is made for one individual. If you come to our office, we will work with the lab that makes our veneers to create a customized set just for you.
We use porcelain veneers for a couple reasons.
First, we want your veneers to look like teeth. Porcelain mimics teeth in the best ways. It can be shaded as bright as you would like, and it will improve the appearance of your teeth as soon as they are bonded in place.
Porcelain reflects light in much the same way that teeth do, so your smile will still look natural.
Second, porcelain is durable. Our teeth are not just for show. They have a very important purpose, the help us eat our food.
Porcelain can stand up to the daily rigors of being a tooth. It can bite into things, and it can chew them up.
Added Benefit Of Veneers
Unlike teeth whitening, veneers can be used for more than one problem. They can even be used to fix more than one problem at the same time.
If you would like your teeth to be whiter and straighter, veneers can fix your crooked smile.
If you would like your teeth to be whiter and less crowded, veneers can give you the appearance of perfectly parallel teeth.
If you would like your teeth to be white and to close a gap in your smile, veneers can remove that space for you.
Talk To Our Dentist
If you really want to whiten your smile, Bayou Dental Group wants to help.
You know the kind of smile that you want to see in the mirror. Our team can help make that a reality.
Take your first step toward the teeth you want. Make plans to visit our dentist office in Monroe, LA, by calling 318-323-9303 or filling out our online appointment form.