teeth whitening Archives - 5 Star Dental Group

Teeth Whitening Didn’t Work for Brown Spots

Posted on May 15, 2024 by AllSmiles.

My dentist used whitening products to lighten brown spots on my teeth that have been there since childhood. My teeth are white, but the whitening products make the brown spots look worse. My dentist thinks he can grind away the discoloration and replace it with dental bonding. Is this my only option? Zenia

Zenia,

Your dentist’s attempts to whiten brown spots on your teeth that have been present since childhood, but he doesn’t understand how to improve tooth discoloration.

What Causes Brown Spots on Teeth?

The causes of brown spots on teeth may include a medical condition, medication, or external factors, including:

Excessive fluoride intake during childhood
Taking tetracycline (antibiotic) during childhood while teeth are developing
Tooth decay
Trauma
Tobacco products
Untreated decalcification around braces

Will Teeth Whitening Remove Brown Spots?

Teeth whitening will remove surface stains on teeth. However, it does not remove brown stains from factors such as fluorosis, tetracycline, or fever during childhood.

What Is the Treatment for Brown Stains on Teeth?

Porcelain veneer

Depending on the cause and severity of brown stains on teeth, a skilled cosmetic dentist may remove them with microabrasion, dental bonding, or porcelain veneers.

Microabrasion – Hydrochloric acid and pumice gently remove small amounts of stained tooth removal.
Dental bonding – A dentist can color match and layer dental composite by hand to conceal moderate to severe tooth stains.
Porcelain veneers – The process begins by removing less than a millimeter of tooth enamel to prepare your teeth for porcelain veneers. An advanced cosmetic dentist can work with a master ceramist to produce natural-looking veneers that conceal the brown spots.

Consult an advanced cosmetic dentist with post-graduate training to discuss your options for concealing brown stains on your teeth.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post. Read how they strive to provide patients with some of the best dental care in San Antonio.

Are Online Teeth Veneers a Total Waste of Money?

Posted on January 31, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I’ve been searching online for teeth veneers on and off for the past few weeks. I don’t expect online veneers to look as good or last as long as porcelain veneers, but are they a total waste of money? – Thanks. Annalise from Sacramento

Annalise,

Are Online Teeth Veneers a Waste of Money?

A porcelain veneer held with dental forceps next to a woman's tooth

Unlike porcelain veneers that a dentist individually bonds to the fronts of your teeth, online veneers are a single removable appliance

Although online veneers cannot match porcelain veneers’ comfort, beauty, and durability, some consumers enjoy them for special occasions and do not consider them a waste of money. Depending on how often you want to wear online veneers, you may find that they help you feel better about smiling.

What Is an Advantage of Online Veneers?

One advantage of online snap-on veneers is that they are removable. If you dislike how they look or feel, snap them out and revert to your natural smile. However, online veneers will give you an acceptable smile, not a beautiful one.

Quality Concerns with Remote Dental Services

Without direct dentist supervision, quality suffers. Companies offering remote dental services get customer complaints. Online companies often prioritize profit over customers’ oral health and satisfaction.

Check customers’ online reviews that are not on the sellers’ websites. Take note of the negative reviews and reasons for consumer dissatisfaction.

Alternatives to Online Veneers

One alternative to online veneers is the Snap-On Smile®, which requires a local dentist’s supervision. The dentist would take impressions of your teeth for a custom snap-on smile. However, the appliance fits over your teeth, making them look bulky. A Snap-On Smile is a temporary smile makeover for occasional use or special events. Still, it doesn’t look natural close-up.

Whether you choose online veneers or a Snap-On Smile, it is not intended for everyday wear. The appliance will quickly wear out, especially if you do not remove it to eat and drink. The more you wear the appliance, the more frequently you need to replace it.

We encourage you to consider what you want to improve about your smile. You may be surprised to learn how teeth whitening or dental bonding for chips or cracks can help you get natural-looking improvement that lasts.

Can I Get My Bonding Color Back?

Posted on June 10, 2021 by Annmarie Worthington.

I understand that you cannot change the color of your dental bonding once it is done. I was, however, wondering if it is possible to get it back to its original color? I’ve had my dental bonding for about ten years and they are starting to show their age. Can I get them back to their default color? I’m not in a financial position where I can just replace them at this point.

David

Dear David,

Unfortunately, teeth whitening will only work on natural tooth structure. That is why the color was permanent when your dentist designed your dental bonding. They have aged quite a bit and it is time to replace them. However, I understand that you don’t have the funds for that right now. I have a suggestion that I think may help.

You want to save up and do your dental bonding right with an experienced cosmetic dentist. In the meantime, getting Supersmile toothpaste may help. It uses a chemical enzyme that breaks up surface stains and wipes them away with the protein pellicle. If your stains are just surface stains, this will make a difference. However, if the protective polish originally on your bonding is gone, the stains will be internal and this will not help.

Personally, I think the toothpaste is worth a shot. I don’t get any money for telling you that.

You did not say if you just had bonding to repair a chipped or gapped tooth, or if the use was more extensive. If the repair is more extensive and you are looking for something that will last on a more long term basis, you could save up for porcelain veneers. These, when well taken care of, can last you a lifetime.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Tostado.

Can a Type 1 Diabetic Get Dental Implants?

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Annmarie Worthington.

I want to replace a tooth I am losing but am a type 1 diabetic. My dentist said that he did not recommend dental implants for someone with my condition. Is there any chance that there are special procedures that I can do to make this possible? I really wanted an implant so it would be like having a real tooth there.

Kevin

Dear Kevin,

Yes, you can get a dental implant. Just being a type 1 diabetic is not a contra-indication for getting dental implants. However, you are at a higher risk. You will need extra diagnostic tests in order to identify special risk factors. Additionally, you will want an extra level of attention throughout your procedure. Don’t let your dentist skimp on these, especially the CT scan. They can help give you the best outcome for your situation.

Though you can have this done, I do not recommend you use your current dentist for this procedure. He is obviously is uncomfortable and you don’t want to use a dentist who is out of his comfort zone, especially when you are a higher risk patient. While there isn’t a recognized specialty in implant dentistry specifically, a prosthodontist has advanced training that many other dentists will not have, so I would start there.

There is one other important thing to note. If they refer you to an oral surgeon, make certain that it is the dentist who decides on the placement of the implants and not the surgeon. This is important.

Cosmetic Considerations with Dental Implants

The crown for your dental implants can be made to match your teeth perfectly. However, it is helpful to be aware that the coloring is permanent. If you decide sometime later to have teeth whitening done, your natural tooth structure will whiten but not your implant crown. That will have to be re-done in order to match.

Because of that, if you are considering having whitening done at some point, it will save you money to get it done ahead of the implant. If you are content with the whiteness of your teeth than you can move forward without whitening.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Gilberto Tostado.