Discolored teeth are one of the most common dental problems patients complain about to their Jackson Heights, NY dentist. It’s a problem that impacts almost everyone at some point in their lives. From age to lifestyle habits, there are many reasons why you may have discolored teeth.

What Causes Discolored Teeth?

As we age, our teeth naturally become more discolored. The enamel outer layer of our teeth gets thinner with time, exposing more of the dentin layer underneath. Dentin is naturally an off-white color, so this color is more exposed on the tooth surface.

Lifestyle habits can cause discoloration as well. Smoking leaves behind yellow and brown staining from the nicotine in it. If you’re a heavy coffee or tea drinker, the brown in those drinks causes staining as well. Your teeth can also become discolored due to trauma or certain medications.

Professional Teeth Whitening

The most common way to treat discolored teeth is with professional teeth whitening. At our office, we offer Zoom! teeth whitening services. To accommodate the needs of all of our patients, you can choose from both in-office and take-home teeth whitening. In-office is ideal for a quick fix, while take-home is a more gradual process.

In the office, it takes about an hour for your whitening appointment. Your gums and soft tissues are protected by a barrier. The dentist paints whitening gel evenly onto your teeth. You’re given eye protection and a special light is used to activate the bleaching agent in the gel. You leave the office with teeth up to eight shades whiter.

For take-home whitening, we take impressions to make custom bleaching trays for your mouth. Professional-grade whitening gel is put into the trays and you wear them for a few hours each day over a span of a few weeks. The trays are custom to your mouth so they seal out saliva and ensure an even whitening solution.

Porcelain Veneers

Not all discoloration responds to traditional whitening techniques. Discoloration from trauma and staining from medication won’t be helped by professional whitening. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of dental ceramic that cover the front and sides of your teeth. We color-match them to the shade you desire, so they blend in with the rest of your smile.

Since veneers cover the entire front-facing portion of your tooth, they’re ideal for discoloration that doesn’t respond to whitening techniques. They’re a permanent restoration that can also take care of many other cosmetic dental concerns.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is kind of like a removable, temporary version of porcelain veneers. They take care of the same problems. Bonding is more affordable because it’s not a permanent solution. A composite resin is color-matched to the shade you want. It’s molded over the complete tooth and hardened with a special light to complete the process.

Schedule an Appointment With Your Jackson Heights Dentist

Are you looking for a solution for your discolored teeth? Call us today or schedule an appointment online.