Our O’Fallon cosmetic dentists are here to help you pick the perfect aesthetic treatment for your smile, and your life. There are two general ways to achieve a whiter smile:
Whiten your natural enamel—this is what professional whitening treatments achieve
Cover discolored enamel with a white, natural-looking restoration—this is how LUMINEERS and dental bonding work
So, why would a person choose one of these methods over the other? Today we will be talking about a few reasons one might choose to cover his or her enamel, rather than whiten it with a topical formulation.
Textural Irregularities in enamel: some people have textural problems with their enamel—they may have grooves or pits in their enamel, for example. Professional whitening treatments would deal with discoloration, but their teeth would still have these surface issues. Both dental bonding and LUMINEERS will cover these problems with smooth porcelain or resin, respectively.
Existing dental damage: some people want to lighten their smiles and correct existing dental cracks or chips. They can achieve both of these objectives in one fell swoop LUMINEERS or bonding. Additionally, sometimes teeth appear discolored because they are damaged (rather than due to environmental stains); LUMINEERS and bonding often deliver better visual results than topical whitening treatments in these situations.
Misaligned teeth: dental bonding and LUMINEERS can do a lot more than simply whiten teeth; these treatments are also used to make slightly misaligned or crooked smiles look straighter and more seamless. Dental bonding and/or LUMINEERS can help you achieve multiple aesthetic and structural objectives at once; professional whitening treatments do not have the versatility.
When you meet with our O’Fallon dentists, we’ll talk to you about all of your oral health and aesthetic goals. Using this information, we’ll help you weigh the pros and cons of all of the treatments available to you. Together we will choose the perfect dental solution for your smile, specifically!