A Concord dentist such as Dr. Clifford C. Compton will sometimes describe a beautiful smile as “perfect”. However, patients need to be informed that there is no single exact image of a perfect smile. Even the most beautiful people in the world have unique smiles. Alternately, there are gorgeous people with minor imperfections in their smile, like unusually long and sharp canines or prominent incisors. Good health makes your smile beautiful on its own.
Many people are concerned about stained or yellowish teeth. While teeth look better off-white, severely stained teeth can signal structural weakness and brittleness. Severely stained teeth may also be a sign of infection as nicotine or caffeine that has seeped into the enamel often leave severe discolorations. To combat this, individuals can use toothpaste products that are formulated with whitening agents. Patients may also go to the dentist to get their teeth whitened. A dentist can bleach relatively healthy teeth by applying carbamide peroxide (CH6N2O3) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) on the teeth.
Sometimes, discoloration is a secondary problem with teeth that are already cracked, worn, or misshapen. A dentist has two options to make these teeth both stronger and more beautiful: bonding or veneers. Concord dental bonding procedures use composite resin the same color as teeth. This composite resin is molded and hardened over the teeth using ultraviolet light or a laser. Dental bonding is good for people with gapped teeth.
People with particularly brittle teeth may also be given veneers. Dental veneers are extremely thin tooth-shaped plates made of porcelain that are bonded to the teeth. These are good for teeth that are cracked, worn, or chipped. Veneers are as strong as they are thin. These can prevent future infection and decay.
While veneers are an easier way to whiten teeth, dentists also advise that veneers should be white enough to match the patient’s skin tone. Teeth that are too white can be distracting, not to mention unnatural. The best color for teeth is similar to the shimmery, very pale interior of a seashell. After all, teeth and bones are made of hydroxylapatite, the same calcium-based compound that seashells are made of.
If the tooth in question is cracked and filled with amalgam from a root canal treatment from long ago, a dentist may replace the amalgam with inlays or onlays. Concord dentists make inlays and onlays from composite resin. Inlays can be placed on the groove or pit in the middle of a molar. On the other hand, onlays extend toward the cusps, which are the pointed or rounded chewing surfaces of the teeth. Inlays and onlays make the teeth look new and clean while protecting it from future infection.
