When you care for your teeth constantly, you’re more likely to notice when something changes with their appearance. For example, if your teeth start to stain gradually and lose their youthful shine, then you can spot the change and whiten your teeth before they grow duller. At our Greenville, TX, dental office, we can help you determine when it’s the best time to consider teeth-whitening, and whether or not it’s the best solution for improving your smile’s appearance.

1. What kind of stains are on your teeth?

There are several different kinds of stains that can appear on your teeth, and unfortunately, not all of them can be effectively erased with teeth-whitening. However, the most common types of teeth stains are those that develop on the surfaces of your teeth, known as extrinsic stains. These form on the outer layers of your tooth enamel, and can form from things like exposure to colorful foods and beverages, inadequate dental hygiene, and more. Because they’re on your teeth surfaces, extrinsic stains are the easiest types of stains to erase with topical teeth-whitening.

2. Do you have the time for teeth-whitening?

If your examination reveals that teeth-whitening is the best option for your smile, then we may be able to perform your treatment in just a single visit, usually in just over an hour. During your visit, we can carefully apply the whitening gel to your teeth, then stimulate it to quickly and successfully erase your teeth stains and brighten your teeth. Afterward, you can leave our office with your smile no longer marred by teeth stains and once again as bright as it should be.

3. What if whitening isn’t the right answer?

If it turns out that your teeth stains are not extrinsic but have developed underneath your semi-translucent tooth enamel, then teeth-whitening might not be an effective solution to erasing them. Instead, we may suggest another, more appropriate cosmetic dental treatment, such as tooth bonding or lifelike porcelain veneers. After diagnosing the exact cause of your teeth stains, we’ll consult with you to determine which treatment option may be best for improving your smile.

Find out if teeth-whitening is right for you

If your teeth aren’t as bright and youthful looking as they once were, then it may be time to consider teeth-whitening. To learn more, schedule a consultation with Smith Family Dentistry in Greenville, TX call us at 903-455-5750. We proudly serve patients from Hunt County, Greenville, Royce City, Sulphur Springs, and all surrounding communities.