Do you have stained or discolored teeth? Dr. Jeffrey Bellisario offers KöR or Zoom teeth whitening treatment to patients in Ardmore, PA. Teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that removes years from the smile.
There are many causes of tooth discoloration, including but not limited to foods, beverages, and tobacco products. Foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, tomatoes, and berries contain chromogens. Chromogens are pigments that attach to the tooth enamel, making the teeth appear discolored.
Tobacco products, including cigarettes and vape pens, easily stain and yellow the teeth. Nicotine, which is contained in tobacco, discolors the teeth and darkens the enamel over time. One of the best ways to address yellowed, discolored, and stained teeth is to receive professional teeth whitening treatment.
What Causes Discolored Teeth?
Many different things can cause tooth discoloration. A major cause is poor oral hygiene. If you avoid brushing and flossing, plaque and tartar build up. Bacteria find a home here and release acidic byproducts, weakening the tooth enamel and causing your teeth to yellow and discolor.
Over time, the enamel layer starts to wear down on its own. Underneath the bright white enamel layer is an off-white layer called dentin. Age and natural wear and tear on your teeth cause enamel to fade away, exposing more of the dentin layer. The more this is exposed, the more discolored your teeth are. Genetics can also just make you more predisposed to having teeth that are more discolored than others.
Your diet and lifestyle habits play a big part in how your teeth look. Tobacco products contain nicotine and tar, creating yellow and brown patches on your teeth. The heat from smoking can weaken the enamel on your teeth, making them more susceptible to further staining. Foods and drinks with dark pigments cause staining because these pigments adhere to the teeth. Coffee, dark cola, strawberries, and red wine can all cause tooth discoloration.
Trauma, certain medications, systemic conditions, and diseases all discolor teeth. Certain medications, especially tetracycline antibiotics taken when your permanent teeth are still developing, cause deep staining. When trauma occurs, some of the blood from vessels rupturing may seep into the tubules of the tooth, darkening the color. Patients with liver disease and hepatitis can have teeth with a more yellowish hue due to bilirubin distribution.
Lastly, poor past dental restorations can impact the color of your smile. If you’ve had amalgam fillings that contain various metals, they darken over time and impact the color of the tooth enamel. It becomes grayish, taking on the pigment of the amalgam fillings. If you don’t take care of your teeth properly when you have braces, the brackets can form white spots, while the area around them remains discolored when they’re taken off your teeth.
KöR Teeth Whitening
KöR teeth whitening is a highly effective, long-lasting whitening treatment. To begin this treatment, Dr. Bellisario will first take dental impressions of your teeth to create a set of custom tooth trays. Your whitening trays seal out saliva, often lessening the whitening gel’s effectiveness. The whitening gel is sealed inside the trays to evenly deliver treatment to each tooth. You will wear their whitening trays each night for two weeks.
KöR Night uses a whitening gel that contains 16% carbamide peroxide. It can remove deep stains for more dramatic results. This treatment does not require bleaching or light to take effect.
Zoom! Teeth Whitening
Zoom! is a great option for patients who want faster results. To begin this in-office treatment, Dr. Bellisario will place a protective barrier on your lips and gums to isolate the teeth. Then, he applies whitening gel to the teeth. Dr. Bellisario uses a curing light to activate the hydrogen peroxide in the whitening gel. He exposes the teeth to the light in three 15-minute segments.
Patients receive immediate results within just 45 minutes. To maintain your results, we will provide you with a touch-up whitening kit, which includes a tray and whitening gel. We will take impressions to create your custom-made trays. Zoom! whitens teeth up to eight shades brighter.
Treating Deep Tooth Stains
Sometimes, patients have intrinsic stains or stains caused within the tooth. Intrinsic stains may be caused by wear or injury to one or more teeth. Tooth wear and dental injuries expose the dark underlayer beneath the tooth enamel. This underlayer, called dentin, cannot be brightened with professional whitening treatment.
However, we can cover these stains with porcelain veneers, tooth bonding, or dental crowns. Veneers are shells that cover the front of the teeth. Dental bonding uses a biocompatible material cured to the enamel. Tooth crowns fully cover teeth like a cap and also benefit patients with severe tooth wear or damage.
Contact Our Dental Office
Do you want to whiten your smile? Call Dr. Bellisario for treatment today at (610) 839-8967. Feel free to request a dental appointment with our dental team online. Please ask us any questions about whitening treatment; we will be happy to help!