Tetracycline Teeth Stains: A Smile Makeover

Does your mouth look like this?  About 10% of Americans have tetracycline stains on their teeth.  They're especially common in people over the age of 45.

Tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics that were once widely used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, severe acne and other conditions.  However, it wasn't until years later that doctors realized if children took the medication while their teeth were forming, then it could permanently discolor their teeth. If the medication was taken by a pregnant woman, then her baby could even end up having teeth that were permanently stained brown or grey.

 

Whitening kits, strips, gels and bleaching treatments can't hide the stains.  The stains are in the dentin of the teeth, not the enamel.  People with tetracycline stains usually choose to have veneers or crowns to achieve a smile they're proud to display.

Craig McEntyre, pictured, chose to have full-coverage, all-porcelain crowns.  The crown goes over the whole tooth, as opposed to veneers, which are thin coverings that are bonded to your tooth.  Dr. Diaa Ghabbour, a senior doctor at Coast Dental Wesley Chapel near Tampa, FL, placed crowns on eight of Craig's top teeth.  The initial visit took about four hours for Dr. Ghabbour to make all of the impressions for the crowns.  Then Craig returned about three weeks later to have the permanent crowns placed.  That procedure took less than two hours.

 

The change was immediate and the impact is still being felt more than five years later.

"I still get compliments every day about having a nice smile," Craig said.  Best of all, the crowns will never stain, change color or fade.

If you have tetracycline stains, there's no need to be embarrassed or ashamed of your smile.  Talk to your dentist about how you can have your own smile make-over.

Wesley Chapel dentist Diaa Ghabbour, DMD, has been practicing dentistry since 2000.  He provides general dentistry services to patients age 9 and up.  Special services include dental implant restorations, extractions and periodontal disease management.  He is a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He practices at Coast Dental Wesley Chapel, 5348 County Road 581, Wesley Chapel, Florida, 33544.  The phone number is (813) 973-1837 or call 1-800-32-SMILE to find another office that is close to you.

Top 10 Questions to Consider Before Whitening Your Teeth

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A decision to whiten your teeth in Bellevue, Wash., isn’t something you should take lightly. On the surface, tooth whitening might appear to be a quick and painless procedure that leaves you looking breathtakingly beautiful (or incredibly handsome). And on the surface, that assumption on your part is mostly correct.

It is an easy and pain-free event and it certainly shows remarkable results. In fact, you’ve probably got questions because you have friends or relatives who display the results of a tooth-whitening session and you’re impressed with their smiles.

Anyone’s who’s even had a fleeting thought of getting their teeth whitened has questions. That’s to be expected. To that issue, Spektor Dental’s own Dr. Wendy has come up with a list of the Top 10 questions every patient should ask her or the staff at Spektor Dental – or of whomever handles your dental-related needs – before consenting to a tooth-whitening process.

And this is a complete list of questions. Many of them center on the most important query, which is “Is my mouth ready for this procedure?” So when you set up an appointment for a consultation, bring along a copy of this list.

That being said, here is Dr. Wendy Spektor’s Top 10 questions to consider before getting your teeth whitened:

Do I have any problems with my gums?Do I have unscheduled immediate dental needs such as decay or cavities? Do I need fillings? Caps? Are there any teeth that require extraction?Will I want to do fillings or caps/crowns before whitening or after in order for the permanent fillings to match?Do I have any teeth that have root canals and may not whiten the same as my other teeth?Do I have old crowns or veneers that may not whiten and would need to be redone?What options do I have for whitening?What are advantages and disadvantages of whitening my teeth?What should my expectations be for whitening? What can I do for sensitivity?Will whitening solve my goals or is it just an extra step not really needed?What upkeep is required on my part after the procedure?

We’re sure you have other questions about the procedure and we’ve got the experience to provide you with answers that target your concerns and not our schedule. Give us a call and we can even answer some of them over the phone.

Mitkä ovat vaihtoehtoni Teeth Whitening?

Editor's Note:In part I of this series (see what to expect during the cosmetic dentistry to negotiate), we discussed how important it is to have a "talk" before starting any dental treatment with your dentist. In view of the above, in an effort to make sure the chat, and the dentist are on the same page when it comes to your overall health and perfecting your smile. Today we are going to talk about the color of your teeth. This is a discussion on some of the previous blog post for more information on teeth whitening, you can find it here: Top 10 questions to consider prior to whitening your teeth.

Maybe your teeth whitening in just a simple update — pick-me-up if you will. We can think of at least five easy solutions, bearing in mind that the whitening whitening can affect dental, you already have a well. For example, crowns, bridges and implants some veneers may not whiten. So again you are going to have to hold this debate on the dental professional.

And you're going to have to be borne in mind that the small white goes a long way. View John Malkovich in Transformers 3. Now it's white, white smile that is off the charts!

Here are a few of the options you have for whitening your teeth (all sorts of products out there, but these are the ones we recommend that we will study and discuss with your dentist):

Crest whitening strips work with young adults. They are messy, and most adults do not like them. The cost is minimal, but the devotion is high.The highest Treswhite strip to deliver the goods for those who want whiter teeth. They seem to work the best, if you do not have a very yellow teeth. They can be messy, but are one step away from the Crest whitening. The cost is minimal. The dedication is high.Custom whitening trays works well. Here we do Dental impressions of the teeth and create Spektor trays that fit exactly to your teeth. With us you get the gel in and whiten, until you want to color. You can use the lockers while you sleep so aware of the dedication will be reduced. The cost is modest, starts at about $ 365 and platforms can last a lifetime, if any in your mouth will not be changed. Retouching Kits have always been also available for purchase. (Note: ask for our "getting ready for a fall special.")We can kick start your whitening Power Boost treatment as well. Office procedure done at any time — before, during, or after the whitening. It works great, and you only need an office appointment.  The investment is modest. 5 The new and amazing KOR whitening Gets the yellow out and really whitens your teeth. It requires a significant investment of time and money, but if you want good results, it's the top option. The good news is that it comes with a money-back guarantee if it does not work. How much are we talking about? Prices start at around $ 1000. But the trays professionally (if nothing big will not change in the mouth) and touchup procedures will always buy.

We hope that this two-part series about whitening your teeth will prepare what is in front of you. No matter what procedure you choose, be sure to ask your dentist if you are really ready for cosmetic dentistry.