STAINED /DISCOLORED TEETH

There are several causes of tooth discolorations, including:

• Drinks – Coffee, tea, colas, wines can stain your teeth.
• Tobacco use – Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain teeth.
• Poor dental hygiene – Inadequate brushing and flossing to remove plaque and stain-producing substances like coffee and tobacco can cause tooth discoloration.
• Disease – Several diseases that affect enamel (the hard surface of the teeth) and dentin (the underlying material under enamel) can lead to tooth discoloration. Treatments for certain conditions can also affect tooth color. For example, head and neck radiation and chemotherapy can cause teeth discoloration. In addition, certain infections in pregnant mothers can cause tooth discoloration in the infant by affecting enamel development.
• Medications – The antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline are known to discolor teeth when given to children whose teeth are still developing (before age 8). Mouth rinses and washes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride can also stain teeth. Antihistamines(like Benadryl), antipsychotic drugs, and drugs for high blood pressure also cause teeth discoloration.
• Dental materials – Some of the materials used in dentistry, such as amalgam restorations, especially silver sulfide-containing materials, can cast a gray-black color to teeth.
• Advancing age – As you age, the outer layer of enamel on your teeth gets worn away, revealing the natural yellow color of dentin.
• Genetics – Some people have naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.
• Environment – Excessive fluoride either from environmental sources (naturally high fluoride levels in water) or from excessive use (fluoride applications, rinses, toothpaste, and fluoride supplements taken by mouth) can cause teeth discoloration.
• Trauma – For example, damage from a fall can disturb enamel formation in young children whose teeth are still developing. Trauma can also cause discoloration to adult teeth.

PREVENTION

By making a few simple lifestyle changes, you may be able to prevent teeth discoloration. For example, if you are a coffee drinker and/or smoker, consider cutting back or quitting all together. Also, improve your dental hygiene by brushing and flossing regularly and getting your teeth cleaned by a dental hygienist every 6 months.

If your teeth appear to be an abnormal color without ready explanation and, if other symptoms are also present, make an appointment to see your dentist.

TREATMENT

Treatment options to whiten teeth can vary depending on the cause of the discoloration and may include:

• Home Care
• Avoid foods and beverages that cause stains
• Regular Cleanings
• Bondings/Fillings
• Veneers
• Zoom! Whitening

MISSING TEETH

There can be many reasons for missing teeth .Most common is tooth decay and gum disease.

TREATMENT

• Bridges
• Dentures
• Implants

CROOKED TEETH

There are several reasons why some people’s teeth grow in crooked, overlapping, or twisted. Some people’s mouths are too small for their teeth, which crowds the teeth and causes them to shift. In other cases, a person’s upper and lower jaws aren’t the same size or are malformed, resulting in either an overbite, when there is excessive protrusion of the upper jaw, or an under bite, when the lower jaw protrudes forward causing the lower jaw and teeth to extend out beyond the upper teeth.

Crooked teeth and misaligned bites can:

• Interfere with proper chewing.
• Make keeping teeth clean more of a challenge, increasing the risk of tooth decay, cavities, and gingivitis.
• Strain the teeth, jaws, and muscles, increasing the risk of breaking a tooth.
• Make people feel self-conscious about their appearance and affect their self-esteem.

While you can see for yourself if teeth are crooked, your dentist can determine if the problem warrants treatment. Your dentist will look for the following signs:

• Abnormal alignment of teeth
• Abnormal appearance of the face
• Difficulty or discomfort when chewing or biting
• Speech difficulties, including a lisp

Treatment

Once a diagnosis is made, your dentist can decide the best treatment for your teeth or misaligned bite. For some people, a removable retainer (to stabilize the new position of teeth) will be all that’s needed to correct the problem. Removal of one or more teeth may be required if overcrowding is the main problem. For most people, braces or invisalign are necessary to correct the problem.

SMALL OR LARGE TEETH

Porcelain veneers allow a dentist to change the shape, color and length of teeth.

IMPROVE SMILE

Today, cosmetic dentistry is more popular than ever, from whitening and shaping to closing spaces and replacing teeth. And dentists have a wide array of tools and techniques at their disposal for improving the look of your smile.

Before deciding to undergo any cosmetic procedure, it’s important to know the benefits and risks and what you can expect during the process. Make sure you’re clear about what it will cost, how much experience your dentist has with the procedure, and whether any special maintenance will be needed afterward.

• Teeth Whitening
• Bonding
• Veneers
• Crowns
• Enamel Shaping and Contouring
  • Enamel shaping and contouring involves removing or contouring dental enamel to improve the appearance of your teeth. Dentists may combine this process with bonding. Often used to alter the length, shape, or position of teeth.
• Braces/Invisalign®
• Bridges
• Implants