Tooth discoloration is one of the most common reasons to seek cosmetic dentistry. We offer both in office at take home teeth whitening at our NYC office – and these options are fine for people with surface stains. But what happens if your staining is deeper or your discoloration is more pronounced? In these cases, our cosmetic dentists will likely recommend a more advanced option such as porcelain veneers.
Types of Stains
There are two types of tooth stains:
- Extrinsic – these stains are caused by foods, beverages, and lifestyle choices like tobacco use. Whitening teeth stained by these external sources can often be accomplished with laser tooth whitening in our office or a professional strength take home kit and customized application tray
- Intrinsic – this type of discoloration lies underneath the enamel and may be a result of aging, certain medications, fluorosis, or illness. Intrinsic tooth stains will not respond to topical tooth whitening and will require a more advanced cosmetic dentistry approach like dental bonding or porcelain veneers. Our NYC cosmetic dentists typically recommend veneers in these cases due to their strength, durability, and unmatched beauty
During your teeth whitening consultation at our Manhattan office, Dr. Mello or Dr. Tabib will carefully assess your tooth staining, discuss all possible treatment options, and work with you to find the one most suitable for your needs.
Why Porcelain Veneers?
Intrinsic tooth stains cannot be bleached. When enamel surrounding these teeth is whitened, it can actually enhance the discoloration caused by these deeper stains. Porcelain veneers eliminate this problem by covering the surface of the tooth, producing a flawless yet completely natural look.
Porcelain reflects light in the same manner as natural tooth enamel and veneers are so thin that they can be fitted unnoticeably into your smile. Ideal as a standalone solution or as part of a complete smile makeover, veneers are among the most attractive cosmetic dentistry options in New York City.
Veneers are:
- Durable – able to last 10 years or more
- Simple – requiring no more care than your natural teeth
- Attractive – sized, shaded, and shaped to fit seamlessly into your smile
- Life changing – capable instilling confidence in your smile
Porcelain veneers are not the right tooth whitening solution for every type of stain or for every type of smile, but they are the most effective choice for deep stains and under-the-enamel discoloration. What’s more, veneers can be used to address multiple issues at once to produce an attractive and healthy-looking smile you’ll be proud to show the world.
What about Dental Bonding
Dental bonding, sometimes called tooth bonding, is a minimally invasive treatment that is used to address minor cosmetic and functional problems. With dental bonding, our Manhattan cosmetic dentists can produce a uniformly attractive appearance during a single office visit.
Similar to tooth whitening, bonding does not require more than one trip to our office. However, as with topical teeth whiteners, bonding is not always as effective as porcelain veneers. While they may take a bit longer to complete, porcelain veneers tend to outlast bonding by several years.
Tooth bonding is applied in layers to teeth that have been damaged through trauma, large cavities, or older restorations. Because it is shaded to match your enamel, dental bonding can also be used to whiten teeth. It is seldom used for this purpose, however, because other options offer a longer lasting and more satisfying result. This does not mean that dental bonding is not an option for whitening teeth, but it is not as desirable for this specific purpose as some of our other services.
Dr. Mello and Dr. Tabib take time to understand the exact needs of each patient before suggesting a treatment. During your initial consultation, they will discuss all options with you to help make sure you are choosing the best one for your smile.
Tooth Whitening and Smile Makeovers
Tooth whitening is often a part of larger smile makeover procedures. During a smile makeover, all of your cosmetic issues will be addressed. Discoloration and stains, being chief among cosmetic dental concerns for New Yorkers, are nearly always a consideration when planning these more comprehensive treatments.
Depending on your specific needs, your smile makeover may include:
- Porcelain veneers
- Dental bonding
- Tooth whitening
- Dental implants
- Gum contouring
- Porcelain crowns
- Enamel contouring
Our cosmetic dentists can also remove the black lines around existing restorations to help produce a lighter and more attractive look to teeth with metal fillings or caps.
Each of these procedures remain available as standalone treatments, but often work most effectively in combination. During your consultation, we can discuss this in greater detail to ensure you are comfortable with your treatment plan.
Our NYC cosmetic dentists frequently work with celebrities, many of whom travel from California and other states for our exceptional patient care and consistently pleasing results. We believe in providing the same level of service, customer care, and individual attention to every patient we see and welcome an opportunity to meet with you, discuss your needs, and help you find the solutions your smile deserves.
Call NYC Smile Design at 212-452-3344 to schedule your initial consultation at our New York cosmetic dentistry practice today. We welcome patients from NYC, surrounding areas, and across the nation.
