Why do
teeth get darker?
What are
veneers?
What is a crown?
What are composite Fillings?
How does Teeth Whitening Work?
Why do I have bad breath?
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Why
do teeth get darker?
The
part of the tooth that we see is made up of three
things,:
1)
An outer coating called Enamel - This is a
translucent layer and gives the teeth
characteristics.
2)
A middle layer called Dentine - This gives the tooth
its basic color.
3)
An inner layer called Pulp - This is where the nerve
and the blood vessels give the teeth their vitality,
by keeping them nourished and alive.
Effecting
any of the layers will cause a tooth to darken. The
enamel can stain and wear away. As it wears away
more dentine shows it color. The dentine also gets
thicker over time due to use, and this adds to the
color of the tooth. Medication, illnesses, and food
supplements can also effect the dentine, making it
darker. The pulp can die and change the color of a
tooth.
Fortunately,
we now have the technology to remedy all of these
problems and restore teeth to their healthy natural
looking state.
What are veneers?
Porcelain veneers are often used for the same reasons
as bonding (to lighten stains, close gaps and even alter
crooked or malformed teeth). They are considerably more
durable and stain resistant than bonding.
The veneer is actually a thin piece of porcelain similar
in size to a fingernail. Once it is "bonded"
onto the tooth it becomes extremely strong. It also blends
in with the remaining tooth structure so that it is
unnoticeable to the naked-eye. Once in place, it looks,
feels, and functions just like a regular tooth.
Porcelain veneers can be utilized to change the shape and
color of a single tooth or if necessary, revamp an entire
smile. Porcelain veneers can also be used to correct teeth
that have been worn from clenching and grinding.
What is a crown?
A
Crown for a Tooth
Teeth are often restored with fillings of silver or
composite plastics. These materials can often accomplish
the aim of replacing the part of the tooth that has been
lost in a strong and good-looking manner.
However, there comes a point where the damage to the tooth
has removed too much structure to hold a filling. The
restoration must be done by a technique that will attach
to the remaining tooth, stand up under heavier use and
meet more elaborate cosmetic requirements.
The Crown is the dental restoration that can strengthen
and restore the entire top of a tooth. The crown can also
be part of the attachment of a fixed bridge for the
replacement of teeth. The tooth is strengthened because it
is covered from the outside with a casting of metal or
ceramic that will wrap up and splint the tooth.
The chewing of the tooth can be improved because it can be
reshaped to match more efficiently with the opposing
teeth. A crown can improve cosmetics by the use of modern
ceramic processes that produce translucency and color that
is more natural than has ever been possible.
What are composite fillings?
Many
people have had silver fillings placed into their teeth
because they had "cavities". These silver
fillings are called amalgams. Amalgam fills the space
where the decay in the tooth has been removed.
However over time, the amalgam corrodes and leaks which
blackens the silver, and many times the tooth. This is
easily seen as soon as a patient opens his or her mouth
and is usually a source of embarrassment for the patient.
Composite fillings are made of a porcelain-like material
that actually bonds to the tooth for a tight seal. They
are strong and stain-resistant, and they are color-matched
to the natural tooth, making them "invisible".
Composite fillings also lack the sensitivity that is often
associated with silver amalgam fillings. They are
especially suited for smaller cavities and for patients
who may be allergic to metal fillings.
