I have never liked my smile. Even though I take very good care of my teeth, I have brown spots all over them. It makes people think I do not take care of myself. I’ve been told that they are from an illness and high fever I had as a child. My dentist and I have tried just about every over-the-counter teeth whitening product possible to no avail. She’s thinking about grinding down the brown spots to make them go away. I’m hesitant to do this because she is not sure just how much she will have to grind away. Would going to someone who does professional teeth whitening help?
Brooke
Hi Brooke,
I am glad you wrote. The first thing I want to say right off the bat is not to let this dentist grind your teeth. She may have the best of intentions in helping you get rid of those brown spots, but she doesn’t understand cosmetic dentistry at all. The teeth whitening procedure is hands down the simplest cosmetic procedure and she does not understand that. The fix for your teeth is way more advanced.
Why Teeth Whitening Will Not Work
When teeth are whitened, the whitening bleaches the teeth evenly. That translates to the brown spots actually becoming more visible instead of less. This is true whether you use over-the-counter products or professional teeth whitening.
Two Options that Will Work
Depending on the surface area you are talking about with your brown spots, you will either want to use dental bonding or porcelain veneers. If they only cover a small surface area, then I recommend you use the dental bonding. If the surface is larger, then porcelain veneers will be a better solution for you.
The Key is the Dentist
Both bonding and veneers are quite advanced cosmetic procedures. I do not recommend you allow your current dentist to do them for you. Many patients who have cosmetic work done go to one dentist for their general work and another for their cosmetic. That is my recommendation to you.
I would look for someone who has been accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country.
This blog is brought to you by Des Moines Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Phelan Thomas.
