When you have extrinsic tooth stains (stains on the enamel of your teeth) tooth whitening procedures tend to work fairly well. If you have intrinsic staining, on the other hand, over-the-counter tooth whitening kits and professional whitening procedures won’t work. Intrinsic staining is the discoloration of the tooth dentin which is under the enamel. Whitening procedures cannot reach beneath the enamel. That is why there is another way to whiten your teeth.
Veneers
For those of you who want whiter teeth but have internal tooth staining there are other options. One option is dental veneers. However, dental veneers require removal of about ½ millimeter of healthy tooth enamel to accommodate the thickness of the veneer material and can cost upwards of $900 to $2,500 per tooth. If you are looking for a less-expensive and non-invasive way to whiten intrinsically stained teeth, you may want to look into composite bonding.
Composite Bonding
With the use of composite resin bonding, which is actually the same material as white dental fillings, a number of cosmetic issues can be corrected including masking stained teeth. The composite resin is simply painted on as a liquid and cured (hardened) using a special light. It is that easy to have white teeth again.
Other Uses
Composite bonding can be used for a myriad of issues including:
- Chipped, cracked, or broken teeth
- Filling in gaps and spaces between teeth
- Reshaping teeth
- Lengthening worn down teeth
The Cost of Bonding
Bonding is an easy, painless, and affordable option to whiten teeth and repair other cosmetic dental problems. Bonding costs about $300 to $600 per tooth, less than one-third the cost of porcelain veneers.
ABOUT YOUR FORT WORTH, TX DENTIST:
With over 25 years of professional experience, Dr. Steven M. Huffstutler and his caring team proudly provide exceptional preventive, cosmetic, and restorative dental treatment to patients and their families across Dallas/Ft. Worth, including North Richland Hills, Denton, the Mid-cities, Southlake, and all surrounding communities. We also have extensive experience helping patients find relief from painful TMJ disorders (various forms of jaw dysfunction). To schedule an appointment with Dr. Huffstutler, contact his Fort Worth, TX office today by calling 817-918-3038.