The teeth are a very important part of human beauty. Having aesthetically pleasing set of teeth may greatly boost a person’s self image. Sometimes the teeth may be of different colors such as brown, grey, green and even pink!. This might end up being embrassing.
Discoloured teeth are a relatively common condition. It may be caused by changes within the tooth structure (intrinsic stains) or changes on the surface of the tooth (extrinsic stains).
Extrinsic stains are caused by things we put into our mouth and their interaction with the teeth and other parts of the mouth a good example is coffee. It may appear as a variety of colours. Another cause of extrinsic stains is poor oral hygiene (not brushing ones teeth well)
Intrinsic stains on the other hand are caused by changes in the tooth structure or composition. These alterations can happen before birth, at birth or after birth.
The causes of these stains include:
- Drugs e.g. tetracycline. If taken by a mother during pregnancy or if taken as a child.
- Sicknesses- e.g. measles
- Trauma- a fall
- Genetic conditions- e.g. amelogenesis imperfecta
- Flourosis
Management of such conditions depend on the cause and severity. The first step involves realizing the cause to prevent or reduce reoccurrence.
It may be treated by
- Scaling and polishing in extrinsic stains
While for intrinsic stains, the treatment include:
- Bleaching
- Composite facing
- Veneers
- Crowns
- Extraction (very rarely)
Let nothing limit or inhibit your confidence, get the smile you deserve. Visit a nearby dentist today to get started.
Photocredit:
www.dentalsreview.com
cf.jiraygroup.com