There are several options for you to lighten the color of your teeth. Over-the-counter products can lighten the teeth. They generally contain a weaker bleach concentration than what is available through your dental office, and take longest to work. Custom fit trays, made by your dental team, offer a better delivery system for the bleach than most OTC products. A stronger concentration of gel bleach is used in conjunction with the trays which can be worn for fifteen minutes to two hours or put in at bedtime and worn over night. 

Some dental offices offer in-office bleaching. This is the quickest way to whiten teeth. During this procedure a protective covering is placed over the gums, a stronger bleach is applied in 15 minute sessions, and a special light is often used to accelerate the bleaching process. Sensitivity can result, or worsen from bleaching but is generally limited to 1-2 days following. Only natural teeth will lighten with bleaching, porcelain and tooth colored fillings DO NOT CHANGE COLOR. Your dental professionals at North Arkansa Dental Group will be happy to sit down with you to discuss and decide which type is best for you and provide more tips to bleach safely and effectively.

Tooth colored fillings can improve the appearance of teeth by filling in cracks, chips, indentations, and replacing weakened, or discolored enamel. It can also help smooth out teeth and create a more attractive smile.

Veneers are a thin, custom-made protective covering that covers the front and sides of a front tooth. These look very natural, and a more natural tooth is saved than with a crown. They can fill in gaps, cover stains, and offer instant results for achieving that perfect smile. Veneers are a more long-term fix than bonding filling for improving teeth cosmetically.

When more tooth structure has been lost, a crown may be a better fix. A crown surrounds the whole tooth and more evenly distributes chewing forces than a large filling does. Large filling actually weaken teeth, and over time stress fractures form. Often a portion of the tooth will break off. A crown is often needed to rebuild the tooth. Large cavities also may require a crown if there is not enough tooth structure to support a filling. Crowns can be metal or custom shaded to match your teeth.

Dental implants are a great way to replace missing teeth. During an outpatient surgery, titanium implants are placed into bone. The implants are generally covered and left for a few months to heal and let bone integrate them. Then the prosthetic device can be made and placed on the implant. Implants create many options, we can replace a single tooth, or teeth, or a few implants can be strategically placed to support a full denture. This gives denture wearers much more support and chewing ability and helps preserve supporting bone in the mouth from shrinking.