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Dental Implants: A Guide for Seniors

If you are a senior considering dental implants, you may have to worry about issues other dental patients don't have to think about. For example, you may need more time to recover after receiving your implants. My name is Jodi, and I've been working with seniors for years. I decided to create this blog to help the seniors I can't meet in person. In this space, I'm going to post entries on everything related to dental implants and seniors. From tips on flossing implants after arthritis has claimed some of your dexterity, to guiding you through the implants-vs-dentures debate, this blog is designed for you. Thanks for reading. I hope you find what you need!

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Dental Implants: A Guide for Seniors

Is Cosmetic Teeth Whitening Right For You? Answer These Two Questions to Find Out!

by Jimmy Carter

If you hate the colour of your teeth and want to see a whiter and brighter smile, you might be wondering if cosmetic teeth whitening is right for you. Whilst teeth whitening can really improve your smile in a dramatic way, it's not something that's quite right for everyone. Answer the two questions below to find out whether cosmetic teeth whitening is right for you. 

How Did the Discolouration Happen?

One of the main determining factors in deciding whether cosmetic teeth whitening is right for you is the origin of the discolouration. Whilst the majority of discolouration types can be dealt with effectively through cosmetic teeth whitening, there are a few exceptions. The following types of discolouration can all be addressed with cosmetic teeth whitening. 

  • Red wine stains
  • Coffee stains
  • Fizzy drink stains
  • Juice stains 
  • Nicotine stains
  • Darkening that happens due to the normal aging process

There are a couple of types of stains that may not respond to cosmetic teeth whitening. Teeth darkening due to medication like antibiotics may not be corrected with cosmetic teeth whitening. If you have a darkened tooth due to nerve damage within the tooth, it's unlikely that cosmetic tooth whitening can correct the problem. However, if you have either medication-stained teeth or teeth with internal damage, your dentist may recommend other options like porcelain veneers or crowns. Crowns and veneers are both attached to the teeth with powerful dental adhesive. They're white, natural looking and don't stain the way natural tooth enamel does. 

How Deep Is the Discolouration?

The depth of the discolouration is an important consideration whilst deciding whether cosmetic teeth whitening is right for you. Even the most powerful teeth whitening systems available—usually the systems that your dentist administers in-office—have a limit in terms of how much they can actually whiten teeth. Talk to your dentist about how much whitening you can really expect, and whether that's enough for you. 

If you have mild to moderate discolouration, cosmetic teeth whitening is often a great option. However, if you have extremely dark teeth or very severe discolouration, cosmetic teeth whitening may simply not be able to give you the results you're looking for. If this is the case, ask your dentist about other alternative like veneers or crowns. 

Ready to move ahead with cosmetic teeth whitening or with another smile improvement option? Contact your dentist today to talk about which cosmetic dentistry option can meet your needs!

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