Often enough, discolored teeth aren’t hard to fix. You can usually whiten them with proper brushing or a store-bought bleaching kit. Still, the issue may be oddly persistent for you. When that happens, keep in mind that genes can cause tooth stains as well. Your inheritance from your parents doesn’t just cover height and eye color. Luckily, dental practices can treat gene-related discoloration. Here’s a summary of how genes relate to tooth stains and how a dentist can help.
Is It All in the Genes?
Like most, you probably know that genes influence your body’s traits. They affect things like height, hair color, and more. However, these markers can also put you at risk of stained teeth.
For instance, you could suffer a genetic disorder that causes tooth stains. One such condition is dentinogenesis imperfecta, which results in grayish enamel. Another, meanwhile, is amelogenesis imperfecta – an issue that causes yellow-brown tooth discoloration.
Of course, these disorders aren’t the only ways genes can affect staining. Thicker, whiter teeth can also run in families. The same can be said for more transparent tooth enamel, though it wouldn’t qualify as a “disorder.”
How Your Cosmetic Dentist Can Help
Cosmetic dentists are great at treating stubborn tooth stains, whether gene-related or not. In particular, your dental provider might suggest options like:
Teeth Whitening
Store-bought whiteners usually don’t work on more stubborn discoloration. Fortunately, the same can’t be said about teeth whitening from qualified dentists.
You see, dentist-approved whitening uses more effective methods. It relies on stronger bleaching ingredients and advanced dental knowledge. As a result, the procedure will make your smile six to eight shades whiter.
Cosmetic Dental Bonding
Cosmetic dental bonding doesn’t bleach away smile flaws. Rather, it places tooth-colored resin on top of them. The result is that chips, cracks, and other such things are hidden from view!
Naturally, cosmetic dental bonding can also work on tooth stains. With it, your pearly whites would finally live up to their nickname.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are thin, ceramic layers placed on the fronts of teeth. Their versatility allows them to hide a wide range of smile flaws – chips, cracks, misalignments, and more.
Porcelain veneers can also cover up your tooth stains. Instead, you and others would only see porcelain that seamlessly blends with your surrounding teeth.
While genes can cause tooth stains, they don’t need to keep you from a stellar smile. So, contact your dental provider about the treatments listed above!
About the Author
Dr. M. Kent Smith is a dentist based in Edmond, OK, having earned his DDS from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. He’s been helping patients revitalize their smiles for over 30 years! To that end, he offers preventive, cosmetic, and restorative services, as well as emergency dental procedures. Dr. Smith currently practices at his self-titled clinic and is reachable on his website and by phone at (405)-0341-7773.