Teeth whitening is a very effective way to bleach your teeth, but if you have dark stains, you might not get all of them removed. Luckily, there are some alternatives. Here are dental procedures you can get to improve your smile if teeth whitening doesn't work.

Dental Veneers

The first procedure you can get if you have staining that teeth whitening didn't fix is by getting dental veneers. Veneers are made from extremely thin shells of porcelain. The porcelain shells are bonded to the front of your tooth to cover up any imperfections you have. If you have staining on your front four teeth due to drinking a lot of coffee and tea, veneers can cover those stains.

The benefit of this is that only mild filing is done to fit the veneers, since it only goes on the front of your tooth. Also consider the fact that this minor cosmetic dental procedure can also improve your smile if you are not happy with the shape or spacing of your teeth. The downside to veneers is that they are more expensive than the other options.

Bonding

Another option available to you if you aren't happy with the shade of your teeth or have severe staining is by getting bonding. When you get bonding, a resin material that is mixed to the desired tooth shade will be applied to the front of your tooth, which is then dried with the help of a high-intensity lamp. This helps to dry and cure the resin quickly. After applying the bonding resin, the dentist will smooth it out and shape it so it covers your tooth perfectly. Not only can it cover stains, but you can get bonding to fill gaps between your teeth or cover a chipped area of your tooth.

Crowns

The last thing you might want to consider getting is a crown. The difference between a crown and the previous two options is that it covers the entire tooth, not just the front surface. For this reason, it is best to choose a crown on a tooth that is weakened and at risk of cracking. If you have a tooth with stains that also needs a root canal, you can get the root canal first, then have a crown placed over the tooth. You have treated your infection and gotten a beautiful new tooth. Another benefit to getting crowns is that they are often covered by insurance.

Contact a dentist at Wigwam Dental Care if you have questions or need more information,