My teeth are quite yellowish and always have been. When younger, I was subject to teasing by classmates, and I had low self-esteem for a while.
I asked my dentist about whitening my teeth. He explained that the color was due to a thin enamel, causing the yellow dentin below to be very visible. He further explained that this condition wasn’t caused by anything I could have prevented, and that is was the genetic roll of the dice.
He said that a whitening gel might help, so he created molds of my teeth and gave me a kit with a professional whitener. After three days of applying this to my teeth, I was in pain. My teeth became so sensitive that it was difficult to eat or even talk. When I inquired as to this side effect, the dentist said that it’s rare, but that it does happen to some people. I discontinued my treatment and gave up on the hope of whitening my teeth. It took about a month for my teeth to feel normal again.
In your opinion, was my dentist accurate? Do I have other options within a reasonable budget? I doubt I could afford porcelain veneers.
Thanks for any response.
Tony from Rhode Island
Tony,
It’s difficult to say without seeing you, but let me give you my thoughts.
First, it doesn’t appear, from what you’re telling me, that your dentist knows a lot about cosmetic dentistry. The tentative way it seems that he approached you saying “a whitening gel might help,” the thin enamel theory you were given, and the surprise at your sensitivy reaction, if they happened the way it seems that you are telling about them, all suggest that he doesn’t do a lot of whitening.
Tooth sensitivity from whitening gels is not that uncommon, and it is more common with certain products and techniques. There are ways around it, but you’ll need to see a dentist who has had more training in appearance related dentistry who can deal with these issues.
And it is possible that you have thin enamel, but that isn’t usually the cause of dark teeth. All teeth develop with pigment, and some teeth have more pigment than others. Teeth whitening products bleach that pigment.
My advice is to not give up but to find a dentist who knows more about whitening. Dr. Whitmore is the recommended cosmetic dentist for Plano by the www.mynewsmile.com referral network, and they are an excellent source for finding a good cosmetic dentist because they carefully screen all the dentists they recommend, so you might see who they recommend in Rhode Island.
Related links:
Plano Zoom Whitening