Cosmetic Dentist Las Vegas | Dr. Tony Tomaro

Cosmetic Dentistry to Improve Tetracycline Stains

Tetracycline is an antibiotic that kills many types of bacteria in the body. Tetracycline is most commonly used to treat urinary tract infections, genital infections, acne, skin infections, and infections that cause stomach ulcers. This drug can cause many side affects including gray colored or gray-stripped teeth.

The gray stains caused by Tetracycline penetrate deep into the tooth enamel and into the dentine below the enamel. These deep stains need an experienced cosmetic dentist to reduce their appearance and restore the natural color of the teeth.

Treatments to Remove Tetracycline Stains
Tetracycline stains can be very difficult to remove and, depending on the deepness of the stain, may not respond to some treatments. There are a few cosmetic dentistry treatments to correct these stains.

These treatments include:

• Porcelain Veneers
• Lumineers®
• Teeth Whitening
• Dental Bonding

Mild Tetracycline stains can be treated with tooth whitening treatments and be significantly reduced in a few office visits. Other stains will need porcelain veneers to restore the natural beauty of the teeth. Several cosmetic dentistry treatments can be combined to create a smile makeover for the best results of treating dental problems like Tetracycline stains.

Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are the best option for treating Tetracycline stains because these stains can penetrate deep into the tooth below the enamel. Porcelain veneers are thin shells of porcelain that are colored and shaped to look and feel just like natural teeth. The gray stains do not show through the veneers because the porcelain is thick enough to only show a bright tooth.

Porcelain veneers are expertly made with the correct color and opacity for the best treatment of Tetracycline stains.

Porcelain veneers treat many dental problems including:

• Worn Teeth
• Discoloration
• Gaps in Teeth
• Crooked Teeth
• Misshapen & Uneven Teeth
• Chipped, Cracked, and Broken Teeth

Lumineers®
Lumineers® are a type of porcelain veneer that corrects dental problems without the need for temporary veneers and without the need for extensive preparation of your original teeth.

Lumineers® have several benefits:

• They can be reversible in most cases
• They cover only the bite area and the front of the teeth
• They are resistant to stains and are durable and natural looking
• Minimal reshaping or change to your original teeth is needed for preparation of the veneers

The deep stains of Tetracycline are hidden by the Lumineers® and the overall look and feel of the teeth are dramatically changed for a whiter, brighter smile.

Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening treatments may not remove or reduce the appearance of Tetracycline stains since the stains can be deep within the tooth. The gray stains can be brightened with tooth whitening if the stains are not too deep within the tooth. There are in office and at home whitening options for treating these stains. The in office treatments will whiten teeth faster and provide better results than at home whitening kits. Tetracycline stains may need several more treatments with tooth whitening than normal discoloration.

Dental Bonding
Dental bonding has several uses for transforming smiles. Dental bonding can be used to adhere porcelain veneers or porcelain inlay and onlays to your teeth. Dental bonding is also a cosmetic dentistry treatment that applies composite resin to the tooth's surface improving the aesthetic appearance of the tooth. Both the front and the back of the teeth can be treated and the bonding will match the natural color of the other teeth.

If the Tetracycline stains are too deep, the stains may show slightly through the dental bonding creating a light gray tooth rather than a bright, white tooth. Just like teeth whitening, dental bonding is a good treatment option for stains that have not penetrated deep into the dentine layer of the teeth.

If you have Tetracycline stains and want to transform your smile, please contact our Las Vegas Cosmetic Dentistry Office or call us at (702) 331-4700 to schedule a consultation in Las Vegas, Nevada or surrounding areas about your smile.