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Dr. Nichols Nelson, DDS is a top-rated dentist on dentalinsider.com

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February 27,2019 Anonymous Dr. Nelson is great and so is his assistant, minimal discomfort and excellent service.

February 24,2019 Carolyn M.  Thanks for being so great with kids.

February 23,2019 Lynette T.  A big shout out to Mandy...best "teeth cleaner" ever!!!

January 28,2019 John U.  Awesome staff!

January 25,2019 Mark W. Everyone was friendly and professional.

December 16,2018 Sherry F, Always happy to see you guys. Personable and professional service.

November 23,2018 Gerald H. Everybody who provided service to me, receptionist, dental assistant, dentist were outstanding!! Would highly recommend to anyone!!

October 31,2018 Therese D. Everyone is always so friendly and welcoming. I wouldn't change a thing with the experience I've had.

Determining the Right Whitening Approach is Key to Brightening a Dull Smile

By Woodland Dental Group
September 16, 2015
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: teeth whitening  
DeterminingtheRightWhiteningApproachisKeytoBrighteningaDullSmile

Bright, naturally white teeth are a key component in a beautiful smile. But the opposite is also true: nothing diminishes an otherwise attractive smile more than stained or discolored teeth.

There is good news, however, about tooth staining: it can be greatly reduced with the right whitening technique. But before taking action we need to first uncover the cause for the staining — whether from the outside or inside of the tooth, or a combination of both.

If it’s an external cause — known as extrinsic staining — our diet is usually the source. Foods and beverages that contain tannins, like red wine, coffee or tea fall in this category, as do foods with pigments called carotenes as found in carrots and oranges. Besides limiting consumption of stain-causing foods and maintaining daily oral hygiene, you can also diminish extrinsic staining with a bleaching application.

There are two basic ways to approach this: with either a professional application at our office or with a home kit purchased at a pharmacy or retail store. Although both types use similar chemicals, the professional application is usually stronger and the whitening effect is obtained quicker and may last longer.

Discoloration can also occur within a tooth, known as intrinsic staining, and for various reasons. It can occur during tooth development, as with childhood overexposure to fluoride or from the antibiotic tetracycline. Poor development of enamel or dentin (the main sources of natural tooth color), tooth decay, root canal treatments or trauma are also common causes of intrinsic discoloration.

There are techniques to reduce the effects of intrinsic staining, such as placing a bleaching agent inside the tooth following a root canal treatment. In some cases, the best approach may be to restore the tooth with a crown or porcelain veneer. The latter choice is a thin layer of dental material that is permanently bonded to the outer, visible portion of the tooth: it’s life-like color and appearance covers the discoloration, effectively renewing the person’s smile.

If you’ve been embarrassed by stained teeth, visit us for a complete examination. We’ll recommend the right course of action to turn your dull smile into a bright, attractive one.

If you would like more information on treatments for teeth staining, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Teeth Whitening.”