If fluoride goes ahead lucrative cosmetic income for dentists.
Q: My two front teeth have yellow spots on the inside bottom corners. My dentist says this is called decalcification. What is this and how can I make it go away?
A: Almost everyone would like to have a perfect set of shining white teeth these days, so we can certainly appreciate your question. We consulted with an excellent dentist to get your answer.
If the yellow spots have been on your teeth all along, this permanent discoloration is called "intrinsic." Several things can cause it: hard mineralized water (often water from a well), too much fluoride or certain antibiotics such as tetracycline if given at younger ages when the teeth were developing. (If the discoloration were new, then you would think about cavities or trauma).
Think of your tooth as a crystal with a certain structure. The yellow spots are part of the crystal but they have a different structure with a different color. Unfortunately these yellow spots are permanent and are not going to "go away" on their own. Only you can decide how much they disturb you and how much effort (and money) to invest in treating them.
Cosmetic treatments are now available that can help. Bleaching will not work. It will make the rest of the tooth whiter but it won't even out the yellow color to make it match. The best option would probably be bonding, which is applying a thin white filling over the spots. Check back with your dentist and ask if this approach might be right for you. Happy smiling!
Bonding costs $300 to $600 per tooth and lasts 7 to 9 years
A: Almost everyone would like to have a perfect set of shining white teeth these days, so we can certainly appreciate your question. We consulted with an excellent dentist to get your answer.
If the yellow spots have been on your teeth all along, this permanent discoloration is called "intrinsic." Several things can cause it: hard mineralized water (often water from a well), too much fluoride or certain antibiotics such as tetracycline if given at younger ages when the teeth were developing. (If the discoloration were new, then you would think about cavities or trauma).
Think of your tooth as a crystal with a certain structure. The yellow spots are part of the crystal but they have a different structure with a different color. Unfortunately these yellow spots are permanent and are not going to "go away" on their own. Only you can decide how much they disturb you and how much effort (and money) to invest in treating them.
Cosmetic treatments are now available that can help. Bleaching will not work. It will make the rest of the tooth whiter but it won't even out the yellow color to make it match. The best option would probably be bonding, which is applying a thin white filling over the spots. Check back with your dentist and ask if this approach might be right for you. Happy smiling!
Bonding costs $300 to $600 per tooth and lasts 7 to 9 years
posted by Bill at
12:54 PM
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