How to Treat Enamel Hypoplasia
Posted by writeradmin
I have enamel hypoplasia on my teeth. I’m too embarrassed to smile most of the time. Is there a way I could whiten my teeth to make them look uniform in color?
Sandy
Dear Sandy,
I’m glad you wrote. While there is a solution to what you’re dealing with, teeth whitening will not be what you need. This is because when you whiten your teeth, it bleaches the teeth evenly, so the color will still be uneven.
For the benefit of those who may not know what enamel hypoplasia is, I’ll give a brief explanation. This happens when tooth enamel does not fully develop. There are two reasons this can happen. The first is a genetic defect. The second is caused by disease during formation of the teeth, which can occur from before birth to about twelve years of age.
The treatment you will use mostly depends on the severity of your condition. If it is severe hypoplasia, you are better off using porcelain veneers to treat your teeth. These are tiny wafers of porcelain that can completely cover the front of your teeth. It is actually what celebrities use to get that Hollywood smile. However, you are not limited to a perfect smile. A skilled cosmetic dentist can create whatever type of smile you want.
If you have mild hypoplasia, then you can either use porcelain veneers or cosmetic bonding. The dental bonding will just be placed on the minor spots you have and can blend in with the remainder of your teeth. Both of these procedures take an experienced cosmetic dentist who invested in post-doctoral training. There is not a recognized specialty in cosmetic dentistry, so it is up to the dentist how much training they get. I would ask to see before and after pictures of cases they’ve done in the procedure you want.
This blog is brought to you by Mt. Dora Dentist Dr. Michelle Stillman.