Getting white teeth is a fairly easy process for most people; it simply requires teeth whitening. Unfortunately, if your tooth enamel has been severely damaged, you have a different problem than the average person, and standard tooth whitening won't get the results that you want. If you're sick of having brown or yellow teeth, here's how you can get the look you want with the help of a cosmetic dentist.

Why Whitening Isn't an Option

Tooth whitening is a simple, painless, and affordable option for many people with discolored teeth. However, this is only possible if the problem is with the surface of your teeth.

With weakened enamel, the issue actually starts at the core of the tooth. The inner part of the tooth is naturally brown or yellow, and there's nothing wrong with that. However, when the enamel becomes severely damaged, it's permanently thinned, allowing those shades to shine through. Tooth whitening can't help your enamel to become more opaque, so it's not helpful in this case.

How Veneers Can Help

The good news is, cosmetic dentistry has another option that's also affordable and painless. They're called dental veneers.

Dental veneers are tiny tooth-shaped discs of porcelain. They're designed to go in front of teeth, shielding and covering the appearance of your actual tooth. They can be as white as you like, and have the natural pearlescent sheen to them that real teeth do, too.

Veneers are not only a great idea because they improve your appearance, but they also help to protect your teeth while they're at it. While nothing can take the place of your natural enamel, dental veneers are a physical shield between the front of the tooth and everything else in your mouth, so it may help to slow down or stop the breakdown of enamel.

What the Process Is Like 

Getting veneers is a fairly simple process. You will need to make more than one visit to your dentist's office. Luckily, there's no drilling and no need for injections or pain relievers, so you can rest easy about that.

Your first trip will be to discuss the veneers and for your dentist to provide you with options. If you like what you see, your dentist may be able to take the molds or x-rays of your teeth the same day to get the ball rolling.

Once your dentist has the necessary information, they'll order your new veneers to be custom made for you. They will then be shipped to your dentist's office, and you'll come back in to have them attached.

Dental veneers are put on after your teeth have been thoroughly cleaned by the dentist. Dental cement is used to adhere the veneers to your teeth. Once they're in place and the cement is hardened, the entire process is complete. You can go back to your daily life, eat as you always have, and enjoy the smile looking back at you in the mirror.

Dental veneers may be the solution you're looking for if you're not a candidate for tooth whitening. Talk to a cosmetic dentist, such as Dansville Family Dental Care, to find out if they're right for you.