What is Enamel Microabrasion?
Stained teeth? Pesky white spots? Enamel microabrasion might be for you!
Enamel microabrasion is a conservative dental procedure that is used to remove enamel discolorations and preserve tooth structure.
Causes of tooth discoloration
There are two types of staining that exist in teeth: extrinsic and intrinsic. The former are surface level stains from ingested substances such as red wine, coffee, or tobacco. These can be removed with a professional dental cleaning. Intrinsic staining occurs below the surface of the tooth, within the enamel. Common causes of intrinsic staining include:
- Some medical treatments
- Trauma can also turn a tooth a dark color, but this is beyond the scope of the superficial enamel discolorations
- Excess fluoride, which can lead to fluorosis
- Poor dental health, which causes decalcification
Many teenagers who have their braces removed develop white spots around the periphery of where the braces were. These white spots are typically a result of less than ideal oral hygiene throughout the orthodontic treatment where an accumulation of plaque has led to early signs of caries (tooth decay), leaving the decalcified tooth white.
An intrinsic tooth stain is trickier to remove, but it can be done by a variety of methods. So long as the discoloration lies in the outer layer of enamel, microabrasion is a perfect, permanent solution.
How Microabrasion Works (no anesthetic!)
Step one: Isolation of the teeth for full protection
Step two: Removal of discolored enamel
Step three: Gentle polishing with an acid abrasion slurry
Step four: Cleaning and rinsing of teeth
Is microabrasion for me?
Many patients come to us thinking that veneers are their only option for achieving their ideal smile. This is why that initial consultation with our new patients is so important, as it gives us a chance to ask all the right questions in order to understand each patient’s unique needs and goals, and then make personalized recommendations. Enamel microabrasion has provided many patients with a minimally invasive and relatively inexpensive way to achieve their goals. Call our office at 513-398-4448 or fill out our contact form to request a private consultation today, and find out if microabrasion is for you!
