February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. The National Children’s Dental Health Month is a…
Should you Choose Tooth Whitening or Veneers?
When you are unhappy with the look of your teeth, you have several options to enhance their appearance. Two of the most common procedures that are done right in the dental office are tooth whitening and dental veneers. Both procedures are non-invasive and provide great results, but which one will work better for you greatly depends on the severity of the discoloration of your teeth.
Tooth Whitening
Whitening your teeth has many advantages: it is done quickly, there are no special instruments or procedures required, and you can go about your day immediately following the tooth whitening process. Like any procedure, tooth whitening has its faults. One of the greatest concerns is whether or not it will whiten your teeth to the degree that you would prefer. This greatly depends on the severity of the stains on your teeth and how they occurred. Generally, tooth whitening only works on extrinsic stains (stains that are on the exterior of your tooth enamel). These stains occur from food, lifestyle habits, and aging. Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, which occur as a result of too much fluoride, certain antibiotics, or discoloration due to trauma, are not able to be fixed with tooth whitening.
Dental Veneers
Dental veneers are a great non-invasive dental procedure for those that wish for their color to be restored on their teeth, as well as hiding any other cosmetic issues, including chipped teeth, crooked teeth, or large gaps in between teeth. As you can see, dental veneers provide greater power for fixing cosmetic issues, but when it comes to stains, they do not have the same issues as teeth whitening. Because dental veneers are placed over your enamel, any discoloration is immediately hidden and replaced with the bright, white color of the veneer. As an added benefit, dental veneers are permanent, which means you never have to go through another procedure to get the white teeth you desire, as long as you take care of them by brushing, flossing, and visiting us for regular cleanings. This is unlike teeth whitening which typically needs to be repeated every few years.
The decision between tooth whitening and dental veneers greatly depends on the reason for your cosmetic issues. If it is something that is beyond the surface of your enamel, tooth whitening will likely not have the desired effects – it may even make your teeth look more unpleasant because certain teeth without stains will become whiter than those with the intrinsic stains. Dental veneers, on the other hand, will help any type of stain, giving you the bright, white smile you desire.
Dr. Jordan Cooper is from Jacksonville, AR. His father is Dr. James Cooper, a Jonesboro, AR native and practicing dentist of 39 years and his mother, Tracy Cooper, is a dental hygienist from Little Rock. Dr. Cooper graduated high school from Central Arkansas Christian, after which he entered at the University of Arkansas as a Chancellor’s Scholar in 1998.
Dr. David Cole is a graduate from the University of Arkansas, receiving his degree in 2016, and is a huge Razorback fan! He then went to dental school at the University of Tennessee where he received his D.D.S. in 2021. He looks forward to getting to know the Central Arkansas area, and serving his community!
Dr. Rasmussen is a Hot Springs native who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas in 2017 (Go Bears). After receiving his D.D.S from The University of Tennessee in 2021, he is looking forward to serving the central Arkansas community and the wonderful people who live here.
Dr. James Cooper was born in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He studied at the University of New Mexico and graduated from dental school from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. After 2 years of dental experience with the Army, Dr. Cooper moved to Jacksonville in 1973 to practice dentistry.