White Spot Lesions

Do you know what the first sign of tooth decay is? If not, we at Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental office are glad you found us. An incipient dental lesion is characterized by the white spot that develops on tooth enamel and its appearance means that the patient needs to improve their oral hygiene.

Enamel takes on an unnaturally white appearance when it is first exposed to acid. This can be observed in people with chronic acid reflux as well as those going through the early stage of tooth decay. Acid is a by-product of bacteria eating food debris, and it gets stuck in tartar. The enamel in contact with acid first loses minerals, and then develops pits and cavities unless the bacteria, its food source, and the acid are removed.

White spots most commonly form in the area surrounding orthodontic brackets. This can result in hollow rectangular stains on the teeth when they are removed. Good brushing is essential to preventing this, but if it does happen, the teeth may be able to remineralize naturally. Otherwise, we may remineralize them artificially or provide masking treatments, such as bonding or veneers.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit Fullerton Dental and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Intrinsic Stains

Did you know that root canals can be an important cosmetic procedure? Stains can be both extrinsic and intrinsic to a tooth, meaning they can affect the outer as well as the inner layers. At Dr. Eric Meyer’s Fullerton dental office, we offer several means of restoring teeth to whiteness, but for some intrinsic stains, a root canal is necessary.

Extrinsic stains are generally caused by repeated exposure to dark liquids such as coffee or red wine, or by smoke and tar. They can usually be fixed with bleaching. Intrinsic stains affect the dental pulp. They could be due to the tooth having been exposed to an excessive amount of fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics while it was developing, or by inflammation. Although an intrinsic stain can be covered with a veneer, inflamed pulp presents a health concern and should not be swept under the rug.

Although inflammation is part of the body’s immune response, the body does a poor job at fighting off tooth infections on its own and a root canal will probably be necessary. Typically, a root canal ends with the tooth being filled and sealed. But to reverse cosmetic damage, an entire new crown may be necessary.

Eric M. Meyer, DDS, operates at 2720 North Harbor Blvd, Fullerton, California, 92835. To schedule an appointment, call 714-879-7943 or visit FullertonDental.com and fill out a contact sheet.