If you have spots on your teeth, you could be seeing signs of hypomineralized tooth enamel. Your tooth enamel protects the softer tissues of your teeth and helps your teeth look shiny and translucent.

However, when the teeth get exposed to too much fluoride while they are still developing, the enamel can become hypomineralized, meaning it’s unable to get the minerals it needs to form properly. As a result, the teeth can have white, chalky spots that range from mild to severe in appearance.

Spots on the teeth can even appear brown or yellow in color. Fortunately, you can treat these spots on your teeth to improve your appearance—but how?

Enamel Microabrasion

Enamel microabrasion is a form of treatment in which a very small amount of your natural tooth enamel is removed from the surface of your teeth. Enamel microabrasion is one of the most effective treatments for reducing the appearance of mild to moderate dental fluorosis [1].

However, enamel microabrasion can also help remove yellow or brown spots on teeth as well that can occur from deep staining or fluorosis. Microabrasion doesn’t require any chemicals and is a simple and painless process and can be completed in a single visit at your dentist’s office.

Teeth Whitening

A professional teeth whitening can help get rid of stains that can accentuate the spots on your teeth. You may need to go for a whiter shade or have a couple treatments to minimize the appearance of spots as much as possible.

However, while professional teeth whitening can certainly help reduce the appearance of the spots, it’s generally best used in combination with other treatments, such as microabrasion [2]. A custom combination of therapies can give you your best chance for a uniform and beautiful smile.

Dental Veneers

Although microabrasion and teeth whitening can be effective treatment options for mild to moderate fluorosis or spots on teeth, you may need to consider additional treatments if you have severe fluorosis or discoloration.

Dental veneers are a form of cosmetic dentistry that can help improve the appearance of spots by covering the front surface of the tooth. These are very thin shells made of ceramic that can dramatically improve the appearance of your teeth, especially for moderate to severe cases of fluorosis [3].

The best part about dental veneers is that you don’t need to get them on all your teeth just the ones affected by spots. Your dentist will customize your veneers so that they look uniform with the rest of your teeth.

Composite Resin

You may qualify for dental bonding to correct spots or discoloration on your teeth. Dental bonding uses a tooth-colored composite resin, which is the same material used in contemporary dental fillings. However, this material can also be used to help white spots or discolored areas on the teeth to blend in with the rest of your smile [4].

Dental bonding with composite resin may be the best option for people who have limited fluorosis or minimal spots on their teeth as opposed to those who have widespread fluorosis or severe discoloration.

Do You Have Spots on Your Teeth?

If your smile has been impacted by visible spots on your teeth, know that you can treat them with the right options. Your dentist can help you review the treatments that would work best for improving your unique smile!

Sources:
1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4295217/
2.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320869387_Study_of_the_effect_of_fluorid
e_removal_agent_and_microabrasion_technology_in_LED_teeth_whitening_of_dental_
fluorosis
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6011114/
4. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41407-019-0212-5