Many of us hear the term “Teeth Whitening” and will immediately think about the cosmetic dental procedure that requires the use of a bleaching agent to lighten the outside of the teeth. However , there are some “Teeth Whitening” situations which don’t require bleaching agents at all!

Stained Teeth

Consider the person who comes into the dental practice wanting their teeth lightened because they have noticed a stain building up gradually over time. Now their teeth are quite yellow, except for the tips of the teeth which remain their original white colour. Most often the cause of this sort of staining is an accumulation of plaque and tartar, often further stained by foods and drinks. Similarly, an individual who attends with darker stains may discover the discolouration is primarily caused by the foods and drinks that they have been consuming. Tea and coffee, red wine, berry jams and anything else that stains clothing can also stain the teeth! Most often, these teeth can be brightened by a professional cleaning.

Some stains caused by nicotine can be removed by professional cleaning, though some nicotine stains are hard to remove completely.

Discoloured Fillings

Sometimes the discoloration that has been noticed is actually caused by a filling or a group of fillings, either in the front or back teeth.

A patient may hate the dark amalgam fillings in their back teeth, and request that the teeth be made to look whiter. The recommended treatment for this situation may well be to replace the old amalgam fillings with tooth-coloured restorations, either composite resin or porcelain.

Fillings in front teeth are usually made of tooth-coloured composite resin, and these generally match the teeth so well when they are new that they seem invisible. Over time , the outside of composite resin fillings can wear down and become rough, so stains from foods and drinks can discolour them. Occasionally these fillings will start to leak, permitting discolored fluids to leach underneath the filling, creating a greyish or brownish tint. Once more, the treatment that will create a whiter smile involves replacing the fillings: no bleaching is required.

Discolouration Due To Tooth Decay

Decay may also cause staining of the teeth. If the tooth decay has started between the teeth (which is one of the most typical places for it to start) the actual cavity may not have been felt by the individual: however, as the decay moves forward further into the tooth, it can create a discoloured shadow underneath the enamel, which becomes more and more visible. No amount of cleaning will remove these stains: this situation needs a restoration of some sort, usually a filling, or possibly a crown if the hole in the tooth is very large.

Discolouration Due To Trauma

If a person’s teeth have ever suffered trauma, these teeth will sometimes become discolored. This discoloration may be temporary, or it may be permanent: only your dentist will be in a position to determine this via tests and x-rays. If the tooth’s nerve has died as a consequence of the trauma, the tooth generally requires root canal treatment. If this is the case, the tooth can be bleached internally once the root canal treatment is finished to bring it back to its original color.

Some front teeth just can’t be treated effectively with teeth whitening agents. If the tooth has been stained internally by antibiotics during its development, or if the tooth is heavily filled, or if the tooth seems resistant to teeth whitening solutions and gels, sometimes the only way to lighten it is to place a porcelain veneer or crown.

Ask Your Dentist

The process of whitening teeth will, in several cases, involve whitening agents, but sometimes other treatments are needed. Your dentist is well-placed to diagnose the reason for tooth discolouration and to suggest treatments which will remove it. Always ask your dentist if you have got any questions about the color of your teeth and the process required to brighten them.

The dentists at Corinna Dental take great care to listen to their patient’s dental desires and to deliver them. If you are looking for a Canberra Dentist or a Woden Dentist to provide your general and cosmetic dentistry, Corinna Dental can help.