Related Articles
Tooth Discoloration is any change in color and translucency of the tooth due to any cause. Tooth Discoloration is also known as “Darkening of Teeth.” Teeth become discolored by stains on the tooth surface. A stain is a discolored spot or area. A healthy smile improves self-image and confidence and indicates good overall health.
Deep embedded stains or intrinsic stains cannot be removed by scale and polish techniques and require tooth whitening treatment.
Tooth Whitening procedure is done only in cases of mild fluorosis. It is also known as “Tooth Bleaching”. This is a common procedure in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Bleaching is done by bleaching strips, bleaching pen, bleaching gel, laser bleaching and natural bleaching.
First the dentist applies gel on the gums to protect the soft tissue from irritation. Then the whitening product is applied to the tooth. This product contains hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As this product is broken down oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the tooth color is made lighter. As a result of bleaching there may be temporary tooth sensitivity to heat and cold and gum irritation may be present.
In the case of inherited or developmental stains, these types of stains cannot be removed by teeth whitening. In such cases Veneers and Composite bonding may be the only option.
