What Causes Tooth Stains and Discolorations?
A member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. Cynthia Stephenson has undergone extensive training in aesthetic dentistry. Dr. Cynthia Stephenson offers Zoom! and BriteSmile professional whitening treatments to transform the appearance of teeth that are discolored. There are two types of tooth discolorations: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains affect the enamel, which is the hard outer layer of the tooth. These types of stains are usually a result of poor oral hygiene, smoking, or consuming dark foods and beverages such as berries, red wine, coffee, and tea. Intrinsic stains happen at a deeper level, affecting the dentin layer of the tooth. Sometimes these discolorations occur during tooth development, such as when a person is exposed to too much fluoride in the water supply or takes the antibiotic tetracycline before all of the adult teeth erupt. Trauma to a permanent tooth can also cause deep discoloration. Professional teeth whitening can remove extrinsic stains, but intrinsic stains often do not respond to the bleaching agents. If the whitening treatment does not produce the desired results, the dentist may need to cover the stains with cosmetic bonding or porcelain veneers.