Brightening Stained or Discoloured Teeth

Enhanced teeth whitening systems can be used to brighten your smile at minimal cost: having a winning smile can enhance your looks and confidence

Alternatively, you can have mini-makeovers that use simple techniques to produce natural-looking smiles quickly and affordably. Teeth may also appear discoloured because of tooth decay.

There are many types of tooth discolouration:

Extrinsic: Discolouration or staining caused by external factors, smoking, coffee, wine etc
Intrinsic: Commonly resulting in a yellowing of the teeth where the dentine or inner part of the tooth darkens
Age-related: This is where the teeth enamel becomes thinner over time, resulting in yellowing and possible chipping of the tooth
Fillings: There may be fillings that may be either discoloured or that do not match the tooth or silver fillings which darken teeth
Decay: New decay under filings make the teeth look darker or grey
Crowns and Bridges: Ill-fitting existing crowns and bridges create a black shadow near the gum line or these may not match the neighbouring teeth and are darker because of a poor colour match
Medication or congenital development of teeth: Medication taken during the development and formation of teeth such as tetracycline, or defective enamel during development including amelogenesis imperfecta
Pupal Necorsis or poor Root Filling: When the nerve of the tooth becomes infected or the root filling carried out is poor then the tooth may start to look grey

You have the choice of treatments available depending on the cause of the discolouration:

1. Veneers click here:

Veneers form an optimum treatment option if the intrinsic discolouration is severe and teeth whitening may not be powerful enough to brighten a smile, when there are multiple discoloured large fillings, or when there is a large decay area.

2. A Smile Makeover

A smile makeover is an optimum treatment option if the intrinsic discolouration is severe and teeth whitening may not be powerful enough to brighten a smile.

It is also appropriate when there are multiple discoloured large fillings, discolouration due to teeth developmental issues, tooth wear, crowding, gaps, and/or a narrow smile.

3. Teeth whitening

Teeth whitening is a good option providing minimally invasive dentistry when the only issue is mild tooth discolouration. If the discolouration is moderate then the teeth whitening may need to be carried out for an extensive period.

Severe intrinsic tooth discolouration requires other treatment options to be considered such as veneers.

If the discolouration is due to a poor roof filling or a poor seal then internal tooth whitening after a revised root filing will improve the colour

4. Replacement crowns, fillings and bridges

Replacement crowns, fillings and bridges require measuring and recording the shade of the neighbouring teeth accurately and using a ceramist who understands the nuances of creating a layered appearance of tooth colour taking into account the small nuances present.

This involves taking digital photographs and recording and understanding the hue, value and chroma.

5. Root filling or re-root filling

The removal of the infection in a tooth that requires root filling or one where the root filling is inadequate will improve the colour. This may involve the removal of tooth decay which also improves the colour.

Where the re-root filling is carried out then internal tooth whitening is also an additional treatment often required

6. Hygiene treatment

This is ideal when there is extrinsic tooth staining including the presence of plaque and calculus.

7. Combination of above treatment options

If you are not sure which option is right for you the first step is to come in and let a dentist advise you on the correct procedure.

Your initial consultation is completely free of charge.

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Treatment options for Discoloured Teeth

Our free no obligation Initial Consultation will be with our dentist and/or our Treatment Coordinators. The suitability of options discussed will ultimately be dependent upon your clinical assessment with a dentist at the practice.