Discolored front teethDiscolored front teeth
It depends on whether it is stain on the surface, color inside the tooth, or an old filling that has changed color. Whitening works well in the first case but has no effect at all in the third. At Wonjin Dental Clinic, we first check where the color is.
On this page
First, we look at the cause
Two cases can look the same and still need different treatment if the cause is different. If you fix only the shape and leave the cause, the same problem usually comes back in the same place.
Should I get whitening, or is scaling enough?
If the color is stain on the surface, removing it is all you need. Many people start with whitening and spend more money and time than needed.
Stain from coffee, tea and tobacco builds up on the tooth surface and the thin film over it. The color inside the tooth stays the same, so removing the built-up stain reveals the original color. In this case there is no need to drill, cover the teeth or use any bleaching agent.
This is when
The color is uneven, and it is darker between the teeth and near the gums. When you scratch it with a fingernail, it feels rough.
Then
We remove the stain first and then look at the color. If you are satisfied, we stop there. If not, we discuss the next step at that point.
What we look at first
Why are my teeth still yellow after scaling?
Because the color is inside the tooth, not on the surface. Cleaning the surface does not change it.
Most of a tooth’s color comes not from the outer enamel but from the dentin beneath it. If your dentin is naturally dark, or if with age the dentin thickens and the enamel thins, the color inside shows through. This is not a disease but a feature of tooth structure.
Only my filled front tooth is a different color. Will whitening match it?
It actually makes the difference bigger. Whitening works only on teeth and has no effect at all on filling material.
Composite resin changes color over time, and stain forms at its edges. What changed is not the tooth but the bonded material. Whitening in this state brightens only the surrounding teeth, so the filled spot stands out even more.
This is when
The color is in only one spot, and the edge is clearly visible. It is where you had treatment before.
Then
We replace the filling material. If you also plan to whiten, we whiten first and then replace the filling to match the brighter color. Done in the reverse order, it has to be done twice.
What we look at first
Just one tooth is dark gray.
The nerve of that tooth has likely died. The color is the result. The cause is inside the tooth.
When the nerve dies, substances inside it seep into the dentin and the whole tooth turns gray or brown. An old injury often shows up this way years later, so many people do not remember the cause.
This is when
Just one tooth is dark, and the rest are normal. That tooth was injured before or had major treatment.
Then
Even if the surface is brightened, the inside shows through again if it is left as it is. We treat the inside first and then look at the color.
What we look at first