Teeth Discoloration
Teeth discoloration can happen for many reasons and is usually grouped into two main types:
​
-
Extrinsic Staining – This occurs on the outside surface of the tooth. Common causes include coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, and certain foods. These stains affect the enamel and can often be improved with professional cleanings or whitening treatments.
-
​
-
Intrinsic Staining – This happens inside the tooth structure and is more difficult to treat. Causes include excessive fluoride during childhood, dental trauma, or certain medications such as tetracycline antibiotics, which can leave teeth with a gray or brown appearance.
​
Fortunately, Delicate Dental offers comfortable, convenient, discreet and effective options for both types of staining, ranging from whitening procedures to veneers or crowns, depending on the cause and severity.
Treatment for Teeth Discoloration​
​
1. Professional Cleaning (Prophylaxis)
-
Removes extrinsic stains from plaque, tartar, coffee, tea, wine, or tobacco.
-
Performed by a dentist or hygienist using ultrasonic scalers and polishing paste.
​
2. Teeth Whitening (Bleaching)
-
In-office whitening: Stronger agents (hydrogen peroxide/carbamide peroxide) activated by light or laser for quick results.
-
Take-home whitening trays: Custom trays with professional-grade gel for gradual whitening.
-
Works best for yellowish stains, less effective for gray or brown intrinsic discoloration.
​
3. Microabrasion
-
Removes a very thin layer of enamel using an abrasive + acid mixture.
-
Useful for white spots, mild fluorosis, or surface defects.
​
4. Dental Bonding
-
Tooth-colored composite resin applied to the surface.
-
Covers localized discoloration, spots, or uneven shade.
-
Affordable but may stain over time.
​
5. Porcelain Veneers
-
Thin shells of porcelain bonded to the front of teeth.
-
Best for severe intrinsic stains (tetracycline, fluorosis, trauma-related).
-
Long-lasting, natural-looking results.
​
6. Crowns (Caps)
-
Full-coverage restorations used when teeth are severely discolored, weakened, or structurally compromised.
-
Provides both esthetic and functional improvement.
​
7. Internal Bleaching (for Root-Canal Treated Teeth)
-
If discoloration is due to pulp necrosis or old root canal fillings, bleaching gel is placed inside the tooth.
​​
These solutions can give you a beautifully natural result. However, each case is different and one solution may be more practical than another. For this reason, we offer complimentary consultations to find the best tooth discoloration treatment for you!
Call our office at (214) 368-6792 or request a consultation online.