Dentist in Valencia | Mehran Abbassian DDS

Tooth discoloration is the most common blemish in the appearance of a smile. Fortunately, teeth stains can also be the most accessible and most affordable imperfection to fix.

Cosmetic dental treatments eliminate or completely mask imperfections. When it comes to teeth stains, you need to treat the specific type of discoloration.

What are tooth stains?

When it comes to your teeth, there are a few main types of discoloration:

• Intrinsic stains
• Extrinsic stains 
• Age-related discoloration

All stains can be unsightly but, in most cases, don’t pose a severe threat to oral health. The best thing is to consult your dentist in Valencia, Dr. Abbassian, to help diagnose what type of stain you have and what dental services you would benefit from the most. Let’s first look at the details of each stain.

What Are Extrinsic Stains?

Extrinsic stains are stains on the enamel of your teeth. The enamel is a semi-translucent layer of highly-resilient mineral crystals protecting your teeth from damage and bacterial infection. 

Your tooth enamel can be stained by everyday foods and beverages, smoking, and poor dental hygiene. Drinking a morning cup of coffee or a glass of red wine at dinner potentially cause extrinsic staining, especially as we get older.

What are Intrinsic Stains?

Intrinsic stains are when the dentin inside the tooth becomes discolored. This discoloration can be caused by a mouth injury, certain medications, or overexposure to fluoride. Intrinsic tooth stains are more permanent than extrinsic stains.

Intrinsic tooth stains are challenging to treat because they do not respond to teeth whitening like extrinsic stains. When the dentin becomes darker, there is a possibility of a more serious problem than just discolored teeth. Dental professionals should evaluate intrinsic stains for tooth decay or other oral health issues.

What is age-related discoloration? 

As we age, the teeth are more susceptible to staining and discoloration. This discoloration is a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic stains. Those with age-related discoloration may possibly improve with a professional teeth whitening treatment. If the intrinsic discoloration is severe, they may want to consider other treatments, such as dental bonding or veneers.

What is the Treatment For Tooth Stains?

The good news is that extrinsic stains are on the outer enamel of the teeth and benefit from a teeth whitening treatment. Remember that over-the-counter home whitening products like whitening toothpaste or whitening strips only remove minor stains. 

Treatment for intrinsic stains might require internal bleaching or, if severe, a root canal treatment to the pulp.

If neither seems right, you may opt for cosmetic dentistry treatments that “cover up” the discoloration. You can choose porcelain veneers, dental crowns, or dental bonding, depending on the severity of the stains. These excellent dental care solutions give you permanent white teeth and a confident smile.

Visit Your Dentist in Valencia, CA

Give us a call at Mehran Abbassian DDS, your state-ot-the-art dental office in Valencia, California, for a consultation. We will evaluate your teeth, allowing you to make an informed decision about what option is best for your unique teeth. We are passionate about beautiful smiles and are happy to share tips about the best oral hygiene.