Teeth Whitening

Over time, teeth can lose their natural brightness due to foods and beverages, everyday activities, smoking, aging, and other factors, leading many people to consider teeth whitening. Although most people are good candidates for teeth whitening, a professional evaluation is needed to determine if the treatment is appropriate for each individual. The first step is determining the cause of the discoloration, which may be extrinsic (surface stains caused by coffee, tea, tobacco, or certain foods) or intrinsic (staining within the tooth itself caused by trauma, medications, or aging).

In some cases, discoloration may actually be related to old fillings, crowns, or other dental restorations that do not respond to whitening products. A professional consultation is important to evaluate the source of the staining and determine which whitening option or cosmetic treatment would provide the best results.