What Kind of Stains Can a Dentist Remove?

If you have ever looked in the mirror and noticed your teeth looking darker or more discolored than you’d like, you are not alone. Stained teeth are very common, and they can develop for many different reasons. The good news is that your Dr. Crowley and the team at BrightWork Family Dentistry has a number of ways to help. Understanding the different kinds of stains can make it easier to see what treatment may be best for your smile.

The most common type of discoloration is called extrinsic staining, which simply means the stain is sitting on the outside surface of your teeth. Everyday habits like drinking coffee, tea, or red wine, eating dark-colored foods, or using tobacco products are the usual culprits. These stains often cannot be fully removed with regular brushing at home, but a professional dental cleaning can polish away much of this surface discoloration and leave your smile looking brighter.

There are also intrinsic stains, which form inside the tooth. These can be caused by certain medications, too much fluoride during tooth development, or even an injury that affects the inner structure of a tooth. Because intrinsic stains are deeper, they do not usually respond to surface cleaning alone. In these cases, your Dr. Crowley might recommend professional whitening treatments, or sometimes cosmetic solutions like bonding, veneers, or crowns, depending on how noticeable the discoloration is.

A third type is age-related staining. As we get older, our enamel naturally becomes thinner, which allows more of the yellowish dentin underneath to show through. On top of that, years of exposure to foods, drinks, and habits that cause surface stains can make the discoloration more obvious. For many patients, a combination of whitening and restorative treatments provides the best results.

Professional whitening treatments offered at a dental office can often make a dramatic difference for surface and some mild internal stains. Unlike over-the-counter products, professional systems are carefully supervised and use stronger whitening agents, which means the results are safer, faster, and more predictable.

When you visit Dr. Crowley, he will take a close look at your teeth to determine what type of stain you have and explain the treatment options available. Dr. Crowley may also ask about your lifestyle and health history to get a better picture of what is causing the discoloration. With that information, he can recommend whether a cleaning, whitening, or a more advanced cosmetic solution will give you the best outcome.

If you are bothered by the color of your teeth, book your appointment today with Dr. Crowley and the BrightWork Family Dentistry team. Together, we can find the right approach to brightening your smile and help you feel more confident.