23 October 2020
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

Your teeth have two distinctive attributes. They are translucent and opaque. The translucency quality means that light diffuses or scatters when it hits your teeth. It doesn't go straight through it. On the other hand, opacity implies that light doesn't pass through at all. These two attributes play a critical role in the appearance of your teeth. When light passes through the translucent enamel layers, it gives your teeth their natural appearance after bouncing off the dentin. Staining ruins this natural lighting process, necessitating a whitening procedure to restore your teeth's natural look. Here is a detailed look at intrinsic and extrinsic teeth staining:

Intrinsic Staining

Intrinsic staining happens when stains are incorporated into teeth during their development or eruption stage. It occurs at a young age or the foetal development stage preceding birth. There are several causes of this. First, the staining occurs when there is an excessive systemic intake of fluorides. The result is a condition called fluorosis that makes your enamel appear chalky. Secondly, certain medications, especially antibiotics, can also lead to intrinsic staining. Using the antibiotics at an early age puts the teeth at risk of developing a bluish-grey stain. The severity of the stain depends on the period of using the drugs. Lastly, you can also inherit intrinsic staining due to genetic imperfections of the dentin or enamel.

Extrinsic Staining

Extrinsic teeth stains are quite common because of the things that teeth encounter during regular use. These stains hold on to the teeth' outer layers or find their way to the outermost layers of your enamels. Most of the extrinsic stains come from the interaction between your teeth and the pigments in the foods and beverages you ingest. Coffee, wines, and some sugary foods are rich in colourations that build plaque on the surface of your teeth. The plaque penetrates the small fissures on your teeth and attaches itself firmly to the enamel. When this happens, you cannot restore the colour of your teeth with regular brushing.

Dealing with Intrinsic and Extrinsic Staining

Intrinsic teeth stains are the most difficult for dental patients. The stains sit deep within the teeth, and you will need several sessions of teeth whitening to restore the sparkle on your teeth. If your staining is too severe, your dentist will combine teeth whitening with other restorative procedures like bonding and veneers. However, whitening should be your first resort as it gives a consistent shade to underline the whole restoration. Learn more from a dental clinic in your area like Dr. Zielinski & Associates Dental Clinic.