Most teeth whitening products or methods work best on external stains (extrinsic discoloration) that only affect the external surfaces of teeth. Intrinsic dental discoloration, which affects the internal tissues and structures of the teeth, is much harder to deal with. Still, there are effective methods of dealing with intrinsic teeth discoloration; here are some of those methods.

Prolonged Dental Bleaching

Prolonged bleaching, which may take the form of extended and repeated bleaching, may sometimes help with intrinsic staining. This is especially true if the intrinsic staining is caused by external agents, which means the discoloration was caused by something that passed through the dental enamel and penetrated deep into the teeth.

This makes sense because the enamel is porous enough to allow some substances to pass through it. Therefore, just like staining agents can pass through the enamel and stain the inside of the tooth, the bleaching agent may also pass through the enamel and bleach it. This type of teeth whitening is best done under the observation of a dentist because it can lead to dental hypersensitivity.

Bleaching Inside the Teeth

If the discoloration is present during or caused by root canal treatment, then it makes sense to deal with it during the same procedure. In this case, the bleaching agent is placed inside the tooth, left there for some time, and then removed before the filling is placed. This is known as internal bleaching. It works great for endodontically treated tooth and is much better than waiting to try and bleach the tooth later on.

Dental Veneers

Dental veneers are extremely thin shells of tooth-colored materials, mostly made from porcelain or resin composite, used to cover up dental defects. If your intrinsic discoloration is severe and cannot be bleached via other means, then you should consider covering your teeth up with veneers.

Dental Bonding

Dental bonding is another option for internally stained teeth. Bonding refers to the process of applying tooth-colored resin on the tooth; the application is made using an appropriate adhesive that is then cured to improve durability. There are various reasons why you may need dental bonding, most of them cosmetic, and covering up intrinsic bonding is one of them.

Therefore, if you have discolored teeth, don't lose hope as far as whitening them is concerned. Consult a cosmetic dentist to help you explore the available options so that you can get the brilliant smile you crave. Don't forget to follow your dentist's orders to prevent further discoloration.