Intrinsic Staining

As part of his quest to provide optimal dentistry, Dr. Amit Pandya of New Hyde Park helps people with stained teeth to brighten up their smiles. The most common way of doing this is with chairside whitening, which leaves patients with teeth that are several shades lighter for months. But some stains, those which are intrinsic to the tooth, require a more involved approach.

Usually, stains are acquired from things consumed in adulthood, such as smoke or coffee. These can be bleached away. But intrinsic stains may be the result of something the tooth was exposed to during its formation, such as excessive amounts of fluoride or tetracycline antibiotics. These stains are too deep to be bleached, but they are not a health hazard and can be covered with veneers.

Intrinsic stains resulting from infection are another matter. An infection in the dental pulp may not be painful initially, but it is likely to become so and can imperil the patient’s life if it spreads to the bloodstream. A root canal will be done to remove infected pulp, after which the tooth may be given a new crown.

The office of Amit Pandya, DDS, is at 1575 Hillside Ave, Suite 207, New Hyde Park, New York, 11040. To schedule an appointment, call 516-233-2135, or visit his website at Going Grin and fill out a contact sheet.