Yellow or discolored teeth are one of the most common reasons people come to see us. And one of the most common frustrations is trying home whitening products that don’t seem to work. Here’s why — and what will actually help.
There Are Two Types of Tooth Discoloration
Understanding which type you have is the key to choosing the right treatment.
Surface staining is exactly what it sounds like — color on the outside of the tooth caused by things like coffee, tea, red wine, tobacco, or certain foods. This type of staining responds well to professional whitening treatments.
Internal discoloration comes from inside the tooth. This can happen for several reasons: certain antibiotics taken during childhood, trauma to the tooth, a tooth that has had a root canal, or natural aging of the tooth structure. Internal discoloration does not respond to external whitening because the color is not on the surface — it’s inside the tooth.
This is why whitening toothpastes and home kits often disappoint people. They only work on surface stains — and even then, the concentration of whitening agent in over-the-counter products is much lower than what we use professionally.
What Treatments Are Available at NovoCare
Professional whitening — For surface staining, our professional whitening treatment uses a higher-grade whitening agent applied and monitored by our team. Results are significantly stronger and faster than anything you can buy at a pharmacy.
Internal bleaching — For teeth that have darkened from the inside (most commonly after a root canal), we offer internal bleaching, a specialized procedure where the whitening agent is placed inside the tooth. It’s a targeted approach for a specific type of discoloration that standard whitening cannot reach.
Veneers — For teeth that are severely discolored and don’t respond fully to whitening, a porcelain veneer gives you a clean, permanent solution. The veneer covers the front of the tooth entirely with a beautifully crafted porcelain surface.
The Right Starting Point
The honest starting point is a consultation where we examine your teeth, identify the type of discoloration, and recommend the right approach. We won’t recommend a more expensive treatment than you actually need — if professional whitening will get you to your goal, we’ll tell you that.
Come see us at NovoCare, Tesfaye Gizaw Building, 3rd Floor, 22 to Lem Hotel near to Elsa Kolo Building.