Brown discoloration on front teeth.

April 30, 2010 – 9:22 am

I am in my early twenties, and I have always taken really good care of my teeth. Ever since my adult front teeth came in, they have been discolored and brown. I can’t remember who told me this, but I’ve always had the idea that this was because I was extremely ill when I was very young, and the discoloration was caused by the fever.

At the recommendation of my dentist, I’ve tried every whitening product on the shelf, but the situation just keeps getting worse. The areas around the spots are getting whiter, while the spots are getting darker. When I brought this to my dentist’s attention, he said he could try to grind away the material of my tooth until the discoloration is gone. I don’t claim to be a dentist, but this sounds like a terrible idea! He has no idea how much he might have to grind, and I have this horrible mental image of a mouth full of misshapen lumps where my teeth used to be.

Please help me figure out an alternative. Would professional teeth whitening help where the over-the-counter products have failed? I admit, I am pretty obsessed with getting this fixed. I hate my teeth. They create the wrong impression, and I feel like they are hurting my efforts to get a job. I just graduated from college (summa cum-laude) and my confidence is at an all-time low.

Please help.

Brianna from Charleston, SC

Dear Brianna,

You are wise to be uncomfortable with your dentist’s suggestion to grind away at your teeth. Not only will this probably still be ineffective at removing the spots, but he could do considerable irreversible damage to your teeth, too. I strongly suggest you seek the services of an accredited, experienced cosmetic dentist. You should not have to continue to be part of your dentist’s learning curve regarding stains and teeth whitening products.

If all those over-the-counter products did not work for you, it is extremely unlikely that a professional teeth whitening procedure will work. Both systems use the same whitening agents—the at-home systems just take more time. When your first attempts were not successful, your dentist should have been able to tell you that.

Depending on the kind and degree of severity of the spots, there is a chance that a procedure called “microabrasion” could help. If not, other treatment options open to you include dental bonding or porcelain veneers. Both procedures should absolutely only be done by an accredited, experienced cosmetic dentist.

Most general dentists are not at all qualified to do this kind of work, so it is very important that you locate the right dentist to help you.