- What bothers you
- Tooth discolouration
Tooth discolouration
where it comes from and what we can do
Bokserska 54/U1, 02-690 Warszawa · Mokotów
If the only problem is the colour of your teeth, start with whitening. It is a simpler and far less expensive solution than veneers or bonding. If the result satisfies you, there is no need to do anything more.
Mokotów, 54 Bokserska Street, unit U1. Hygiene PLN 400, whitening from PLN 1,600.
What patients write (in Polish)
Do dr. Mikołaja trafiłam z ogromnym bagażem — wieloletnią, bardzo silną traumą i dużym zakresem leczenia. Sam fakt, że w ogóle zdecydowałam się rozpocząć leczenie, był dla mnie ogromnym krokiem. Dziś, po kilku miesiącach, mogę powiedzieć coś, w co jeszcze rok temu naprawdę nie uwierzyłabym — chodziłam do dentysty bez strachu. Bez stresu, bez paniki, bez odkładania kolejnej wizyty w nieskończoność. To dla mnie coś znacznie większego niż samo zakończenie leczenia. Dr Mikołaj od początku wykazał się ogromną empatią, cierpliwością i zrozumieniem. Nigdy nie czułam się oceniana ani zawstydzana. Ogromnie ważne było dla mnie również podejście pani Ilony i pani Kasi — ich spokój, ciepło i życzliwość sprawiały, że czułam się bezpiecznie na każdej wizycie. Całe leczenie zostało bardzo dobrze zaplanowane i przeprowadzone w ciągu kilku miesięcy. A ja, zamiast bać się każdej kolejnej wizyty, zaczęłam przychodzić z poczuciem, że jestem w dobrych rękach. Jestem ogromnie wdzięczna całemu zespołowi.
Serdecznie polecam Pana Doktora! Jestem bardzo zadowolony z efektu plastyki dziąseł. Mój uśmiech wygląda jednolicie, a zęby teraz są dużo większe. Z całego serca polecam!
What patients write (in Polish)
Jestem bardzo zadowolona z konsultacji u Pani Doktor Anety Buczko. Pani Doktor była niezwykle profesjonalna, miła i zaangażowana. Bardzo doceniam indywidualne podejście — Powiedziała co jest prawdą, a co mitem na temat bondingu oraz pomogła mi również dobrać odpowiedni kolor, tak aby efekt był naturalny i dopasowany do mnie, a nie przesadnie jasny. Cała konsultacja przebiegła w bardzo miłej atmosferze. Zdecydowanie polecam!
Świetny specjalista. Wszystko zostało szczegółowo omówione, leczenie było skuteczne, bezbolesne i pragmatyczne.
Where discolouration comes from
Staining from everyday food and drink
Coffee, tea, red wine or cigarettes can affect the colour of natural teeth over time. In such cases whitening usually gives a clear result, although how strong it is still depends on how the teeth respond.
Teeth that darken with age
The natural colour of teeth can change with age. Enamel may become thinner, which makes the dentine beneath it more visible. Such teeth can be whitened too, but the result may differ from person to person.
A single darker tooth after root canal treatment
A tooth after root canal treatment may darken over time, especially if the treatment was done many years ago. The problem is most visible at the front, where even a small difference in colour can affect how the whole smile looks.
Staining after antibiotics
Staining that arose while the teeth were developing – after tetracyclines and some other antibiotics, for example – can take the form of grey, yellowish or brownish bands.
Fewer stains and less discolouration
Coffee, tea, wine or cigarettes can leave stains and surface discolouration on the teeth. Air polishing helps remove them and bring back the natural colour of the teeth. It is not whitening, though – it does not change the natural colour of a tooth.
HygieneWhat we can do
Hygiene
So it is not simply about removing surface deposits. We remove those during a hygiene appointment; whitening works deeper, on the natural tissue of the tooth. That is why a hygiene appointment usually comes first.
HygieneWhitening
Whitening lightens the natural tissues of the tooth – the enamel and the dentine beneath it. The whitening agent penetrates their structure and breaks down the pigment molecules, which changes the natural colour of the tooth.
Teeth whiteningTeeth usually respond to whitening, but how much they lighten is individual. In one patient the change is slight, in another it can be striking. The result is hard to predict precisely, especially if you have never whitened your teeth before.
Fillings, crowns and veneers in the smile
This has to be assessed individually before whitening. Natural teeth whiten; fillings, crowns, bridges and bonding stay the colour they are. If you have many of them in the smile zone, an even colour may be hard to reach.
BondingIf you want a clear, even change of colour across the whole smile, we more often recommend a full smile makeover in such cases – with a new, lighter colour of bonding or veneers. That way the colour of every restored tooth is planned as a whole, instead of matching new restorations to teeth whose colour will keep changing.
VeneersA single dark tooth
If one tooth differs clearly in colour from the rest, whitening the whole smile need not solve the problem. We assess that tooth separately and, depending on its condition, may propose a composite restoration, a veneer or a crown.
BondingWhere the difference in colour is small, a composite restoration matched to the neighbouring teeth is often enough. Where it is larger, restoring both matching teeth is sometimes the better answer, so that colour and shape stay consistent.
Whether whitening makes sense in your case we decide after examining your teeth and any existing restorations. The question is not only whether the teeth can be whitened, but whether whitening will give you the result you are actually after.
Whitening at the practice versus strips and pastes
The difference comes down above all to the strength of the agent, to how it is applied, and to whether a dentist assessed the teeth before whitening began.
In the practice we first check the condition of the teeth and gums and judge whether whitening is safe at this point and whether it will give the result you want. Only then do we choose the method and the agent.
Whitening toothpastes and home remedies
Whitening toothpastes work mainly mechanically – they help remove deposits and surface staining. Teeth can look lighter as a result, but this is not the same as whitening with a professional agent, which acts on the natural tissue of the tooth.
Purple toothpastes and products are also popular. Purple sits opposite yellow on the colour wheel, so it can optically neutralise a yellowish shade and make teeth look whiter for a while. That is a visual effect – it does not lighten the tooth itself and it is short-lived. Once the product is rinsed off, the effect gradually fades.
Home remedies using abrasives, such as baking soda or activated charcoal, work in a similar way. We do not recommend using them regularly, because wearing down the surface of the teeth does not lead to lasting whitening and can damage the enamel.
Whitening strips and gels
Strips and some products for home use do contain whitening substances, but their concentration is limited compared with what is used professionally.
They can lighten natural teeth gradually, although the result depends on the particular product, on how it is used and on how the teeth respond. If the strip does not sit evenly against the tooth surface, the result may also be less even.
Professional whitening gives us above all more control over the whole process – from assessing the teeth, through choosing the method and the agent, to checking the result.
Whitening methods at allsmiles
At allsmiles we use two whitening methods – in the practice and with trays. Both work and can be used interchangeably. Each costs from 1,600 zł. They differ above all in how long they take and in the strength of the whitening agent.
When choosing the method we look above all at the condition of the teeth and at how sensitive they are.
| METHOD | PRICE | TIME |
|---|---|---|
| In the practice – one appointment | PRICE from 1,600 zł | TIME 60–90 minutes |
| Trays – at home | PRICE from 1,600 zł | TIME 10–21 days |
| Both methods combined | PRICE 3,200 zł | TIME depends on the schedule |
| Hygiene appointment before whitening | PRICE 400 zł | TIME about 45 minutes |
Whitening in the practice
One appointment and a stronger agent. We protect the gums and apply an agent of higher concentration. We also use a lamp, which strengthens its action, so the process is intensive and takes about 60–90 minutes.
If the teeth are already sensitive, that sensitivity may increase for a time after the procedure. Tray whitening is then often the better answer, because it lets us control the intensity of the process.
Tray whitening
A weaker agent and more control over the process. We scan the teeth and prepare individual, clear trays. You receive an agent of lower concentration and instructions for using it. The trays are worn for 10–21 days – as advised, during the day or overnight.
The great advantage of this method is that the intensity can be matched to how sensitive the teeth are. If sensitivity appears, the frequency or the wearing time can be changed.
Trays make sense above all once the teeth have been treated and their shape will not change. If you are in the middle of restorative treatment and fillings in the back teeth are still planned, trays made earlier may stop fitting.
Which method to choose?
The methods are interchangeable. There is no one method that is always better. The questions we ask are:
- Have the teeth been treated? If not, and their shape may still change, it is better to finish treatment first.
- Are the teeth sensitive? Where sensitivity is greater, tray whitening lets the whole process run more gently and gradually.
Both methods combined
The best result comes from using both methods one after the other. We can start with whitening in the practice and then continue at home with individual trays. That gives a quick lightening first, and then further whitening with a weaker agent, under control.
Both methods combined cost 3,200 zł. Not every patient needs both. If one of them gives the result you want, there is no need for the second.
Hygiene appointment before whitening
Before whitening we recommend a professional hygiene appointment – 400 zł. We remove calculus and deposits, which lets us make full use of what whitening can do. It is necessary when there is calculus or deposits on the teeth.
Which method suits your case we decide after assessing your teeth and their sensitivity.
The amounts given are for information only and do not constitute an offer within the meaning of Article 66 of the Polish Civil Code.
What it costs to treat discolouration
Whitening in the practice and with trays costs from 1,600 zł. Both methods combined cost 3,200 zł.
| Hygiene: scaling, air polishing, fluoride | 400 zł |
|---|---|
| In-office whitening | from 1 600 zł |
| Take-home tray whitening | from 1 600 zł |
The amounts given are indicative and do not constitute an offer within the meaning of Article 66 of the Polish Civil Code.
Full price listSensitivity and who should not whiten
Sensitivity is the most common temporary effect of whitening. It usually appears during the procedure or in the first days after it and gradually passes.
Sensitivity
If the teeth are already sensitive before whitening, tray whitening is worth considering. Its agent is weaker, and how long and how often it is used can be matched to how the teeth respond. The whitening can then be done more gently and gradually.
Whitening in the practice uses a stronger agent, so where sensitivity already exists it may increase it for a time.
Contraindications
Most situations that can stand in the way of whitening are relative. They do not always rule it out, but they may call for treatment first or for putting the procedure off. This applies among others to:
- untreated decay or leaking fillings,
- inflammation of the gums or periodontium,
- substantial enamel loss and exposed tooth necks,
- pregnancy and breastfeeding,
- being under 18.
In such situations we first assess the mouth and establish whether, and when, whitening will be safe. The final decision is always made during an examination. That is when we assess the teeth, the gums and their sensitivity, and choose the method.
How long the result lasts
The result usually lasts many months, but there is no single figure that fits every patient. Over time the natural colour gradually returns, and how fast depends among others on diet, oral hygiene, smoking and the teeth themselves.
Straight after whitening it is worth limiting strongly staining food and drink for a few days – coffee, tea, red wine or strongly coloured sauces. That reduces the risk of new staining appearing quickly.
Regular oral hygiene and professional hygiene appointments also affect how long the result lasts. Deposits and surface staining can, over time, make teeth look darker even when their natural colour has not changed much.
Can the result be refreshed?
Yes. Whitening can be refreshed from time to time, without going through the whole procedure again.
If you have your own individual trays and they still fit properly, we can use them again for a short refresh of the colour. A few applications of the agent are often enough, depending on how much the colour has changed since the last time.
That makes each refresh simpler and does not call for new trays, as long as the current ones still fit.
How long the result lasts and when it is worth refreshing depends on your teeth and your everyday habits.
Where to read more
Each of these options is described in detail on its own page.
What patients say
The ratings of the practice and the doctors’ profiles come straight from Google and ZnanyLekarz and update automatically. We do not copy or choose reviews – you will find them where our patients left them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to treat discolouration?
Whitening in the practice costs from 1,600 zł and tray whitening from 1,600 zł. Both methods combined cost 3,200 zł. A hygiene appointment, if needed, costs 400 zł.
Will whitening change the colour of fillings and veneers?
No. It is the natural tissue of the tooth that whitens; fillings, bonding, veneers, crowns and bridges stay the colour they are. If you have many such restorations in the smile zone, we assess beforehand whether whitening will give an even colour. Sometimes planning a full smile makeover is the better answer than whitening alone.
Can a dark tooth after root canal treatment be lightened?
Whitening from the outside may have a limited effect if the tooth is darker because of changes inside it. In that case we assess during the consultation whether a composite restoration, a veneer or a crown is the better answer. The scope of treatment depends on the particular tooth and its condition.
Does whitening damage the enamel?
No. Properly carried out whitening does not damage the enamel. The agent acts on the pigment molecules inside the tooth – it does not grind or damage the surface. We match the method, the concentration and the time it is used to the condition of the teeth. Before whitening we also check for decay, leaking fillings, substantial enamel loss or other problems that need treating first.
Does a hygiene visit whiten the teeth?
No. A hygiene appointment does not change the natural colour of your teeth. It does remove stains and surface discolouration, so the teeth can look lighter and return to their natural colour. To lighten the colour of your teeth, whitening is needed.
How many shades lighter will my teeth get?
We do not give a single figure, because how teeth respond to whitening is individual. In most people the teeth do lighten, but before the first whitening it is hard to say whether the effect will be subtle or very clear. People who have whitened before often already know how their teeth respond. With a first procedure the result is harder to predict.
Does whitening hurt?
The procedure itself is not painful and needs no anaesthetic. During whitening or in the first days after it, temporary sensitivity may appear, especially to cold. It usually passes gradually. If your teeth are already sensitive, tray whitening is worth considering, because a weaker agent lets us control the intensity better.
Can a tooth darken after root canal treatment?
Yes, a tooth can change colour and darken over time after root canal treatment. With the methods used in the past this happened much more often. Today, with properly performed treatment, it usually does not happen. If the tooth does change colour over time, an aesthetic restoration with bonding, a veneer or a crown can be considered – depending on how much of the tooth is left and how large the colour change is.
Book an appointment
Come for a consultation – we will look at your teeth and tell you whether whitening is the best way to lighten your smile in your case. We will choose the method, talk through the likely result and tell you what you can realistically expect.
Consultation 200 zł
