Why is it important to know the likely causes of tooth discolouration?

Reaching an accurate diagnosis of the cause of dental discolouration allows your dentist to select the most appropriate treatment options. Over-the-counter products may not be effective against some types of discolouration and your dentist can advise you whether the problem can be managed by various professional lightening or whitening treatments, or whether more extensive cosmetic procedures (such as veneers or crowns) are needed.

Some patterns of tooth shade change such as whiteness from fluoride intake can be treated using methods other than whitening to return tooth enamel to its normal colour. They can also provide advice on the type of improvement expected and the duration of treatment. Documenting the tooth shade using a dental shade guide (or taking photographs) is normally undertaken before starting a whitening treatment.