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Tetracycline Teeth Whitening - What is the Process and Costs?

Hi, I've tried Britesmile and inhome tray but I still have some yellowish stain toward the gum (a dentist said I must have taken a lot of antibiotics when I was a kid...and she's right!). What is the process of Tetracycline teeth whitening and how much does it typically costs? Thanks for your time.

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4 Doctor Answers | Asked by kcjojo in Arlington, VA

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Severity of tetracyline staining

Results of bleaching tetracycline stained teeth can run the gamut. In some cases where the tetraycyline banding was not too severe, bleaching with a lower percentage of bleach ( to minimize sensitivity) over a longer period of time resulted in lightening the lower portion of the tooth. But the cervical (near the gums) portion always appeared darker. In-office whitening can produce an intial lift in color due to the dessication... more

Tetracycline staining is tough to whiten...

If you want perfectly white teeth then veneers are your only option. I've tried many different brands of teeth bleaching agents and none of them totally remove the tet. stain...Coverage is usually the answer.

Bleaching Tetracycline Stained Teeth

Bleaching tetracycline stained teeth is extremely difficult. You will see little to no improvement if done the way we normally bleach teeth. Normal teeth bleach nicely in as little as a few hours up to a couple of weeks. However, tetracycline stained teeth do not respond like normal teeth. We used to believe that there was really no hope of tetracycline stained teeth and the only way to change their color was to put veneers on them. Recently there have been documented cases of tetracycline... more

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Tetracycline Stains are Permanent

Unfortunately, tetracycline stains are not affected by professional whitening systems. Whitening products are great for removing extrinsic stains caused by smoking and some foods. However, tetracycline stains are intrinsic stains; they became embedded within the tooth when the tooth was developing. You may want to consider veneers on front teeth to cover these stains. Best, Dr. Elizabeth Jahanian

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These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.

Teeth Whitening: Q&A