Treatment modalities of discoloured tooth-A review article

Abstract

Aesthetics by definition is the science of beauty or that particular detail of an animate/inanimate object that makes it appealing to the eye. Discolouration of the tooth can erode the sparkle from a smile. This is one of the most frequent reasons why a patient seeks dental care. Tooth discolouration varies in aetiology, appearance, localisation, severity, and adherence to tooth structure. Many techniques have been used to achieve considerable results in the treatment of discoloured teeth. Commonly used techniques include oral prophylaxis, resin infiltration, composites, bleaching, veneers, Porcelain fused metal crowns and zirconia crowns. In recent decades, the management of carious lesions has shifted the paradigm of drilling and filling into the paradigm of prevention, control and minimally invasive restoration. Ceramic laminate veneers have opened a new era in the field of dentistry known as ‘aesthetic dentistry'. Laminate veneers are a good and conservative alternative to full coverage crowns for improving the appearance of an anterior tooth. Bleaching included the length of time to achieve a lightening effect and technique sensitivity, with teeth often reverting back to their original colour. The current techniques involve a broad-spectrum approach utilising hydrogen peroxide (3–38%) with or without heat or laser, carbamide peroxide (10–30%), or a mixture of sodium perborate and hydrogen peroxide. New technologies for whitening teeth involve the use of activating agents such as light activation, ultrasound activation and others to enhance the production of hydrogen peroxide.