Our teeth tend to darken as we age. Different foods, coffee, tea, and tobacco products will cause our teeth to gradually pick up the stains from the food and drink. These stains are mostly on the surface and maybe slightly into the enamel. Heavy antibiotics as a small child can lead to the darkening of the permanent teeth, sometimes quite noticeably. These dark stains are actually in the enamel and the dentin as the tooth develops and not just on the surface of the enamel. Stained or darkened teeth can be lightened to a certain extent by two different methods of bleaching. The first is a "Power Whitening" system, which is done in the office by Dr. Romans. This is a one-time procedure used on very dark teeth and might lighten the natural teeth as much as two shades. "Power whitening" is recommended for most heavily stained teeth. It is made up of very powerful chemicals that must be used in a controlled, safe, office environment. The second is an in-home bleaching technique in which your teeth are bleached daily for less than one hour. Ten to fourteen days is the maximum time to bleach. It is the most commonly used method, and is really the most dependable. Dr. Romans and his staff can advise you as to which of your teeth can be bleached and which method is best suited for your situation. Neither of these bleaching systems will whiten crowns (porcelain caps) or white fillings. OTC bleaching techniques sold in retail stores are not effective