Expert: Mark Bornfeld DDS - 9/19/2006

Question
Hello,

I just had a cleaning a couple of weeks ago and noticed that a large stain was developing on my front tooth since then.  There was nothing there before, I would have noticed it as it is very obvious.  
Could the cleaning actually damage the enamel of the tooth?  The hygenist used hand tools, another type of scaler and the polish at the end. Any of those could be harmful to teeth enamel?

Thanks,
Anne.

Answer
Dear Ms. Boehler,

Although it is plausible that a cleaning with metallic instruments could cause a gray stain on a composite resin filling, this would be apparent immediately after the cleaning. I can think of no reason why a cleaning would cause the delayed development of stain on a tooth. Certainly, dental instruments can cause damage in unskilled hands, but a hygienist with the proper training would not pose such a risk.

Is it possible that perhaps the stain to which you refer is simply the re-deposition of stained materials that were removed during the cleaning?

Mark Bornfeld DDS
www.dentaltwins.com
Brooklyn, NY