Techniques for lighting teeth call to-day for a whole therapeutical battery extending from a simple surface cleaning to more or less sophisticated treatments, including mechanical or chemical treatments.

Protocol for chemical treatments is, to-day, well established and leads to sure and predictable results as such is the case with some discolorations due to age for example.

More severe discolorations such as those following intake of tetracycline or of fluor at high concentration can be taken care of with chemical treatments which are often time consuming and necessitate the association of several techniques.

More severe and pathologic discolorations due to a genetic factor such as dentinogenesis or amelogenesis imperfecta have to be managed with full or partial covering of teeth by a cosmetic material (composite or porcelain).

Chemical treatments, whether ambulatory or at the chair, are very performing. Their chemical activation by light (halogen, plasma, laser, etc.) enhances their efficiency by reducing exposure time and number of appointments.

During this lecture the author will attempt, on the basis of numerous clinical cases, to show the very different origins of tooth discoloration and will especially insist on the modern techniques, mechanical, chemical and prosthetic.