Coronal Polish Certification Practice Test

In which group of stains would you categorize brown tobacco stains?

1. Intrinsic stains

2. Extrinsic stains

3. Exogenous stains

4. Endogenous stains

The correct answer is: Extrinsic stains

Brown tobacco stains are categorized as extrinsic stains because they originate from external sources that come into contact with the teeth. These stains are specifically caused by the use of tobacco products, which leave deposits on the surface of the enamel. Extrinsic stains are typically removable through professional cleaning or good oral hygiene practices, such as brushing and scaling. In contrast, intrinsic stains occur within the tooth structure itself and are often more difficult to remove, usually requiring whitening treatments or restorative procedures. Categorizing brown tobacco stains as exogenous is also relevant since they do originate from an outside source (i.e., tobacco); however, the more precise classification for these types of stains in terms of their removable nature and the surface-level deposition on teeth is as extrinsic stains. Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, would not apply here, as they cannot be simply removed by cleaning and are embedded within the tooth structure. Endogenous stains refer to those stains that arise from internal biological factors, often related to developmental issues, rather than external sources like tobacco.