Conditions
Discoloured or stained teeth Australia 2026: whitening, veneers, composite bonding, and costs
Types of tooth discolouration and which treatment fixes each — professional whitening, composite bonding, and veneers. Australian costs vs Picasso Vietnam: Zoom whitening AUD 340, Emax veneers AUD 510–566.
Discoloured or stained teeth can be treated with professional teeth whitening, composite bonding, or porcelain veneers depending on the cause and severity. Medicare does not cover cosmetic whitening or veneers. Professional Australian teeth whitening costs AUD 500–AUD 1,200; private Emax veneers cost AUD 1,500–AUD 2,500 per tooth. Picasso Dental Clinic Vietnam charges AUD 340 for Zoom whitening and AUD 510–566 per Emax veneer.
Discolouration types — which treatment applies
| Type | Cause | Treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Surface staining | Coffee, tea, wine, smoking | Professional whitening |
| Generalised yellow/grey (ageing) | Dentine darkening with age | Whitening (partial); veneers for significant cases |
| Tetracycline banding | Antibiotic use during tooth development | Veneers or crowns — whitening does not work |
| Fluorosis (white/brown spots) | Excess fluoride during development | Microabrasion, composite bonding, or veneers depending on severity |
| Dead tooth (grey) | Non-vital tooth after trauma or failed root canal | Crown; internal bleaching for some cases |
| Single dark tooth | Old amalgam filling showing through | Composite replacement or crown |
AUD price comparison — Vietnam vs Australia
| Treatment | Australian private cost | Picasso Vietnam (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| Full-mouth Zoom! whitening | AUD 600 – AUD 1,200 | AUD 340 |
| At-home whitening trays | AUD 300 – AUD 700 | AUD 113 |
| Composite bonding (per tooth) | AUD 300 – AUD 800 | AUD 170 |
| Emax veneer (per tooth) | AUD 1,500 – AUD 2,500 | AUD 510 |
| Emax crown (per tooth) | AUD 1,800 – AUD 2,800 | AUD 510 |
When whitening is not enough
If professional whitening has not produced the result you want, or if your discolouration is intrinsic, veneers or composite bonding are the next step:
- Composite bonding — tooth-coloured resin applied and sculpted over the existing tooth surface. Reversible, immediate, no lab time. Lasts 3–5 years before requiring touch-up.
- Porcelain veneers — thin ceramic shells bonded to the front surface. Best translucency and durability (10–15+ years). Requires minimal tooth preparation. Shade is permanent — choose carefully.
- Crowns — full coverage for teeth with significant structural issues alongside discolouration.
Whitening, if appropriate, should always be done before veneers — the veneer shade is matched to whitened natural teeth for consistent results.