Resumo

SCARPELLI, Ana Carolina et al. Aesthetic management of tooth discolouration: conservative treatment for a patient with undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Rev. odonto ciênc. (Online) [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.1, pp. 84-87. ISSN 1980-6523.

PURPOSE: Dental aesthetics has considerable impact in our beauty-conscious society. The darkening of the anterior teeth causes concern for adolescents due to the compromised physical appearance. This article presents a clinical case of tooth staining in an individual who had undergone radiotherapy/chemotherapy for an undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 14-year-old boy presented to the dental clinic complaining of pain and staining of the maxillary and mandibular incisors, canines and premolars after having undergone radiotherapy/chemotherapy and stated his desire to remove the dark stains from the surface of the teeth due to his compromised oral aesthetics. Tooth whitening was performed with hydrogen peroxide, followed by micro-abrasion. At a two-year follow-up visit, clinical success was observed and the child was very satisfied. CONCLUSION: The adoption of such methods provided efficient alternatives for the re-establishment of a healthy smile, thereby returning pleasing facial aesthetics to the patient. The minimization of distress is nearly always the focus of clinical efforts at promoting psychological health in cancer survivors.

Palavras-chave : Nasopharyngeal neoplasms; tooth discoloration; tooth bleaching; quality of life.