Internal Tooth Whitening
Sometimes when the nerve of a tooth dies and the tooth goes untreated, a darkening or discoloration of the tooth can develop. The affected tooth may begin to look darker, or more orange or brown than the surrounding teeth. This can be most apparent in front teeth and very often is related a trauma to the tooth during childhood.
Such teeth very often require root canal therapy to prevent an infection from developing into the tissues surrounding the tooth. However, despite adequate cleaning of the canal system, the remaining discolored crown of the tooth can result in an esthetic problem for most patients. This is where internal bleaching of the tooth can become an option.
Internal tooth whitening, or internal bleaching, is very similar to conventional tooth whitening. With conventional tooth whitening, agents are applied to the external surfaces of all the teeth to whiten them equally. Internal bleaching differs from this conventional treatment in that it targets the whitening procedure to only the affected and discolored tooth or teeth. A small hole is made into the discolored tooth and a whitening agent is applied to the internal portion of the tooth. This agent is left in the tooth for periods of 2-3 days and is periodically changed until the desired whiteness is achieved. Once you are satisfied with the color of the tooth, a permanent filling is placed in order to seal and protect the root canal.
While each tooth is unique, teeth often will require 2-4 visits to achieve optimal results. Your specialist at the Root Canal Center of Naples can discuss with you the anticipated length of timing of treatment.