Maintaining an overall white teeth can be quite challenging as you get older. Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments in dentistry. Sometimes, teeth whitening can be so challenging and difficult when the tooth to be whitened has been subjected to an injury before. A traumatized teeth can be difficult to whiten because it reacts quite differently to the whitening procedures when compared to a healthy teeth. Luckily, there are certain agents and procedures that are really effective for whitening traumatized teeth.
Dead tooth whitening
A dead tooth, also known as a non-vital tooth, may require root canal treatment or therapy. This procedure is performed by an endodontist to remove the dead pulp and restore the tooth’s vitality. Discolorations, such as yellow, light brown, gray, or black, can occur as the tooth deteriorates. To whiten a dead tooth, various methods and whitening agents, including internal teeth bleaching, can be used.
Although not all teeth whitening techniques are effective for patients with dead tooth discoloration, there are specific methods and internal teeth bleaching agents that can yield successful results. In this article, I will reveal some working procedures for whitening a dead tooth.
How It’s Done
During a tooth whitening procedure, one of the things that you should expect at the dentist office is an examination of the teeth to determine the cause of discoloration. The dentist will use techniques such as a radiographic examination (x-ray) to assess the health of the surrounding bone and determine the vitality of the pulp. If the tooth is still vital, external bleaching can be used to lighten it from the outside in.
Since teeth can experience discoloration, internal whitening techniques are commonly used to bleach the tooth from the inside out. However, when dealing with a dead tooth, a root canal procedure will be necessary to remove the dead or dying tissues contained within the pulp after a radiographic examination has been carried out.
Dead Tooth Whitening Via Internal Bleaching
Whitening a traumatized or non-vital tooth with internal discoloration requires special treatments. The bleaching agent will be inserted into the core of the tooth. Dentists or endodontists follow specific clinical stages during internal bleaching, including stages for teeth and discoloration treatment.
1. Radiographic examination: the dentist will first assess your oral health and also carry out a radiographic scan on the tooth in order to make sure that it’s safe for internal bleaching. The x-ray is used to determine whether your tooth structure and the surrounding bone are in healthy condition for the treatment.
2. Pulp cleaning: if it turns out that internal whitening is the best option for you. The dentist will carry out a root canal treatment on the dead tooth in order to get rid of the dead or decayed tissues in the pulp cavity. At first, he will make a small hole at the back of the tooth in order to gain access to the core of the tooth which is known as the pulp chamber. The pulp space would be cleaned of any debris and stain, the debris from the chamber must be removed and rinsed away thoroughly.
3. Root sealing: at the stage, all the debris from the pulp chamber must have been removed. The main aim of sealing the tooth root is to prevent the bleaching agent from leaking into the tooth’s root. To achieve this, a special cement is applied directly on the top end of the root canal filling. The application of the sealant provides protection to tooth roots from the bleaching agent.
4. Application of bleaching agent: at this point, a suitable bleaching agent will be placed into the core of the tooth using a fine tube through the opening at the back of the tooth. The bleaching agent will be placed in the empty pulp chamber, and then temporarily sealed in. In dentistry, sodium perborate is a popular, effective bleaching agent that is widely used in internal bleaching. Once the sodium perborate has been placed into the tooth, the tooth will be sealed in order to prevent leakage of the bleaching agent into the mouth. The sealant will also keep bacteria from getting into the tooth.
5. The procedure is repeated: depending on the level of your tooth discolouration, your dentist may need to repeat the whitening treatment every four to three days. However, after the first visit, you will have to return in a few days for another round of bleaching. In most cases, it takes up to four visits in order to attain the desired level of whiteness. Once the desired whiteness level has been attained, the dentist will remove the temporal seal and the bleaching agent from the inside of the tooth. The bleaching agent is mostly removed with the use of a small extraction tube.
6. Permanent restoration: after the bleaching agents must have been removed, the cavity that was created in the tooth will be filled using a tooth-colored filling material, of composite resin. The tiny hole that was created at the back of the tooth will also be sealed off permanently.
Final Thoughts
Dead tooth whitening is indeed possible via internal bleaching. Normally, a dead tooth is usually discolored, it can be yellow, gray or black. Unlike normal tooth stains, the stains are found right inside the tooth, simple external tooth whitening procedures and remedies might not be helpful here. The best dental treatment to achieve a desired white coloration of a dead or traumatized tooth is internal bleaching.
At first, a root canal procedure may be necessary, the aim of undergoing a root canal is to remove the dead or dying tissue and prevent infection. If at the end of the day, that it turned out that you are not getting the desired results with internal bleaching, you may want to consider a permanent tooth-colored external covering. After the root canal treatment, the dentist can restore the beauty of your smile in another permanent way by installing a dental crown over the tooth.
In addition, If you are still considering whether to save the tooth or go for an extraction, I have a guide for you. In previous article, I addressed a common question that most patients do ask when it comes to saving a dead tooth. You can read the post here – Saving a dead tooth, Root Canal or Extraction.