Whitening Traumatized Teeth: Internal Bleaching Solutions at Schaefer Dental Group
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments, but achieving a pleasing, even shade of lightness can be challenging, particularly when a tooth has been subjected to a past dental trauma (injury).
Traumatized teeth may react to whitening procedures differently from undamaged teeth. At Schaefer Dental Group, the first step in lightening a discolored tooth is a thorough exam to find out what’s causing the dark staining.
Diagnosing Discolored Teeth (Vital vs. Non-Vital)
We first determine if the tooth’s pulp is “vital,” or alive, using X-rays and other tests:
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Vital Teeth: If the tooth is still vital, external bleaching (in-office treatments or take-home trays) can often yield satisfactory results, even if only one tooth needs to be whitened. Office procedures generally produce good results in less time.
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Non-Vital Teeth: Discoloration of a traumatized tooth often indicates that the nerves in the tooth’s pulp have died. In this case, a root canal procedure must be performed first to remove the dead or dying tissue and prevent infection before any whitening can begin.
Whitening From the Inside Out (Internal Bleaching)
For non-vital teeth, the stains are intrinsic (inside the tooth). We use a routine procedure called internal bleaching to put the bleaching agent directly inside the tooth. This is how the “walking bleach” technique works:
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Access: A small hole is made in the back of the tooth to gain access to the pulp chamber.
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Preparation: Debris is removed, and a special cement is added to prevent the bleaching agent from leaking into the tooth’s roots.
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Bleaching: A bleaching agent (commonly sodium perborate) is placed in the empty pulp chamber, and the access hole is temporarily sealed. This is why it’s called the “walking bleach” technique.
You will return in a few days for another round; it may take up to four visits to get the desired lightening.
Once the tooth reaches the desired color, a more permanent restoration, usually a tooth-colored filling of composite resin, will be placed on the tooth to seal the hole. If this conservative procedure is not enough, the tooth can be bleached externally, or you can consider a veneer or crown for maximum aesthetic results. The goal at your Lansing dentist is always the most appropriate treatment for the best results.