Sometimes teeth get stained from the inside. This can happen for several reasons, including an injury, root canal, a dying tooth, structural defects and so on. When a tooth gets discolored from the inside, the discoloration can be seen on the outside as well. No amount of external treatment like teeth cleaning or whitening can help this problem. The only way to treat a tooth that is discolored on the inside is by internal bleaching. As the name suggests, during internal bleaching, the bleach is actually applied to the inside of the tooth. There is a certain procedure that needs to be followed for internal tooth bleaching and here at San Anselmo Family Dentistry, we perform the procedure with care and precision.
INTERNAL BLEACHING
WHAT IS INTERNAL BLEACHING?
INTERNAL BLEACHING PROCEDURE
If you have a tooth that is discolored from the inside, and you would like to have the original color restored, we invite you to book an appointment with us. After an oral examination, we will know for sure if you are a good candidate for internal tooth bleaching.
The first thing that we would need to do is to get an X-ray of the affected tooth. The X-ray will give us a better idea of why the tooth is discolored and how we should proceed. If an injury or defect is causing the tooth to die, then we have to follow one procedure, while if you have already had a root canal, then the procedure is a little different.
IF THE TOOTH IS DYING
When a tooth is dying, the pulp starts to break down, leaving blood clots behind. The clots combined with the fact that there is no blood supply to the dentin cause the tooth to lose its white color. If this is the case, then we will need to undergo a root canal procedure. A hole will be made in the tooth through which the dying pulp, blood clots, and other debris are cleaned out.
When the internal chamber of the tooth is completely clean, the bleaching agent will be introduced into the tooth. The bleaching agent contains hydrogen peroxide which lightens the color of the tooth as it breaks down. Two or three applications might be required depending on the extent of the discoloration. Once the desired color is attained, we will proceed with the root canal and make you tooth look as good as new.
WHAT IF YOU'VE ALREADY HAD A ROOT CANAL ON THE TOOTH?
If the tooth has already undergone a root canal, then we will first need to make a small hole in the back of the tooth through which the bleaching agent will be introduced. We first prepare the tooth to make sure that the bleach does not come in contact with the filling that was placed there during the root canal. The bleach is then placed inside the tooth and allowed to act. Once the tooth has been whitened, the space is filled with a resin and the hole is sealed.
To find out if internal tooth bleaching is the right choice for you, please call us at one of the numbers listed below and come in for a visit.
