Page 8 - Boyne Dental E-Mag

Internal tooth bleaching is much different than bleaching (or whitening) the outside of the tooth,

mainly because (as the name suggests) the bleaching takes place from within the tooth. Despite
the general ease and affordability of the procedure, many aren’t even aware of the possibility to
bleach teeth in such a manner, causing them to go years with stained teeth in their “smile-zone.”
Studies show the procedure is safe, and has good long-term results . Internal bleaching is a more
conservative option compared to restoration with veneers or crowns, but is sometimes used to
lighten teeth before the application of these techniques to prevent the discoloration of the natural
tooth from showing through. In addition, porcelain veneers or crowns may be required not only to
achieve improved colour, but also to strengthen a root canal treated tooth.

How does it work?

Dental trauma encompasses any damage to the tooth that's caused by an external agent, whether
accidental or intended. It may be due to a fall, a sports injury — or even a past orthodontic proce-

dure. The first step in the process of lightening a traumatized tooth is a thorough exam to find out
what's causing the dark staining — and one of the first things we will determine is whether or not
the tooth's pulp is “vital,” or alive. This is readily revealed by radiographs (x-rays) or other tests. If
the tooth is still vital, external bleaching can often yield satisfactory results — even if it's just one
tooth that needs to be whitened. In-office treatments or take-home trays are effective, but office
procedures generally take much less time to produce good results.

In many cases, however, discoloration of a traumatized tooth is itself an indication that the nerves
in the tooth's pulp have died. In this case, before whitening treatment can start, a root canal proce-

dure will be necessary to remove the dead or dying tissue and prevent infection. It can also happen
that a tooth that appeared normal will begin to discolour many months (or years) after a root canal
has been performed. In either situation, it may be possible to whiten a non-vital tooth with a pro-
cedure called internal bleaching.