Internal Bleaching

What is internal bleaching?

Internal bleaching refers to the process of whitening a tooth that has become severely discolored as a result of an incorrect root canal treatment. For instance, if your root canal treatment wasn’t performed using a dental dam, saliva, bacteria, or blood could have entered the root canal during the treatment, causing discoloration down the line. As the bacteria decomposes, it turns dark.

What’s the difference between teeth whitening and internal bleaching?

It’s vital that you understand the distinction between traditional teeth whitening treatment and internal bleaching. Traditional teeth whitening, otherwise called external bleaching, refers to the external whitening of the tooth through custom-made trays or in-office whitening gel sessions. Internal bleaching is a minor surgical procedure that treats the discoloration of the tooth from the inside. Generally speaking, internal bleaching is exclusively reserved for devitalized teeth— teeth that have endured root canal treatment. 

How does internal bleaching work? 

There are many steps to an internal bleaching procedure, though the most important one is an initial consultation with Dr. Sunar where he determines the cause of your discoloration and determines whether the affected tooth needs retreatment before a whitening solution. From there, he can assess whether you need a traditional whitening treatment or internal bleaching. Once he’s determined that you need internal bleaching, he records the current shade of the tooth to track the treatment’s progress over time.During the procedure, Dr. Sunar isolates the tooth with a rubber dam to prevent any surplus bacteria from entering and puts an anesthetic cream on the gum for comfort. Then, he opens the tooth from the backside and removes all of the discolored material causing your tooth to appear dark. Once this has been done, Dr. Sunar inserts the bleaching agent directly in the pulp chamber. This bleaching agent remains in your tooth for 2-3 days. You’ll need to schedule a follow-up appointment with Dr. Sunar for him to remove the bleaching agent. You can repeat this procedure until you get the results you want. Dr. Sunar might recommend that you stop this treatment if he notices any complications. 

What are the risks of internal bleaching? 

Internal bleaching has very few risks, though some patients have reported pain after the treatment due to a discharge of the bleaching agent from the affected tooth. Don’t let improper root canal treatment discolor your teeth. Get the expert care you deserve by calling or using the online tool to make an appointment with Dr. Sunar.