Family, Cosmetic & Emergency
Dental Services
Richard N. Bash D.D.S.
Fountainville Village
215-348-8877
Tooth Whitening
Do you want to achieve professional tooth whitening results? We can provide you with a custom fitted mouth guard to fit your teeth precisely and supply the professional strength whitening gel to be placed in your custom mouth guard. Over-the-counter kits normally do not provide the same whitening strength and precision fit required for faster and longer-lasting results. Usage regimens vary and will be discussed during your visit.
Whitening a Discolored Tooth After Root Canal
If you've had a root canal some time ago and notice the tooth is now darkening, the tooth can be restored by a technique known as internal or non-vital bleaching without the use of veneers or crowns.
A root canal requires removal of the pulp tissue from the canals inside the roots. As a result, the dentin which comprises most of the tooth is no longer living and often tends to darken over time.
Bleaching a root canal treated tooth involves placement of a bleaching agent into the empty pulp chamber of the non-vital, discolored tooth. Today the most common and safest internal bleaching agent used for this technique is sodium perborate.
Sodium perborate is a hydrogen peroxide releasing agent that when mixed with hydrogen peroxide accelerates the rate of color change. In the case of severe discoloration, it is safe to mix sodium perborate with a 3% solution of hydrogen peroxide.
Clinical Stages for Internal Bleaching
The following are the steps to perform this technique:
- X-ray examination: An x-ray is needed to make sure the root canal filling is intact and adequately seals the root canal as well as assuring the surrounding bone is in a healthy state.
- Preparation of an access cavity: A small hole is made in the back of the tooth where the original root canal entered the pulp. The pulp space is thoroughly cleaned of debris and stain.
- Seal above the root canal filling: The top of the root canal filling is sealed in with a special cement to prevent the bleaching agent from leaking into the root canal filling. This creates a double seal of the root canal space.
- Application of the bleaching agent: The sodium perborate putty is applied to the empty pulp chamber, covered with a cotton pellet and sealed in with an adhesive temporary restoration. This procedure is repeated every three to four days until successful bleaching becomes apparent. This normally occurs after one to four visits.
- Permanent restoration: Once the desired color change has been achieved, a more permanent filling is required for successful bleaching therapy. The access hole is restored with a composite resin, or tooth colored filling material, which bonds to the tooth enamel and dentin.
- 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 improve color, but also strengthen a root canal treated tooth.
Our goal is to make sure you are completely satisfied. Please feel free to call our office with any questions or concerns you have about your oral health.
If you have any questions or comments, or would like to schedule an appointment, please contact us today. If there is anything else we can do to make your experience more comfortable, just ask! Thank you, and we look forward to seeing you.