Tooth bleaching is more commonly known as tooth whitening and is mainly performed for cosmetic purposes. Internal tooth bleaching is recommended in badly stained or devitalized teeth, which cannot be whitened with external bleachers.
Internal Tooth Bleaching Procedure
The internal tooth bleaching is typically performed on devitalized teeth that have been treated with a root canal therapy. A root canal therapy will affect the color of the tooth in time and it will become impossible to whiten. The internal tooth bleaching is performed under local anesthesia.
First, a small incision in made in the pulp chamber and the tooth’s canals are properly cleaned and sealed. An oxidizing chemical is inserted in the pulp of the tooth and left for a few days. After 2 to 3 days, the dentist will establish if the whitening is successful. If the tooth is not completely white, an additional dose of whitening chemical will be inserted into the pulp of the tooth.
The procedure cannot be performed if there is an infection affecting the tooth. The infection has to be treated and after this, the tooth may be bleached also.
Types of Bleaching Agent
The internal tooth whitening may be performed using:
- The chairside technique, which employs hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent and may be assisted by laser beams for more efficient results
- The walking bleach technique, employing sodium perborate to whiten the tooth
The chairside technique uses a more powerful bleaching agent and may have side effects such as burns; the walking bleach technique is considered safer.
