This patient had a cavity treated and filled with a composite material in his front tooth many years ago. However, over time the composite material became discolored and the patient decided to have it retreated for a cosmetic reason.
Is it safe to use external teeth whiteners on a discolored tooth that had root canal treatment?
Yes, it is safe to use external whiteners such as whitening strips on a tooth with a root canal.In some cases, however, external teeth whiteners will not work on root canal teeth at all because discoloration is mainly caused by internal factors inside the teeth. After a root canal procedure, especially on an anterior tooth, tooth discoloration sometimes occurs even if the root canal work was done properly. If you really want to whiten your root canal tooth, you will probably need internal beaching. Internal bleaching can be performed by your dentist or endodontist to whiten the darkened tooth from the inside out by placing a whitening agent deep inside the tooth. It’s important to note that there are risks associated with internal bleaching treatment such as tooth loss. You should always consult your dentist if you are concerned about discolored, root canal teeth.
Why should I go to the dentist for teeth whitening when I can use lemon juice and baking soda to do the same?
You may have seen this home remedy for teeth whitening on the Internet where they show you how to mix lemon juice and baking soda, and apply the mixture to your teeth as a whitening agent, and gently brushing it off with a toothbrush. They tell you not to leave the mixture on your teeth any longer than one minute to avoid eroding your tooth enamel. While this remedy may work for some people, it’s not recommended. Although your teeth may appear to be whiter afterwards, you may have actually eroded and abraded some enamel from your teeth. Lemon juice is very acidic and will erode your enamel layer. Also, baking soda is abrasive. Once your tooth enamel has eroded, it’s gone forever. Unfortunately, we cannot regrow it at this time.
How long do the results of teeth whitening last?
This will vary, depending on many factors such as the type of whitening system used, your eating habits, oral hygiene, the genetic characteristics of your teeth and so forth. Typically, you can expect the results to last from three months to two years. In general, professional whitening systems tend to produce longer lasting results as opposed to over-the-counter whitening solutions. Some people’s teeth remain white for over two years after receiving professional whitening treatment that uses a light-activated gel system. Unfortunately, no whitening system can whiten teeth permanently. But the good news is there are home maintenance products that you can buy at any drugstore or your dentist’s office. With proper eating habits, oral hygiene, and a good maintenance program, your teeth can stay white for many years.
How long does Zoom! Whitening treatment take?
Zoom! whitening procedure takes about 1.5 hours and does not require a second office visit. The procedure begins with a 20-minute preparation period where your gums and soft tissues get covered with gauze and protective materials to reduce the risk of damage to the tissues from the whitening gel and the ultra violet light. Next, the whitening gel is applied to your teeth with a brush. Then, there’s a series of four 15-minute sessions where light-accelerated whitening takes place.