Tooth whitening or bleaching is a process to reduce tooth discolouration to a lighter shade. It removes the staining agent through chemical means, and is a safe procedure when carried out under professional supervision.
Teeth can discolour for various reasons. Some teeth are more yellow than others, while others yellow with ageing. Some of the factors that can affect natural tooth colours are:
Treatment results usually depend on the severity of the discolouration. Both vital (i.e. live) and non-vital teeth (e.g. root canal treated) can be bleached and may take several visits to complete.
Bleaching or tooth whitening is not effective on dental restorations such as amalgam or tooth-coloured fillings, metal or porcelain crowns, etc. People with worn tooth enamel, receding gums, sensitive teeth, untreated cavities, and heavily restored teeth should consult a dentist before undergoing any teeth whitening procedures.
Your dentist will be able to recommend the most ideal method of teeth whitening treatment after an in-office examination, when the cause and nature of your tooth discolouration can be established. Your dentist will also provide you with more information on the various types of whitening procedures available, their duration and frequency of treatment.
Whitening methods include:
A tooth can discolour after root canal treatment has been performed on the tooth and it usually has a much darker appearance as compared with adjacent teeth.
Non-vital bleaching involves placing the bleaching agent into the pulp chamber of the root canal treated tooth. This can help to lighten the colour of the tooth in some cases. Root canal treated teeth with larger restorations or severe discolouration that cannot be corrected by non-vital bleaching are better crowned.
Procedure:
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