22 October 2015
How To Whiten Disturbed Teeth After Root Canal Treatment Manchester
One of the questions we’re frequently here asked at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics is ‘Can I get my teeth whitened after root canal treatment?’ Manchester patients regularly undergo teeth whitening as a quick and easy way to bring back their great looking smile. However when a patient has undergone a root canal then the tooth can darken over time. So why is this?
When a root canal treatment is performed it requires the removal of the infected tooth pulp contained within the tooth. Given time the tooth can darken in colour because the hard dense bony tissue that makes up the majority of the tooth (dentin) is no longer living. The darkening can be due to blood pigments left over from the pulp removal or can be caused by the filling material itself. Normally when a patient undergoes it’s the tooth enamel that’s lightened to give a whiter brighter smile but in the case of root canal darkening it isn’t possible to whiten the tooth this way. So can anything be done?
Internal bleaching
In a word yes! It involves a technique known as internal bleaching. In essence the process involves inserting a bleaching agent into the cavity of the discoloured tooth. This is normally a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and sodium perborate. Our endodontics team explain how this process is carried out.
Firstly an X-ray is taken of the tooth to make sure that the root canal filling is intact and that everything is as it should be. Secondly a tiny hole is made in the back of the tooth and the pulp space cleaned of any debris, and irrigated. Thirdly, the top end of the root canal filling is sealed so as to prevent the bleaching agent from leaking directly into the root canal filling. Finally the bleaching agent, in the form of a putty, is inserted into the cavity and sealed with a temporary restoration. This procedure is then repeated every 3-4 days until successful. Brighter whiter teeth are normally achieved in 3-4 visits.
For many people in Manchester, teeth whitening using this method gives a better finish than restoration techniques such as crowns or veneers. It’s usually less costly and less invasive as the tooth is already dead. However in some cases it’s also carried out in conjunction with restoration procedures to ensure a consistent whiter tooth prior to applying veneers or crowns
It’s good to know that if you’ve suffered a darkening of the tooth due to clinic, Church Road Dental and Cosmetics can help. Why not check out our website at for further information. Alternatively, you can contact us directly on 0161 486 0743 and book yourself a free no-obligation consultation. Shi Karim and the team will sit down with you and discuss the options available giving you all the information you need to make a fully informed dental decision. Don’t suffer with darkening teeth due to root canal treatment. Instead talk to us about advanced Manchester teeth whitening techniques to bring back your lovely smile.
