bleaching-does it work on devitalized teeth?

[Adunaphel]

Do bleaching kits also work on devitalized teeth?

 

I was reading the 'yellow teeth' post where someone mentioned bleaching, and I was wondering how it works. Does it bleach only the surface of the teeth? Or is it effective on the whole teeth?

 

I have only one yellow tooth (a devitalized one) and it is bugging me because I can't smile in pics. My dentist strongly advised me not to have it capped for aesthetic reasons only. I was wondering if there is a way to make it white again without capping it.

[BurningBright]

Bleaching has been shown to improve the darker look of devitalized teeth.

 

How bleaching works is like this:

 

A stain that is present WITHIN a tooth (not on the outside of it) is formed into the internal contents of the tooth (Ie./ the dentin)

 

When a bleaching product is applied, the chemicals get absorbed into the tooth, and break up the stain within the dentin. The stain doesn't actually leave the tooth, but the way it "break's up" allows for the stain to appear as if it is gone and for the tooth to get whiter. So it is the whole tooth that get's whitened, not just the surface.

 

{usually surface stains (which sadly is not the type of stain found with a devitalized tooth) can be removed through a dental cleaning from your dental hygienist/dentist}

 

There can be other procedures done to whiten the tooth surface of devitalized teeth (Ie/ a root canal in certain cases), so ask your dentist about procedures.

 

By "capping" I'm not sure if you are referring to Veneer's or not. They are a product that are as thin as your finger nail, and is placed on the front surface of your tooth, and gets glued on. The back of your tooth is left uncovered.

They can be made out of acrylic or porceline, and give amazing results. They can either make the veneer's whiter then the rest of your teeth (so you can then whiten the rest of your teeth and it will match), or you can have it match exactly to the color of your other teeth.

 

They tend to be more expensive then bleaching (depending), so I would ask your dentist about them also.

 

Your dentist knows your mouth, so definitely ask him for ALL your options... and if you are not satisfied, I would get a second opinion.

 

~BurningBright