Whitening root canal tooth (photo)

Question

Hi I have got root canal on my front tooth after trauma and it has somewhat darkened. For cost purposes and other reasons I am trying to avoid internal bleaching initially, so plan to attempt to whiten it externally (hoping some improvement may come out of it). However a large portion of the tooth has been filled with a composite filling and I'm unsure if this will whiten. Is it worth trying to whiten that tooth on the outside or could it turn out uneven as a result of the filling?

Victoria Veytsman, DDS · Answer

Thank you for your inquiry and time in submitting your photo.  Although external whitening may be a valiant effort, you'll likely get the best results from doing internal bleaching.  The discoloration of your tooth is not uncommon after anterior teeth are root canaled, but internal bleaching can truly improve this.  As a last resort if internal bleaching does not whiten as much as you may prefer, you can be treated for a crown.  We would recommend you seeing an experienced cosmetic dentist who can go over all your options and the risks and benefits involved with each.  We hope this helps and we wish you all the best!

David M. Schertzer, DDS · Answer

Your tooth most likely discolored due to the nerve dying from the trauma.  This discoloration is an intrinsic stain which affects the dentin layer of the tooth, not so much the enamel.  However, the internal stain of the tooth shows through the semi-translucent outer layer (enamel).  Your existing filling in the tooth will not whiten with any form of bleaching.  The part of your tooth that is natural but discolored will most likely not whiten effectively at all.  Even with internal whitening, the discoloration may not fully go away, and it may return with time.  The only way to 100% guarantee it never shows again is by crowning the tooth.

Hank D. Michael, DMD · Answer

It's worth a try to do external bleaching, however, internal bleaching is probably going to be your best bet. Maybe you could use Carecredit to make payments. Or just wait until you can afford it. You may end up needing a crown on the tooth in the future and having it whitened prior to crown may be needed anyway. Some porcelain crowns struggle to hide a discolored tooth - depending on how dark the core of the tooth is.Hank D. Michael, DMD | General, Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry

Whitening root canal tooth (photo)

Answers (3)

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Teeth Whitening

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Whitening root canal tooth (photo)

Answers (3)

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Teeth Whitening

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.