Beyond Regular Whitening: How Internal Bleaching at Your Winter Park Dentist Works

Have you noticed one tooth looking darker than the rest despite your regular brushing and whitening efforts? This common cosmetic issue can be frustrating, especially when it affects your front teeth and confidence in your smile. At The Ivory Dental in Winter Park, we offer a specialized solution called internal tooth whitening (or internal bleaching) that addresses this specific problem.

What Causes a Single Discolored Tooth?

Unlike typical surface stains from coffee or wine that affect all teeth, a single discolored tooth often indicates an internal issue. The most common causes include:

• Previous trauma or injury to the tooth that caused internal bleeding

• A tooth that has undergone root canal treatment

• A non-vital or "dead" tooth that has darkened over time

These situations create what dentists call "intrinsic staining"—discoloration that originates inside the tooth rather than on its surface. That's why traditional whitening methods like trays, gels, and strips don't fully resolve the issue. These external treatments simply can't reach those deep internal stains.

Internal Whitening: How It Works

Internal whitening is a conservative treatment explicitly designed for teeth that have had root canal therapy. The procedure works by whitening the tooth from the inside out rather than from the outside, like traditional whitening.

The process typically involves:

1. Initial assessment: Your dentist evaluates the discolored tooth and confirms it's a candidate for internal bleaching.

2. Accessing the inner chamber: A small opening is made on the back of the tooth (often using the same access point from a previous root canal).

3. Preparation and protection: The inner chamber is cleaned, and a protective barrier is placed to prevent the bleaching agent from affecting the root.

4. Bleaching agent application: A special whitening gel is placed inside the tooth's chamber.

5. Temporary sealing: The tooth is temporarily sealed with the whitening agent inside.

6. Waiting period: The whitening agent works for several days (typically 3-5 days) to brighten the tooth from within.

7. Follow-up appointment: You return to have the whitening agent removed and the results evaluated. If needed, the process can be repeated for more dramatic results.

8. Permanent sealing: Once the desired whitening is achieved, your dentist permanently seals the tooth with a tooth-colored filling.

The procedure is virtually painless since the tooth's nerve has already been removed during the root canal treatment. Any minor sensitivity that occurs is typically temporary and manageable. At our office, we typically see patients achieve steady results over 2 visits, with a final third visit to confirm satisfaction and permanent sealing.

Benefits of Internal Whitening

Internal bleaching offers significant advantages for patients with a single discolored tooth:

• It's a conservative treatment that preserves your natural tooth structure

• No need for more invasive procedures like crowns or veneers

• It is more affordable than covering the tooth with a crown or veneer

• Targets the specific problem tooth without affecting other teeth

Impressive Long-Term Results

One of the most appealing aspects of internal whitening is the longevity of results. Unlike regular whitening that may need frequent touch-ups, internal whitening typically provides long-term or permanent results for the treated tooth.

Clinical studies have shown excellent durability, with one long-term study finding that after 25 years, only 6 out of 40 teeth treated with internal whitening showed any significant darkening again. Most patients enjoy bright results for many years without needing retreatment.

Planning Your Whitening Strategy

If you're considering cosmetic dental work, the sequence of treatments is important for achieving the best results. For patients with both internal staining on specific teeth and general yellowing, we recommend this approach:

1. Internal whitening first: Address the darkened tooth to bring it closer to your natural tooth color.

2. External whitening second: Once the internally bleached tooth reaches its desired brightness, you can whiten all your teeth to achieve your desired overall shade.

3. Cosmetic restorations last: Any fillings, veneers, or crowns should be made or replaced after whitening is complete, as these materials don't respond to whitening treatments.

This strategic sequence ensures that any restorations will match your final tooth color perfectly.

What to Expect: Treatment Timeline

Internal whitening typically requires at least two appointments:

• First visit: Preparation and placement of the whitening agent

• Second visit (after 1-5 days): Check-in with our office to see how much progress has been made, and apply a second amount of whitening agent if needed

If additional whitening is needed, you may need a third round of whitening. Most teeth respond well after one or two treatments. For a final appointment, our doctor will complete everything by sealing the tooth up with a dental filling.

Is Internal Whitening Right for You?

You might be a good candidate for internal whitening if:

• You have a single tooth that's noticeably darker than the others

• The tooth has had previous trauma or a root canal

• You've tried external whitening methods without success on that particular tooth

The best way to determine if this procedure is right for you is to schedule a consultation with our dentist, Dr. Lina Yu, who can evaluate your specific situation.

Professional Care in Winter Park

At The Ivory Dental in Winter Park, we use high-quality products like Opalescence Endo, a 35% hydrogen peroxide gel specifically designed for internal bleaching. This professional-grade treatment is only available through dental professionals and provides reliable, consistent results.

Our approach is always conservative—preserving as much of your natural tooth structure as possible while achieving the aesthetic improvements you desire. According to the National Library of Medicine, internal whitening is recognized as an effective treatment for discolored non-vital teeth and offers excellent long-term outcomes.

If you've been concerned about a discolored tooth affecting your smile, we encourage you to book an appointment with us to discuss internal whitening. This simple, conservative procedure could be the solution you've been looking for to restore your bright, confident smile. Contact our Winter Park dental office today to schedule your consultation!