Can you whiten a dead tooth? (2024)

FAQs

Can you whiten a dead tooth? ›

Yes, it is possible to whiten a dead tooth, but the key to successful treatment is a targeted approach. A dead tooth whitens more slowly, which requires additional treatments. So, it's likely that whitening all your teeth will only result in the dark tooth looking even more noticeable compared to the surrounding teeth.

But when it comes to whitening a dead tooth, at-home products aren't very effective. Over-the-counter whitening products and DIY whitening pastes usually only work on healthy teeth. In fact, many people complain that the color of a dead tooth gets worse after at-home whitening treatments.

A crown can be made to match the color of your surrounding teeth so that it's not noticeable. If your doctor determines that you don't need a crown, you may be able to use tooth bleaching to treat any discoloration to the affected tooth. This is usually seen on anterior teeth only.

Using whitening treatments to whiten a dead tooth works well for some individuals, while for other people, the results are not quite so successful.

In some cases, the whitening treatments can end up permanently damaging the tooth. Things are even worse if the tooth is already decayed. Whitening treatments are not effective on stains and discoloration caused by tooth decay and it can end up damaging the tooth even more.

If the tooth is dead, it will often get darker in color, and a person may notice a yellow, gray, or black discoloration. A change in color usually occurs because the red blood cells are dying. This is a very similar effect to bruising.

In some cases, a dead tooth could stay in the mouth for many months or even years without causing any apparent issues. However, even if a dead tooth doesn't fall out, it can lead to complications like infection, abscess formation, and damage to surrounding teeth and tissues if left untreated.

Root canal therapy is often recommended for dead teeth to alleviate pain and save them from extraction. It aims to remove infected pulp and seal the root canal to prevent further decay. Dead root tooth situations require prompt attention to prevent further complications.

If your decay is too much for a filing, we will typically place a crown on your teeth. These can be matched to the color of your teeth and look just like a tooth. If the decay has reached the pulp, we will perform a root canal and then place the crown.

A dead or dying tooth left in the mouth may not do a whole lot of immediate damage right off the bat, but leaving it in for too long can cause other teeth to rot and even cause problems and unwanted issues with your jaw.

Does internal bleaching work on a dead tooth? ›

Yes! A dead tooth has intrinsic stains, meaning the stains are inside the tooth rather than outside. Therefore, if the traditional application may not achieve the desired result, putting the bleaching agent inside the tooth can be a good alternative.

Once your cavities are addressed, you can whiten your teeth without fear of sensitivity or discomfort. When performed at a professional dentist's office, you can expect your teeth to be anywhere from five to eight shades whiter.

Traditional teeth whitening treatments, such as in-office bleaching or at-home whitening kits, are not effective for dead teeth.

A root canal is the only way to save a dead tooth and involves removing the pulp and cleaning the site to prevent infections. Once the pulp has been removed and the area thoroughly cleansed, a filling will be placed in the opening, and the roots will be sealed.

How long does it take for a tooth to go black? If the cause of the blackness is due to tooth decay, the blackness can happen over years. If the cause of the blackness is trauma, as soon as the blood supply has been cut off from the tooth, the internal tooth tissue will begin to die and turn black.