Whitening a Dead Tooth - The Courtyard Clinic (2024)

FAQs

Can a dentist 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.

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

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.

Dentists usually use procedures like root canal therapy to treat the problem and preserve the tooth while reducing related discomfort. 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.

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.

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.

Results are usually dramatic and, with touch-ups at home, last indefinitely. People with healthy teeth and gums are typically good candidates for teeth whitening. Gum disease, multiple restorations, and extensive decay disqualify individuals from this cosmetic procedure.

As the baking soda only removes stains from the surface level of the teeth and not the enamel it can be passable at removing light stains such as coffee and food, but you might not notice a big difference for four to six weeks.

How to remove a dead tooth at home? ›

A “dead tooth” refers to a tooth when there is no longer any blood flow to it. Sometimes this is also known as a “non-vital tooth.” Both tooth decay and an injury can cause a dead tooth. In this article, we look at the common symptoms, as well as how a dead tooth can be treated and prevented.

Sadly, it's not possible to whiten dental implants, but there are other solutions. A dental implant uses an artificial tooth made from zirconium or porcelain. These materials are not porous like real teeth, so their color does not change.

Treatment for Calcific Metamorphosis

However, if you're concerned about tooth discoloration, a dental professional may be able to provide bleaching treatment to restore the tooth's color.

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 many cases, however, discoloration of a traumatized tooth is itself an indication that the nerve and blood supply in the tooth's pulp have died. In this case, before whitening treatment can start, a root canal procedure may be necessary to remove the dead or dying tissue and prevent infection.