What is bleaching?
This procedure is used to lighten a darkly discolored tooth. There are two very different types of bleaching, internal and external:INTERNAL: Non-vital (Internal) bleaching is performed in teeth that have had root canal therapy. A chemical oxidizing agent is placed within the coronal portion of a tooth to remove tooth discoloration. It may be performed at the dentist’s office in one or more appointments, depending upon the discoloration of the tooth. When bleach crystals are place inside the tooth and after then removed after a period of time, the procedure is known as “chair side bleach.” Another method is when bleach crystals are placed inside the tooth and are left for several days inside the tooth. This is called “walking bleach.” An endodontist commonly performs these procedures. EXTERNAL: Vital (External) bleaching is a similar procedure performed by a general dentist on the outside of a tooth or teeth with vital pulps. Teeth that have not had root canal therapy.
