The main disadvantage of treating pulpitis or caries is a change in the shade of the tooth. First of all, the crown part is darkened, then the root and color change. According to reviews, intracanal tooth whitening is today the most successful method of correcting such a problem. This procedure is called endo-bleaching, and should only be performed by a doctor in a dental clinic.
The essence of the method
As reviews on intracanal tooth whitening show, during the procedure, bleaching substances are introduced into the root canals. This technology has made a splash in aesthetic dentistry.
Even early whitening methods gave excellent results, but only on live teeth. What could not be said about the change in the shade of devital teeth when the result of the procedure did not coincide with the expected effect. You can return a good shade to those elements in which the nerve was removed during the treatment. In order to ensure that a damaged tooth does not differ from others, special preparations for intracanal whitening of teeth are introduced into the depressed cavity, which act from the inside. To achieve this result, you need to visit a doctor several times. First, preparation is carried out, then the agent is introduced into the cavity, after which it is sealed.
For the first time, whitening of devital teeth was carried out in 1964, however, it was possible to obtain the desired effect relatively recently. In the 70s of the last century, for aqueous channel clarification began to use an aqueous solution of sodium perborate. Prior to this, clarifying components were used as independent substances. Modern whitening techniques and preparations have changed. All the same, they contain previously used elements, but their ratio is different, and the water has been replaced by oxygen peroxide.
Causes of Darkening
Changing the color of the surface of the teeth is due to external factors, dental intervention and health problems in general.
External causes
Darkening of the teeth can occur for the following reasons:
- exposure to nicotine;
- excessive consumption of coffee, red wine and strong tea;
- poor and irregular oral hygiene.
All of these factors, together or separately, adversely affect tooth color. In addition to the loss of gloss and shade, deposits on the surface of the enamel lead to the development of various pathologies.
Internal causes
Internal causes include the following:
- Age. Over the years, there is a change in the natural shade of the teeth. This is due to the thinning of the enamel layer and a decrease in its optical parameters. In this state, cracks and scratches quickly form; it is through them that bacteria, nicotine and food coloring penetrate into the tissues. All this accelerates the process of age-related changes in the shade of teeth.
- Hypercalcification of dentin. If excessive formation of replacement dentin occurs in the tooth cavity, a gradual decrease in transparency and darkening of the crown part will be observed.
- Necrotic pulp process. When the pulp dead particles fall into the dentin canals, persistent staining of the tooth tissue begins. How deep they go will depend on the duration of the necrotic pulp process.
- Pulp hemorrhage. This phenomenon is a fairly common factor of internal darkening. Iron sulfites, which are in the blood, permeate the channels of dentin. This changes the appearance of individual teeth. Staining is more pronounced when the pulp dies.
Discoloration due to dentist
When the color of the tooth changes from the inside, this can be explained by the illiterate actions of the dentist and certain features of the materials used. After endodontic treatment, particles of the affected pulp remain in the oral cavity. In this case, the changed color is associated with the release of staining elements in the tooth tissue resulting from the decay of pulp residues.
Certain materials that are introduced into the root canals (for example, products with phenol and iodine) gradually stain the dentin tissue and have a negative effect on the color of the tooth. The changed shade is often associated with an improperly removed filling from the pulp chamber. As a result, its residues begin to decompose, provoke inflammation and a change in the structure of the tissue. The result is that the whole tooth darkens. All these reasons are clear indications for the implementation of intra-channel clarification.
Indications for the procedure
Endo-bleaching is a medical procedure that is prescribed in cases such as:
- Damage to the tooth due to its injury, as well as hemorrhage in the pulp.
- Intense and prolonged influence of external factors, as a result of which coloring substances penetrated the tooth.
- Darkening of the tooth, which did not occur due to external factors.
- Darkening of the tooth after nerve removal.
Advantages and disadvantages
There are pros and cons to the intra-channel tooth whitening method, like any other technique. But this is a gentle alternative, which makes it possible to preserve the natural appearance of the tooth without resorting to turning it and installing an artificial crown. In addition, there are other advantages:
- 100% security;
- minimum complications;
- the ability to preserve adjacent teeth;
- affordability.
A photo of intracanal teeth whitening before and after proves how effective this procedure is. Side effects are possible, but are very rare. In some cases, the procedure makes the tooth a little brittle. The end bleaching result is mostly positive, in about 80-90% of cases an ideal result is achieved.
However, the effectiveness of the technique decreases when during the procedure the contraindications and individual characteristics of the patient’s teeth were not taken into account. That is why, before resorting to this method, you need to consult a dentist.
Effect and likely complications
If you look at the photo before and after intracanal teeth whitening, you can see how strong the difference is. The effect lasts a long time, up to a year. After this, the procedure is best repeated. Many people choose it because of safety, lack of pain, pinpoint impact on a certain tooth.
A study was conducted by specialists of the Department of Dentistry of SSMU named after Razumovsky, who studied endobleaching. As a result, the data obtained proved that the technology was effective in 83% of cases. When manipulations are carried out, only in individual patients there is a slight sensitivity of the treated place. These sensations are similar to bursting and some increase in temperature in the tooth. But the effect of the procedure is pleasant to every patient.
Probable complications
Intracanal whitening of a dead tooth or a living tooth can lead to certain complications. First of all, we are talking about the fragility of hard tissues. This consequence occurs if high concentration products were used to clarify. The need for their use is due to a significant darkening of the devital substance, on which the effect of gels with a standard composition has a bad effect. Based on this, it is recommended to perform the procedure no more than 4 times. Dentists say that if the tooth was initially weak, then after the bleaching procedure, you can lose it soon. The most rare consequence can be called gum disease, which are adjacent to the tooth being treated. It develops only when infection is introduced.
Preparation for the procedure
According to dentists and reviews on intracanal teeth whitening of patients, it is very important to prepare for the procedure. Attention is paid to the oral cavity, its instrumental and visual examination is carried out. Radiography is certainly performed. Its outcome helps to determine the severity and nature of the problem. As a result, the doctor determines the procedure scheme, checking the quality of the installed fillings and examining the teeth for an inflammatory process. Then, a full rehabilitation and professional cleaning of the oral cavity is carried out.
Technique
The technique of intracanal tooth whitening involves primarily rinsing the oral cavity with an antiseptic in order to exclude bacterial infection. The main stage of intra-channel bleaching takes place in the following sequence:
- selection of shades of enamel;
- isolation of the treated tooth from others;
- removal of an old seal;
- cleansing of filling material and coloring matter;
- overlay of the insulating gasket on the channel mouth in order to prevent the penetration of the clarifying element;
- filling with a clarifying preparation for intracanal whitening of teeth;
- closing with a temporary seal.
After 7 days, the procedure is repeated again. To get the desired effect, you need to visit the dentist 2-4 times. If the tooth acquires the necessary shade, establish a permanent filling. It is important to note that in order to avoid destruction of the dental tissue, the patient needs to undergo a medical examination once a year and an x-ray.
Technique "Opalescence"
Intracanal teeth whitening "Opalescens" is a well-known method that can be carried out both at home and in the dental clinic. It has many advantages:
- long-term effect;
- the ability to bleach 10 tones;
- Improving the condition of enamel due to the presence of fluorine and potassium nitrate in the composition;
- lack of need for thermal effects;
- prevention of drying of enamel due to the presence of water;
- caries prevention;
- 1 session is enough in some cases.
The technique of intracanal teeth whitening "Opalescens" requires periodic repetition of the session to maintain the result.
The effectiveness of the method for teeth with fillings
The procedure allows you to lighten only natural tissues, and the whitening gel does not affect the filling material. Reviews on intracanal tooth whitening show that previously installed fillings cannot reduce the result. But only when the composite is not painted. After treating the cavity, the darkened fillings must be replaced with new ones.
Intracoronal whitening
This kind of whitening is almost similar to the intra-channel method. They differ only in that the bleaching material is not laid deep. Manipulations are carried out inside the crown, without affecting the zone of the root canals. This procedure is effective and painless. It is usually carried out on the incisors in front, which darkened after depulpation. After the end bleaching procedure has been completed, you should refrain from consuming dyeing products and smoking, as this can lead to a quick darkening of the enamel.
Useful Tips
Since the technique of endobleaching differs significantly with surface techniques, the recommendations will be special. Experts advise not to allow a special load on the tooth within 5 days, so that the filling hardens well and does not fall out. In addition, you cannot:
- eat hard and sticky foods;
- chewing on the side of the treated tooth;
- eat contrasting foods in terms of temperature.
In the future, it must be taken into account that whitened teeth are not so strong and reliable in comparison with the rest, therefore they should be treated with care. It is important to carry out standard hygiene activities every day. Teeth should be brushed twice a day and only with a paste with abrasive components. In order to prevent the formation of plaque, floss and rinse aid are used.
Procedure cost
The cost of endobleaching one tooth varies in different clinics. Approximately the procedure costs 1,000 rubles, and the price of a full course in several sessions will cost 10,000 rubles. In general, the following steps are taken:
- the use of filling material;
- treatment of detected pathologies;
- the use of bleaching agents;
- examinations, including mechanical cleaning of channels and x-rays.
Patient Reviews
If you look at the photo of intracanal teeth whitening, you can see the high efficiency of the method. This is also indicated by patients. They confirm that this technique allows you to make your teeth beautiful, so they respond extremely positively to it. One of the main points, emphasize those who resorted to whitening, is an appeal to a competent and professional dentist.