Can People with Tooth Decay Get Teeth Whitening Treatments? (2024)

FAQs

Can People with Tooth Decay Get Teeth Whitening Treatments? ›

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.

Not every dead tooth will respond to teeth whitening treatments. If this is the case, you may need to consider other options, such as porcelain veneers or crowns. These treatments will encase the discolored tooth, and your smile will be bright as ever.

If you are allergic to peroxide, you will not be able to have your teeth whitened, since peroxide is the active ingredient in whitening systems. If you have a lot of fillings, dental bonding or crowns, you may not be a candidate for dental whitening.

When a tooth has already been damaged, the bleaching agent used for whitening treatments can get into the tooth's pulp, leading to irritation, pain, and discomfort. In some cases, permanent damage might be done to teeth structures.

Children under 16 years of age. Patients with periodontal disease, tooth decay, cavities and exposed roots. People who are allergic to teeth bleaching whitening agents like peroxide. Individuals with sensitive 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.

Teeth that have yellowed with age

Dentin is naturally yellowish and cannot be lightened with teeth whitening products.

Those who are suffering from periodontal disease, oral cancer, or who have enamel that is excessively worn down to not make good candidates for teeth whitening either. Most other patients should not have a problem.

Other people who shouldn't use teeth-whitening products include those who have: Sensitive teeth or gums. Gum disease. Cavities or other dental problems.

Anyone allergic to peroxide (the whitening agent) should not use a bleaching product. Gum disease, worn enamel, cavities, and exposed roots. Individuals with gum disease or teeth with worn enamel are generally discouraged from undergoing a tooth-whitening procedure.

How to whiten a rotten tooth? ›

Because the discoloration is inside the dead tooth's enamel, it will take a more involved process to get the results you want. Whitening treatments for dead teeth often involve the use of professional-strength bleaches or drilling a small hole into the back of the tooth to insert a whitening agent.

Don't Whiten at Home

Even though your teeth may look yellow, erosion isn't a stain or discoloration on the surface. Instead, it's the irreversible loss of the hard layer (enamel) of the tooth. Dental enamel covers the softer yellowish dentin layer.

Teeth Whitening Disqualifications

Cavities, gum disease, fillings, crowns, and bridges may disqualify you from treatment. Other conditions and circ*mstances that may bar a patient from teeth whitening treatment include: Pregnancy and breast-feeding. Being under the age of 16.

No matter how old you are, or how stained your teeth are, there's always something that can be done to whiten your teeth. We offer three teeth whitening treatments, the most popular of which is the Enlighten combination of in-clinic and at-home treatment which can whiten up to 16 shades lighter in up to three weeks.

What Can Be Done to Whiten Yellow Teeth? If you're looking for a radical change in the coloring of your teeth, you need professional-grade whitening to get the job done. Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent.

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

Treatment Options For a Dead Tooth

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.

It is possible to whiten a dead tooth using in-office or at-home teeth whitening treatments. The key is to go about this procedure in a specific way to encourage a more natural appearance to the end result.

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. If you try to whiten your teeth, it will only work on your natural teeth, even if you have them professionally whitened.