Will teeth bleaching at the dentist get me a dead white tooth?

Sometimes: There is an art to teeth whitening- what works for one, may not work for someone else. The key to getting great results is to meet with a cosmetic dentist & discuss what you are hoping for. For a root canal (dead tooth) they can be lightened, but they tend to also fade back. If you are trying to get all of your teeth really white, then you may need something like deep bleaching or kor whitening.

No: Bleaching is a process that opens pores and bubbles out stain inside the enamel matrix.

Possibly: Depending on the type of bleaching and the type and depth of stain your tooth has. Often a dead tooth that had a root canal treatment requires internal bleaching to whiten.

Results can vary: As you might know there are various methods to whiten your teeth including in office bleaching with an activating light (or laser), tray bleaching as well as an assortment of over-the-counter products. Simply put, some teeth are more responsive to these methods and some teeth are more resistent. Antibiotic discolored teeth, gray shade teeth and root canaled teeth are most resistant.

Sometimes: To get really white teeth it may take 3 to 7 treatemtns in the office.

No: Teeth whitening is safe. You won't kill your tooth. But you might have some post-operative sensitivity for a few days to deal with. Talk to your dentist about how to help minimize this type of complication.