I could help you, and try to bleach your teeth. However, the biggest problem will be the removal discoloration from the incisor’s crown, which is most likely dead – I suspect that it was treated with root canal.

Yes. Almost 10 years ago I had an accident. I fell down while riding a bike and hit my face on the pavement. Luckily I didn’t break my tooth, but the crown got darker with time and it required a root canal treatment.

It sounds sensible. We can whiten the teeth from the inside, so I’ll have to first remove the filling from the palatal surface, and then put into the tooth the preparation which will whiten it.

I understand. Will the tooth have the same color as the adjacent teeth?

We’ll see. We can’t always manage to brighten teeth in such a way it’s not different from the surrounding teeth. However, the whitening is the most common way of treating discolored teeth after root canal treatment.

Does it mean that there are other methods?

Yes. You can cover a tooth with either a veneer, preferably porcelain one, or a crown. These methods, however, require removal of some tissue, or simply polishing the tooth’s crown. With the veneer we remove only a relatively thin layer of tissue around the labial area. However, if you have a porcelain crown, unfortunately, we must remove much more of the tissue.

Hmm, I opt for bleaching then. Besides, you can always make veneer or crown. Is that right?

Of course.

Well that’s good. I understand that if we whiten my teeth, the effect will last for one year?

Well, it differs. Sometimes the effect lasts for a few or even several years, but sometimes a crown can darken within 1 or 2 years.

I see. Even so, I decide to whiten the teeth.

In that case, I’ll just take RTG of the tooth.

Photo? But why?

I must check if the tooth is properly treated, that is, if the channel is filled up to the apex, and, if there is no inflammation?

Doctor, and what would happen if the canal was poorly filled?

Well, unfortunately, I’d have to re-treat the tooth. But let’s hope that everything is fine.

What about the other teeth? Is it possible to whiten them up.

Of course, it is. There are many methods, but I’ll suggest you overnight whitening with the help of a special tray.

During the night?

Yes. During the night you will be wearing on your teeth a special tray with a whitening agent. I think that after 1-2 weeks you will notice an effect.

And is the tray comfortable?

The tray is transparent and soft. So far no one has complained about the inconvenience. However, you must know that sometimes when whitening, your teeth may become sensitive, especially to cold foods. Then the teeth are whitened every two days, and more properly every other night, and special treatment against hypersensitivity should be used. Do you smoke cigarettes?

No, I don’t.

It’s good. While bleaching, you should not smoke. There is also so-called white diet, which means you can not eat beets, berries, or drink red wine. Anyway, you shouldn’t eat foods that can discolor teeth for at least two weeks after the whitening procedure.

Does it mean the effect is not permanent?

No, it isn’t. Both so-called dead teeth and alive teeth may darken over time. But you can always put on the tray with a bleaching agent for one night or two, and your teeth will be bright again.

It’s good. So I have to keep the tray.

For sure.

And is the bleaching agent safe for my teeth?

The product, which will be used for whitening your teeth, has been used for this purposes for nearly 30 years. It means it’s completely safe. However, you must follow my instructions, and the whitening process should take place with my supervision.

There are fillings in my incisors. Are they going to be whitened too?

Unfortunately not. Fillings will not be lightened. If it turns out that after whitening the fillings are significantly different than the color of tissue, we will have to replace the fillings. We’ll have to wait 2-3 weeks after bleaching, until the color of the tooth will stabilize.

This is a very comprehensive information. I’ve decided to whiten both dead and alive teeth.

VOCABULARY PRACTICE- DENTAL BLEECHING

Exercise 1: Match words with their definitions

Answers:

Exercise 2: Complete the sentences with words formed from the ones in brackets

1. Dental bleaching may be ………….. (ACCELERATE) with light energy. 
2. …………… (INGEST) colored liquids like coffee and red wine may ………….. (LEADER) to discoloration.
3. It is recommended to have a dental check-up before …………… (GO) in-home tooth whitening procedure. 
4. In-office bleaching procedures generally use a light-cured …………. (PROTECTION) layer that is carefully painted on the gums.
5. Low-concentration whitening involves buying a thin mouth guard or strip that holds a ………….. (RELATIVE) low concentration of oxidizing agent next to the teeth. 
6. Development of tooth ……………… (SENSATION) is one of the risk associated with dental bleaching.
7. Prolonged ……………….. (EXPOSE) to bleaching agents may damage tooth enamel.
8. Tooth whitening is not recommended in ……………. (PREGNANCY) or breast-feeding women.
9. Some studies have shown that hydrogen peroxide is an ……………. (IRRITATED).
10. Certain ……………. (BACTERIA) medications can cause teeth stains or a ………………. (REDUCE) in the brilliance of the enamel


Lesson 36 (1) answers