When a tooth darkens after a root canal or an injury, it can stand out in an otherwise bright smile. The discoloration comes from within the tooth, so surface whitening strips and gels, which work on the outside of enamel, usually cannot fix it. Internal bleaching solves the problem where it starts, inside the tooth itself.
Because a tooth treated with a root canal no longer has living pulp, Dr. Leong can place a safe whitening agent inside the tooth, in the space already created during the root canal, and seal it temporarily. Over a short period the agent lightens the tooth from the inside out, bringing its shade back into harmony with the neighboring teeth. The treatment is conservative and preserves your natural tooth structure, with no need for a crown or veneer in many cases.
Internal bleaching is often completed in one or a few short visits, depending on how much lightening is needed, and it is comfortable, since the tooth no longer has a nerve. It is a wonderful finishing touch after root canal therapy on a front tooth, restoring not just health but appearance and confidence.
This treatment is specifically for teeth that have already had a root canal or lost their pulp. If you have general discoloration across many teeth, external whitening through your general dentist is the better route, and we are happy to point you in the right direction. For a single dark tooth, though, internal bleaching is often the most natural-looking and tooth-preserving solution available.
This page is for general education and is not a substitute for an in-person examination. An evaluation confirms whether internal bleaching is right for your situation.
Benefits
- Lightens a single darkened tooth from the inside
- Addresses discoloration that surface whitening cannot
- Conservative, preserving natural tooth structure
- Often completed in one or a few short visits
- Comfortable, since the treated tooth has no nerve
What to expect at your visit
We place a safe whitening agent inside the previously treated tooth and seal it temporarily, then reassess the shade. The process is comfortable and usually completed in one or a few brief visits.
Is this right for you?
Internal bleaching is ideal for a single tooth that has darkened after a root canal or trauma. It is not intended for whitening many teeth at once, which is better handled with external whitening through your dentist.
Cost & insurance
Because it addresses a single non-vital tooth, internal bleaching is generally considered cosmetic and may not be covered by insurance. We will review any costs with you in advance. Individual results vary with the cause and degree of discoloration.
For details on coverage and payment options, see insurance & financing, and if this is your first visit, our new patient guide walks through exactly what to expect.
We provide internal bleaching to patients across San Francisco’s west side, including Parkmerced, St. Francis Wood, and Daly City. See all the areas we serve.
