When tooth discoloration bothers you — what separates in-office whitening from internal whitening
Once the color of your teeth starts to bother you, the first move is usually to change your whitening toothpaste and mouthwash. But the approach depends on whether the cause is staining on the surface or discoloration that comes from inside the tooth. Here is how in-office whitening and internal whitening are divided.
Why do teeth discolor?
The D-day Dental Clinic website gives food such as coffee, curry and kimchi, and smoking as the main causes of surface staining, and explains that teeth can also discolor through orthodontic treatment, aging and various other factors.
It also notes that a discolored tooth is hard to brighten again by brushing and rinsing alone. That is because in many cases the color of the tooth tissue itself has changed, rather than something sitting on the surface.
Which stage are my teeth at?
The website sets out a tooth color scale and explains that people in their 20s and 30s are on average at stage 2, and that from stage 3 the shade counts as dark. The scale is for reference only, and the actual color can look different depending on the lighting and the surrounding teeth.
D-day Dental Clinic states as a treatment principle that it shows you intraoral photographs directly during the consultation and explains as it goes, so you can look at the current color together.
In-office whitening and internal whitening are for different cases
One-day in-office whitening
The method suggested for people who want white, bright teeth and for those with heavy staining. In the table on the website it is shown as about 1 hour 30 minutes of chair time, no anesthesia, 1 visit, average duration 1 day.
Internal (non-vital) whitening
Considered where a front tooth has discolored because the nerve inside the tooth has become necrotic. After root canal treatment, a whitening agent is placed inside the tooth and replaced at intervals to bring the color back toward the original. In the table it is shown as partial anesthesia, 3 to 4 visits, an average of 3 to 4 weeks.
So what divides the two methods is whether it is staining on the surface or discoloration from inside the tooth. If only one tooth is noticeably darker, the internal cause is checked first.
How internal whitening proceeds
- Once root canal treatment is finished, the inside of the tooth is cleaned out.
- A whitening agent is placed inside the tooth.
- The tooth is sealed with a temporary filling material so that the whitening agent does not leak.
Because the whitening agent has to be replaced at intervals, several visits are needed. The number of visits and the time required can differ from person to person according to how heavy the discoloration is.
There are cases whitening does not solve
The website lists, as one of the cases in which tooth reshaping is needed, "where a front tooth is chipped, or there is discoloration that whitening does not resolve". If the shape or the alignment concerns you as well as the color, it helps to look at veneers or tooth reshaping alongside this.
The website also notes that improving the habits that cause staining is the most important point in avoiding discoloration returning. That part is the same whichever method you choose.
Would you like your current tooth color checked? Since the method follows the cause, we check the condition first.
- Tooth reshaping and teeth whitening
- Veneers
- Dental glossary — teeth whitening, internal whitening, pulp
Please note · This article is general information to help you understand what happens in the treatment room. It does not replace a diagnosis or a prescription. The result of a procedure and how long it lasts can differ with your own condition and daily habits.
Written and medically reviewed by
Dr. Kim Mu-jin Director, D-day Dental Clinic
This column was written and medically reviewed by Dr. Kim Mu-jin, Director of D-day Dental Clinic. Dr. Kim is a board-certified specialist in Integrated Dentistry (통합치의학과) certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare, holds a master's degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery from Korea University, and served as director of esthetic prosthodontics at Snow Dental Clinic.
- Board-certified specialist in Integrated Dentistry, certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare
- Master's degree in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Korea University
- Full member, America Academy of Implant Dentistry
- Full member, Korean Academy of Integrated Dentistry
- Full member, Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Implantology
- Full member, Korean Academy of Esthetic Dentistry
- Full member, Korean Academy of Prosthodontics