Internal Bleaching for a Dead Tooth

Why dead teeth darken

After a root canal, blood pigments can enter the dentin, causing the tooth to turn grey or brown over months or years.

The procedure (walking bleach)

• Small access cavity reopened in the back of the tooth
• Bleaching paste placed inside the tooth
• Temporary filling seals it
• Paste refreshed every 3–7 days
• Continues until colour matches neighbours

Expected results

• 1–3 sessions usually sufficient
• Lifespan of result: 2–7 years
• Repeatable if darkening returns

Cost in Dubai

• AED 800–1,800 for a single tooth internal bleach
• Dramatically cheaper than a crown or veneer

When internal bleaching doesn't work

• Severe discoloration (consider veneer or crown)
• Root-end infection still active
• Large existing restoration interfering

Aftercare

• Final restoration (composite or crown) after colour is stable
• Regular whitening maintenance possible if desired

Practical decision guide

Cosmetic dentistry is strongest when the smile plan starts with healthy teeth and gums, not with a material choice. Before committing to a visible change, confirm the diagnosis, preview the result on your own face, and understand what tooth structure will or will not be removed.

Check this first

• Gum health, cavities, bite forces, grinding history, and old restorations.
• Whether whitening, bonding, alignment, veneers, or crowns is the least-invasive option that meets the goal.
• How the proposed shade and tooth shape will look in daylight, photos, and normal conversation.

When to book sooner

• The tooth is chipped, dark after trauma, sensitive, mobile, or changing colour quickly.
• You are being offered irreversible treatment without x-rays, gum screening, photos, or a trial smile.
• You grind at night and no nightguard or bite plan is included.

Topic-specific notes

• For cosmetic work, the most protective sequence is health check, photos, smile preview, trial or mock-up where appropriate, then final treatment. Irreversible tooth preparation should not be the first step in the conversation.
• Whitening works on natural tooth structure, not porcelain, composite, crowns, veneers, or fillings. Match any existing restorations after whitening, not before.

Questions to ask at the appointment

• Can I see a digital preview or trial smile before irreversible preparation?
• How much enamel will be removed, and is there a lower-prep alternative?
• What happens if the restoration chips, stains, or needs replacement later?

Dubai patient note

For Dubai cosmetic treatment, ask for a written plan that separates consultation, scans, mock-up, treatment, nightguard, warranty terms, and maintenance visits. If a clinician or facility is unfamiliar, verify licensing through DHA before starting.

References

• American Association of Endodontists