Inverleith Dentalcare

Everything You Need to Know About Internal Tooth Whitening

“Can you do something about my grey tooth?”

What is Internal Tooth Whitening

Internal Tooth Whitening is a procedure commonly performed on dark stained teeth that have lost their vitality by undergoing Endodontic dental treatment (root canal treatment). Of course, this isn’t the answer for every tooth with a grey or dark discolouration. It comes down to the cause of the staining.

Why is my tooth grey?

There are many reasons why your tooth might appear grey. Anything that cuts off blood flow to the tooth can result in the tooth dying and changing colour. The most common reasons are:

The tooth has died due to an injury, i.e. a fall or knock.
The tooth has had root canal treatment.

How can we help?

Upon examining the area, if the tooth has had successful root canal treatment, it may be eligible for internal tooth whitening. This is simply placing whitening gel inside and outside the tooth. After a thorough discussion with your dentist, internal tooth whitening is an easy, minimally invasive and quick solution to brightening up that grey tooth!

How does Internal Tooth Whitening work?

As with conventional tooth whitening, an impression of your teeth is taken, and a thin, custom-fit tray is made that fits snugly around your teeth.

A space is then created at the back of your discoloured tooth. This allows room for you to place the whitening gel.

The whitening gel comes in the form of a syringe. You will use the syringe to fill the tooth space with gel to whiten it from the inside, place the gel in the tray, and fit it over your tooth (this is the outside part of the whitening). The gel is topped up every 3 hours over the course of the day. Then, the tray is worn overnight when you sleep.

For example:

9:00 am – Place the gel into the tray

12:00 pm – Top up

15:00 pm – Top up

18:00 pm – Top up

21:00 pm – Top up and sleep with the tray in

After the whitening treatment, on days 3 or 4, you will return to the dental practice for a review appointment. The new shade of the tooth will then be analysed, and the space on the back of the tooth will be restored.

How long will the results last for?

The results can vary for each individual, and there is no definite life span for internal tooth whitening. Some teeth can darken again over time, some quicker than others. If the tooth were to continue to darken even with the top-ups, then another course of inside-outside whitening may be indicated. Normally, we recommend once every 3-4 months placing whitening gel in the tray overnight to keep the tooth bright!

Is Internal Teeth Whitening right for you?

Internal whitening may not be suitable for everyone, but your dentist will inform you of your available options during your consultation. It is best to avoid online teeth whitening kits, whitening toothpastes, whitening strips and any whitening products that are not prescribed by your dentist. If you are simply after the removal of stains, it is best to have an appointment with your dentist/hygienist and benefit from having your oral health looked after.

If you would like to find out more, please contact our team by calling 0131 552 4830 or emailing info@inverleithdentalcare.co.uk.

To book a consultation, you can use our direct online booking system by clicking here.

We look forward to welcoming you to Inverleith Dentalcare.

What Our Patients Are Saying

Inverleith Dentalcare

4.9

Based on 349 reviews

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Clara Gore

08:29 11 Feb 25

What a great gentle experience! Thank goodness for a lovely dentist

billy darling

08:21 11 Feb 25

Outstanding service as always

Amanda Robbins

08:15 10 Feb 25

Thomas Chan

11:20 07 Feb 25

David is very gentle and considerate with his patients. He explained every steps during the treatment. Very satisfied.

Gordon Clayton

10:00 06 Feb 25

Although a double appointment with the Hygienist is not my idea of fun, Rihanna and her Assistant were as usual very pleasant and took care to carry out the various procedures with care and ensure my comfort and provide good advice for future dental hygiene. Inverleith Dental practice can be recommended for care. .

chris fowles

15:27 30 Jan 25

I had an excellent hygiene appointment today with Brianna and Peter.They were very professional and the level of cleaning was second to none. I appreciated the advice that was given at the end of the appointment regarding my at home care.Thanks!

Brian Mulholland

14:23 06 Jan 25

I had a great experience at Inverleith Dentalcare. John McAleavey was very thorough during my check-up and used a camera system to create a 3D scan of my teeth, showing where plaque had built up, which was really helpful. Briana, the hygienist, did an excellent job, leaving my teeth feeling very clean. Overall, I was very pleased with the service and would recommend Inverleith Dentalcare, especially John and Briana.

Iwona Walkowiak

11:29 19 Dec 24

I was able to secure an emergency appointment as a new patient and was impressed by the friendly and welcoming reception staff. The dentists were both positive and highly professional, ensuring a smooth and painless removal of my wisdom tooth. Thank you so much for the exceptional care. I highly recommend their services.

Dona Easton

10:16 02 Nov 24

I cannot recommend this practice highly enough!It is a delight to visit. I am treated with courtesy, friendliness and respect from the reception staff. Likewise, my excellent dentist - Dr Chris Fowles, who is highly skilled and takes time to explain all the procedures to me, often on screen, which ensures my complete understanding of all my treatments.

David Wilson

20:26 15 Oct 24

Excellent service. Emergency appointment as lost a filling away from home. Staff were exceptionally helpful and supportive. From Reception through to Treatment it was a very positive experience. Should I move to Edinburgh I would be extremely happy to apply to join their books. Many thanksDavid Wilson

Jean Kenyon

18:00 12 Aug 24

David Neilson

16:45 08 Aug 24

Great dentistry. I would definitely recommend.

Susanne Goetzold

13:57 25 Jul 24

Really happy with this dental practice. Chris Fowles is an excellent dentist. He takes time to explain treatment and options and also explains what he is doing during check ups and treatments, so nothing comes as a surprise. Great for anxious patients. He also has a great sense of humour. Staff always really friendly and helpful.

Mariam Aziz

08:46 25 Jul 24

I would very highly recommend the Inverleith Dental clinic. They are very professional and really knowledgeable. The admin staff is very helpful and will get you the information that you need to make a decision abo the best treatments you need. Dr. John McAleavy is excellent. He was also very knowledgeable about my TMJ issues and he was really understanding during the appointment and he sign posted me to the tools I needed; this made me feel that he cares about my progress and the best outcome for my case. Overall, I had a great experience and I can confidently say that will come back to Inverleith for any follow ups and future dental needs.

mattias nuella

20:16 24 Jul 24

The staffs were nice and big ups to Dr. Chris, my consultation session with him was good and he was friendly.

Sandra Johnson

19:00 24 Jul 24

Could not ask for better treatment! Thank you so much for all your care, attention and kindness for my son Jay who is having treatment with Chris Fowles he has Cerebral palsy and cannot make it up the stairs so they use a room downstairs to support Jay, Chris has been so thoughtful and makes Jay feel at Ease and explains everything he is doing before he does it this really means a lot. Highly recommend to anyone.

Jo Nash

17:14 17 Jul 24

I met with Dr John McAleavey as a new patient for a consultation about my complex dental health situation. I'm a nervous patient and was instantly at ease on entering the practice. John really listened to my background story and quickly spotted the source of my problems that had been missed by other dentists. My assessment was the most rigorous I've ever received, yet very gentle. John took the time to explain everything thoroughly and clearly. I left the practice with a sense of peace that I'd found the answers I'd been seeking, and confident I was in the hands of expert professionals. I'd recommend them to anyone.

Rosemary Jamieson

19:58 05 Jul 24

I was anxious before my first appointment with Inverleith Dental - my dentist of 25 + years had retired and I needed a practice nearer home - but I should not have worried!The welcome from the receptionist was lovely - The initial conversation with the dentist was very helpful - I learned about the ethos of the practice and felt I was being listened to - in addition this chat took place before the mouth examination so I was not in the reclining position which can put the patient at a disadvantage!The receptionist was most helpful with my mobility problems on leavingThe beautiful Georgian building is a bonus

Ookii Neko

11:50 09 Jun 24

I found Inverleith Dentalcare as I needed emergency dental treatment. They were very accommodating and managed to allocate an appointment the next day. Their service is second to none with professional and caring staff, dentists take the time to explain the procedure to the patient, and use modern standard techniques, materials and treatments. Worth every recommendation.