My mouth is in bad shape. I need to get a lot of work done. I need about 4 root canal treatments, two crowns, and a filling. However, I’d also like to improve the appearance of my teeth by whitening them. How much of this can be done in one appointment?
Ben
Dear Ben,
Sedation dentistry is sometimes called sleep dentistry…for a reason.
Each dentist has a different threshold for how much they’ll do in one appointment. However, you will find that sedation dentists are more likely to agree to longer appointments. That is because it is easier for the patient to have extensive work done while under sedation.
If you use a strong sedation, such as oral conscious sedation, it allows you to sleep through the appointment. You’ll be completely relaxed while the dentist goes about the business of doing your procedures.
The one thing you will want to split up is the teeth whitening. So, this is the tricky bit. It’s a matter of convenience over cost. While natural teeth whiten, dental work does not. That boils down to whatever color your dental crowns are when they’re made is permanent.
That means you can whiten your teeth before getting your crowns so they can be made to match the new color. Or, you can get the work done, then whiten your teeth. However, that means you’ll have to replace the crowns if you want them to match. Of course, that’s only necessary with crowns which are visible when you smile.
My suggestion, in that case, is to have your root canals and any fillings done. Then, whiten your teeth. After the tooth bleaching is completed, your dental crowns can be made to match the new color.
Your Best Bet is In-Office Whitening
Because you are in a hurry to get all this work done, I’m going to recommend you use an in-office teeth whitening, such as Zoom Whitening.
With Zoom Whitening, your teeth will get as white as possible in just one appointment. You will want to wait about a week afterward to allow the color to settle a bit, but that is still faster than take home whitening which can take several weeks to get to the level of brightness you want.
Best of luck to you.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington Dentist Dr. John Weaver.