Patients with dental work, such as crowns, bridges, and veneers, often wonder whether they can still get teeth whitening treatments. Just because these patients have had some dental work done doesn’t mean they cannot have a bright white smile. Teeth whitening can still be done even if you have had dental restorations performed; however, there are a few things you should know before getting your treatment. Dive into all the details below for everything you should know about getting teeth whitening treatments with dental work.
Does Teeth Whitening Work On Crowns, Bridges, or Veneers?
Crowns, bridges, and veneers will not react to teeth whitening treatments the same way your real teeth do, but that should not stop you from having your teeth whitened. If you have had dental work, especially major restoration work, here are a few things you should understand prior to having a whitening treatment.
How Teeth Whitening Affects Dental Restorations
First, it helps to understand the process of teeth whitening so that you can understand how it affects dental work, like crowns, bridges, and veneers. Professional whitening treatments performed in a dental office typically use a bleaching gel and laser light to remove stains from your teeth. The process starts by applying the bleaching gel to the teeth. The gel can be applied directly to the teeth while the gums are protected, but sometimes the gel is placed inside of trays and worn over the teeth to help better protect the gums.
After a certain amount of time, a laser light is generally used to help expedite the bleaching process. The bleaching agent that is used to remove stains from your teeth can weaken the enamel on your teeth. This can cause your teeth to be sensitive for a few days after your treatment. It can take a couple of weeks before your teeth reach their final color after the whitening treatment.
Since dental restorations are made from materials like porcelain or resin, the bleaching agent used to whiten your teeth will not have much effect on them. This means that stains or other discoloration will not be removed from your dental work during teeth whitening procedures. For this reason, there are a few tips you should follow if you have dental work and would like to get your teeth whitened.
Whiten Your Teeth Prior To Having Dental Work
Ideally, you should have your teeth whitened prior to getting a crown, bridge, or other dental work done. Doing so will help ensure that you have a bright white smile and that your dental work matches your real teeth perfectly. Before having dental restoration, your dentist will color-match the crown or other restoration to your real teeth. If your teeth have not been whitened, then the dental work will match the color of your stained teeth. Upon getting your teeth whitened later, the dental work will be more yellow than your real teeth. So, it is always best if you can have your whitening treatment performed prior to the dental work so that your teeth are bright white and your dental work will match.
Replacing Dental Work After Teeth Whitening
As previously mentioned, whitening treatments do not remove stains or other discoloration from dental work. So, if you get your teeth whitened, you will likely find that your crown or veneers are then darker than your real teeth. Unfortunately, the only way to solve this problem is by having a new crown made in a lighter shade. This could be necessary in some situations to give you the beautiful smile that you had hoped for after your whitening treatment. This is another reason why it is always a good idea to have your teeth whitened prior to getting dental work done.
Tips To Keep Your Teeth Whiter
After your whitening treatment, you want to keep your teeth as white as possible for as long as possible. This is especially true if you have dental work since the color of the crown or other items does not change much. To help make your whitening treatment last, you should avoid foods and drinks that will quickly stain your teeth. This includes red wine, dark juice, dark soda, tea, and coffee. Also, foods with artificial dyes and colors should be avoided. You can also use at-home teeth whitening treatments between your professional treatments to help keep your teeth shiny and bright. Using these tips to help keep your teeth white will ensure that your real teeth and your dental work match perfectly for years to come.
Schedule Your Professional Teeth Whitening Treatment Today
Just because you have dental work doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy a beautiful white smile. Crowns, bridges, or other work will not prevent you from receiving teeth whitening treatments and being able to show off your pearly whites. Schedule an appointment today for a professional teeth whitening treatment, and let NVO restore the brightness to your smile!