Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic treatment for enhancing your smile, but many patients wonder if it works on dental restorations like veneers, crowns, or fillings. At Village Park Family Dental, we often get this question—and the answer is important for anyone considering whitening treatments while having existing dental work.
Do Whitening Treatments Work on Dental Restorations?
The short answer: No, traditional teeth whitening treatments do not change the color of veneers, crowns, or fillings.
Whitening agents like hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are designed to bleach natural tooth enamel. Dental restorations, however, are made from materials such as porcelain, composite resin, or ceramic, which do not respond to these whitening agents. As a result, restorations will retain their original color even if your natural teeth become significantly whiter.
What Happens If You Whiten Around Restorations?
When you whiten your natural teeth, your veneers, crowns, or fillings may no longer match in color, especially if they were placed to match a previously darker shade. This can create an uneven appearance, with some teeth looking brighter than others.
What Are Your Options?
If you’re planning to whiten your teeth and have visible restorations, here are some options to maintain a consistent look:
- Whiten first, restore second: If you’re planning cosmetic dental work, it’s best to whiten your teeth before placing veneers, crowns, or fillings. This ensures restorations are matched to your preferred shade.
- Replace mismatched restorations: If you’ve already whitened your teeth and notice that your restorations no longer blend in, your dentist can replace them with ones that match your new color.
- Polish composite fillings: In some cases, composite resin fillings may be polished to improve their appearance, though this doesn’t change their color significantly.
Maintaining a Uniform Smile
To keep your smile looking its best:
- Schedule regular cleanings to remove surface stains.
- Use non-abrasive whitening toothpaste recommended by your dentist.
- Avoid staining foods and drinks like coffee, red wine, and tobacco.
- Visit Village Park Family Dental for periodic checkups and color assessments.
Why Professional Guidance Matters?
Attempting over-the-counter whitening products without dental advice may result in uneven results. At Village Park Family Dental, our team evaluates your dental work, discusses your goals, and customizes a plan to ensure a balanced and beautiful smile.
Summing Up
While you can’t whiten veneers, crowns, or fillings with traditional treatments, you can still achieve a bright, uniform smile with professional guidance. Whether you’re planning a whitening treatment or replacing old restorations, Village Park Family Dental is here to help you every step of the way. Call us today at (281) 376-4444 to schedule an appointment.