Cosmetic treatments help to improve the look and feel of your smile. Although, the results that are returned after treatment may not necessarily be the results you were looking for. You may look at your teeth and wish they were even whiter than they are.
If you’ve recently had cosmetic treatments such as dental implants, crowns and dental veneers, and you’re wondering whether you can lighten the shade of your smile. Some people want their teeth whitened because of discolouration concerns, or they have certain lifestyle choices which continue to reduce confidence in their smile.
No matter the reason, there is no denying that teeth whitening is becoming more popular these days. Although, for all of its popularity, there are myths about teeth whitening still abound. One of them is whether you can whiten your crowns, veneers and fillings.
So, Can You?
There are two ways to look at this; if you already have crowns, fillings and veneers and you’ve also had a tooth whitening procedure, any prosthetic teeth will become unevenly coloured. Therefore, teeth whitening will not deliver the solution to your smile that you’d expect. This is because the corrective materials that crown, veneers and fillings use cannot respond to the bleaching agent or on most bonding materials.
Therefore, no, you can’t whiten your prosthetic treatments. Another cosmetic treatment that cannot be whitened is dental implants.
Bleaching agent to whiten teeth only work on natural teeth. Although, implants are very stain resistant. Therefore, the idea that they will become discoloured should not happen naturally. Although, if your implant is cracked and you eat food and drink that contains staining properties, there is a chance of discolouration. Read more to find out if you can whiten your implants.
What Should I Do?
If you’re a patient seeking cosmetic treatment, it is recommended that you whiten your teeth first before applying any prosthetic solutions to your teeth. It is possible for the dentist to whiten prosthetics that are made out of porcelain material. Doing this will match your natural tooth shade and match your smile.
If you’re a cosmetic patient that seeks teeth whitening treatment, there are steps you can take at home that will assist in keeping your teeth as white as possible.
Follow the below tips:
- Regularly brush your teeth after eating dark food and drink
- Use a soft-bristle brush to brush your teeth, so you do not damage the prosthetic material
- Limit exposure to food and drink those stain teeth
- Avoid consuming alcohol or smoking cigarettes
- Regularly visit the dentist for dental advice and check-ups
Visiting the dentist should become a regular occurrence if you’ve had cosmetic treatments fitted. This is to ensure that they can regularly check-up on your prosthetic solutions. Whilst doing that, they can offer any dental advice you need to keep your teeth as white as possible. Alternatively, you can enquire about at-home teeth whitening treatment providing you haven’t any prosthetic solutions in your teeth.
Are you considering teeth whitening treatment? Contact our helpful Pennant Hills dentists today and book an appointment. Alternatively, follow our blog page for everything you need to know about teeth whitening.