As dental professionals, a common question we get is whether or not those with dental crowns can get their teeth whitened. Teeth whitening is a very popular cosmetic dentistry procedure, and each year, individuals spend more and more on brightening and whitening their smiles.
Teeth whitening is a simple and cost-effective way to boost the appearance of your smile and enhance confidence; however, it is not ideal for everyone. If you have dental restorations, you may need special care from a dentist near you when it comes to brightening your smile. Read on to learn how our team at Royal Vista Dental helps brighten the smiles of those with dental crowns.
Can One Whiten Dental Crowns?
With the exception of fillings, most dental restorations such as bridges and crowns are made of tooth-colored zirconia or porcelain. Dental fillings are made of a composite resin material. None of these materials can change color with teeth whitening agents. But does this mean that you shouldn’t whiten your teeth if you have dental crowns? Here’s what you should know:
Two Problems to Solve:
There are two potential scenarios where you may want teeth whitening but need extra help from a dentist in NW Calgary:
- You would like to whiten your teeth, and you are going to have a dental crown placed in the immediate future
- You have existing restorations such as fillings or crowns, and you want to whiten your teeth
Strategies for Problem One:
If you plan on getting dental crowns near you in the near or immediate future, you should consider whitening your teeth before completing your restoration. This will allow your dentist to match your crown to your newly whitened teeth.
Strategies for Problem Two:
It is not recommended to replace functioning dental restorations to get something brighter or to improve your appearance. As the saying goes, “if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it.” Fortunately, there are many options for at-home teeth whitening that allow you to gradually brighten and whiten your smile. With at-home professional whitening kits, patients typically whiten their teeth over a span of one to two weeks.
If you start to see a noticeable difference between the color of your natural teeth and your dental restoration, then you can stop your at-home whitening treatment at any point. The best way to determine if your teeth are becoming too white is to stand about six feet back from your mirror and assess your smile for differences in shade.
It is also helpful to keep in mind that if the majority of your teeth are unrestored and will be affected by teeth whitening, it will make your overall smile appear brighter- so try not to scrutinize too much when enhancing your smile with teeth whitening.
The Bottom Line
If you have recently gotten dental crowns in NW Calgary and are interested in whitening your teeth, the process may be a little more complicated than if you only had natural teeth. However, there are lots of strategies that you can implement to brighten your smile and make sure that all your teeth match. If you would like to learn more about dental crowns and teeth whitening, please do not hesitate to contact our team at Royal Vista Dental. We are happy to assist you with your smile transformation.