Teeth Whitening and Dental Work

There are remarkable options in cosmetic and restorative dentistry that look just like real teeth, including veneers, crowns, bridges and more. While these prosthetic materials can be customized in size and shape to blend in with your smile, it is also important that they don’t stand out in color. Since your dental work won’t stain like your natural teeth, it is common to be dissatisfied with the way your veneers or crown is either whiter or darker than your surrounding teeth. What can you do about it? Can you whiten your smile after getting artificial teeth or veneers?

Just like veneers and crowns don’t stain like natural teeth, they also don’t whiten like your real teeth either. However, it doesn’t mean you are stuck with a mismatched smile. Here are a few common scenarios to help you find the best solution.

If You Haven’t Started Your Dental Work and Want a Whiter Smile

If you are planning on getting a veneer or a crown, it is best to receive professional teeth whitening before your custom dental work is fabricated. This way you can choose a shade that matches the ideal brightness of your smile.

If You Already Have Existing Veneers, Crowns, or Other Artificial Surfaces

Unlike our teeth, the porcelain of cosmetic veneers or crowns is non-porous. This makes it very difficult for coffee, tea, red wine and other darkening agents to penetrate and discolor the tooth. Instead, they become surface stains that are easily removed with your toothbrush. Porcelain crowns and veneers can be brightened with a professional surface cleaning, but their original color cannot be changed.

Replacement is an Option

If you can’t seem to get the shade of your smile to be a seamless white, you do have the option of replacing the crown and/or veneers that are mismatched. At the office of Dr. Mitzi Morris, we understand the importance of achieving a seamless blend of old and new for a beautiful, natural smile. While you may be proud of your new veneers or crown, we know that (just like plastic surgery) you don’t want it to necessarily look like you’ve had cosmetic dental work done. Call our Roswell dental clinic today to learn more.