Dental crowns are an important part of restorative dentistry. When a tooth is badly damaged, a crown may be used to prevent a permanent extraction and give a patient back their full function and the look of their smile.
If you’ve recently gotten a dental crown in Bluffton or are about to get one, you may be wondering how it will impact any future cosmetic procedures, like teeth whitening.
Learn everything you need to know about whitening dental crowns in this short blog post from Buckwalter Dental Care.
Professional teeth whitening uses a solution with peroxide or other bleaching agents. These substances break down the molecules that make up the stains on the surface of your teeth.
Through multiple sessions, professional tooth whitening can not only remove stains but also lift your smile’s color a few different shades, helping you achieve perfectly white teeth.
Unfortunately, whitening products will not affect the appearance of a dental crown. These bleaching agents don’t react with porcelain or other crown materials the same way they react with natural tooth enamel.
This goes for professional whitening treatments and any over-the-counter solutions you might try. If you do get your teeth whitened, it may create an uneven smile, as your teeth will look whiter but the dental crown will remain the same.
Dental crowns are usually stain-resistant, but older ones are known to change their appearance. Moreover, you might decide to get tooth whitening after a reconstructive procedure where the crown was designed to match your current tooth color.
In such cases, you may have two options:
If the crown is stained, professional dental cleaning may help improve its appearance. During it, your dentist will use stronger products than the ones you have at home, which can remove stubborn stains from crowns and your natural teeth.
It will also remove plaque and tartar buildup, which makes your teeth look yellow. Often, patients' smiles look 1-2 shades whiter after a dental cleaning, which removes tartar and stains.
If dental cleaning doesn’t suffice, then you can change your dental crown. You will first get your teeth whitened, and once you reach the desired shade, a new crown will be made to match your whitened teeth.
Dr. Joel Darrah believes patients equally deserve healthy and beautiful smiles. He will work with you to ensure you reach your smile expectations and remove any dental health issues you’re struggling with.
Request a visit to Buckwalter Dental Care online and stop by our practice to unlock compassionate and professional oral health care.
Have more questions about crowns or our other services? Then you can call us at (843) 815-3232 for a short chat.
