Teeth whitening is one of the most common procedures in cosmetic dentistry. It’s affordable, fast, and easy to do at home with over-the-counter products or in a dental office with more advanced techniques like laser whitening or mercapto propionate bleach. If you have crowns on your teeth, however, you may be concerned about whether the bleaching process could damage them. After all, these restorations are much stronger than natural enamel and other layers of your teeth. While it is perfectly safe to bleach your crowns, there are some tips that may help reduce any risk of damage to them during the process. Here are three tips for teeth whitening with crowns and veneers
Ask your dentist about any risks
The first thing you should do before trying any teeth whitening procedure, including those on crowns, is to talk to your dentist. Your dental professional can tell you more about the risks involved with bleaching and how to reduce them. For instance, if you have porcelain veneers, it’s important that your dentist know so they can take precautions when bleaching your teeth. Porcelain veneers are more delicate than natural enamel and could be damaged by the process.
Use a soft brush or cotton swab
The first tip for teeth whitening with crowns is to use a soft brush or cotton swab instead of a toothbrush. A toothbrush has too firm of bristles and could push the bleach past the crowns and into the surrounding enamel or dentin. It’s much safer to use a soft brush like an old toothbrush for non-crowded teeth, or cotton swabs for your brackets.
Lighten the crowns before the rest of your teeth
If you want to whiten your crowns and veneers, try doing so before you lighten the rest of your teeth. You may be able to get a more uniform result this way as well. Crowns are typically made of metal or porcelain fused onto the teeth. These materials can break down when exposed to bleach, which is why it’s best to avoid bleaching crowns the same day you bleach other teeth. If you do wish to lighten both at the same time, take care not to use a high concentration of bleach on your crowns since they may become too brittle with excessive exposure.
Conclusion
In the end, whitening your teeth is a personal decision. But if you want to make the best of it, consult your dentist and consider these three tips to make sure you are taking the right steps.
References:
1-THE ROLE OF COSMETIC DENTISTRY IN RESTORING A YOUTHFUL APPEARANCE
Available online on 3 January 2015.
https://doi.org/10.14219/jada.archive.1999.0370
2-Porcelain veneers: a review of the literature
Received 15 April 1999, Revised 25 June 1999, Accepted 10 September 1999, Available online 27 January 2000.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-5712(99)00066-4
