Teeth Whitening When You Have Or Also Need Dental Restorations
What should you do when you need to get your teeth whitened and also need some dental work done, such as getting dental implants? Which dental procedure should come first and why?
Teeth Whitening First
Dental restorations such as crowns and veneers don't respond to teeth whitening treatment. A color-match for your teeth and these restorations produces the best results because people wouldn't even be able to tell that you have had some cosmetic dentistry treatments done.
For this reason, it is essential that you start out with teeth whitening. Depending on factors such as how yellow your teeth may be, and treatment time, you may need several treatments to achieve your desired results. You can then proceed with the dental enhancements once you achieve these results.
Give It Time
How soon after the teeth whitening treatment should you get your veneers or any other dental restorations? Your dentist can provide you with a more accurate timeline, but on average, a few weeks should be enough wait time. It is important to wait a little bit to allow for the color to stabilize after the whitening procedure.
You can also use this time to evaluate your options with the dentist. Whichever dental restoration option you choose, the dentist will also be able to assess whether or not you are a good candidate for them and what, if anything, needs to be done to help you qualify for a particular treatment.
What About Existing Restorations?
You can always go for teeth whitening even if you have veneers, crowns, or any other dental restoration. However, as stated, these restorations will not whiten following the procedure. To avoid the unevenness that will result from your natural teeth looking some shades lighter and whiter than your restorations, you may need to consider replacing the restorations. This can be a great idea where you have had the dental restorations for a while, and they are due for replacement anyway.
Ask the Experts
Whether you are getting new dental restorations after teeth whitening or need to replace your existing ones, it's best to consult your dentist for the best results. Any mismatch in color between your newly whitened teeth and the restorations will not look right. Professional teeth whitening is also best in order to avoid results that are unnaturally too white and bright, which can happen when you overuse store-bought kits.
The Wrap-Up
Teeth whitening is only one of several cosmetic dentistry treatments. With the pointers highlighted, you can combine whitening with other treatments, such as getting veneers and crowns for that bright and confident smile.