Teeth whitening is a simple and fast cosmetic dental service that can have powerful results. If you are thinking about getting it, you may wisely wonder if your dental implant will affect how the treatment turns out. This blog post explains some key points that you should keep in mind as you pursue a brighter smile.
Teeth Whitening Does Not Work on Dental Implants
Dental implant crowns are usually made of porcelain or similar materials. While they are very strong and look almost identical to natural dental enamel, they do not react to whitening formulas in the same way as real teeth. The whitening formula cannot penetrate them in order to break up pigment molecules, so even if you use the highest-quality teeth whitening product on the market, you should not expect it to change the way your implant-supported tooth looks.
Teeth Whitening Might Still Be an Option
If your dental implant is toward the front of your mouth, teeth whitening may not be a good idea. The treatment could brighten your natural teeth without affecting your restoration, which could lead to a mismatched smile.
However, if your implant is toward the back of your mouth, teeth whitening can be very effective. Onlookers are unlikely to notice that one of your teeth is a slightly different color than the rest!
Is There Any Way to Change the Color of Your Implant?
Dental implant crowns are highly resistant to stains, but they can still become discolored over time. This is especially likely if they incur tiny scratches where pigment molecules can collect. Or, you might start to notice a change in its appearance if you smoke or drink large amounts of highly pigmented beverages, like coffee or red wine.
If your prosthetic tooth has lost its original beauty, talk to your dentist. They may be able to polish away some surface stains to improve the crown’s appearance. If the discoloration is particularly severe, though, you might need to invest in an entirely new crown. Consider getting your teeth whitened before you receive the crown so it can be matched to your smile’s new color.
Normal teeth whitening does not work on dental implants, but you may still have options giving your grin a new glow! Talk to your dentist to discuss your next steps.
Meet the Practice
Drs. Steve Koo, Thomas Weil, and William Shepard are proud to provide advanced dental implant services, including single and multiple tooth replacement. If you have questions about this service or how to take care of prosthetic teeth, we would be happy to speak with you. Contact Piney Point Dental Implant Center in Houston at 713-597-7340.