What About My Existing Dental Work (such as crown and bridges)?

Chances are that when you had your existing crowns and or bridge work done, your dentist matched the shade of the porcelain of these restorations to your natural tooth color at the time. This is also true if you had "white" or tooth color fillings done as well. As dental professionals, we strive to make whatever crown/bridge , restoration work match as closely as possible to your overall natural tooth color.

It is possible that at the time this work was done, you were not happy with your tooth color or it was years ago and you thought you would not want whiter teeth in the future. Now, you want to enhance your smile through the whitening process. Problem? Yes, unfortunately crowns, bridges or composite(white) fillings will not lighten with your treatment. Also, silver fillings cannot be bleached lighter as well.

What happens is all of your natural teeth will respond to the whitening process, but the restorations made of porcelain and or metal have already been shaded to their current color, made in the laboratory especially to match your tooth shade at the time of their placement in your mouth. These cannot and will not change their color.

Many patients will pursue replacement of existing crown, bridge and tooth color fillings, after they have achieved the desired results of whitening. Your natural teeth will appear much whiter than these older restorations. Don't despair, whiten your stained teeth and then change your older work. It is possible that these restorations have been in your mouth for some time. At which point, maybe they are showing some signs of wear.

Dental insurance companies will recognize this and at the prompting of your dentist, you may qualify for new restorations. If so, this is your chance to whiten your teeth prior to removing and replacing older crowns/bridges. Your new crowns/bridges/ white fillings will be matched to the color of your teeth "after" your whitening process. Be sure to speak to your dental professional about your desires, whiter teeth then replace crowns/bridges to match your new brilliant smile!