Over time, teeth naturally stain. Pigments from foods and beverages or continuous wear and tear can change the color of your teeth. This affects millions of people worldwide, and it’s no secret we all value whiter, brighter smiles.
This demand has created numerous teeth-whitening solutions in today’s cosmetic dentistry market.
Some treatments can brighten teeth in under an hour when performed correctly. However, whitening becomes a bit more complicated if you already have a dental crown, as dental crowns themselves can’t be whitened. Crowns are not porous like natural teeth, so they do not respond to bleaching agents.
One option would be to replace the crown with a color that better matches the rest of the teeth, but that has its costs ($500-$3000, depending on material and locations of dentist.)
Let’s explore some equally effective alternatives to teeth whitening and what dentists recommend you do if your tooth is already crowned. Read on…
Can you whiten crowns?
No, dental crowns cannot be whitened with teeth whitening methods, says the American Dental Association. Some of the reasons why this does not work are:
- Crown materials are not porous: Natural teeth have microscopic pores on their surfaces that allow the bleaching agents to penetrate and remove the surface stains. Crowns, on the other hand, are made from porcelain, resin, or ceramic-fused-to-metal, all of which are not porous and do not respond to bleaching agents.
- Whitening agents do not work on crowns: Due to the materials of the crowns, whitening products cannot lighten their color. The crowns also do not allow the whitening agents to pass through to the underlying teeth.
- Crowns can get stained: If you have a crown and want teeth whitening done, you should remember that crowns can still get stained with certain foods and drinks. This typically happens at the margins, at the borders of the gums.
How to prevent crowns from staining?
Unbeknownst to many, crowns can get stained and damaged by certain products. Therefore, you must perform regular dental care and maintain good oral health to keep your crowns white and shiny for longer:
- Do not use an abrasive toothpaste, as it can wear the outer surface
- Do not apply excessive pressure while brushing
- Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste to brush
- Limit the consumption of overly pigmented foods and beverages like red wine
- Do not smoke as tar in cigarettes can stain the crowns
- Limit the consumption of alcohol, as it can soften the bonding cement
- Regularly floss to maintain healthy teeth
- Get your prosthesis checked by a dentist regularly
For more details, let’s learn a bit more about crowns, the materials they’re made from, and teeth whitening.
Other dental restorations for whiter teeth
What are dental crowns?
A dental crown is a tooth-shaped device that fits over an entire tooth like a cap. It is placed on top of teeth that may be eaten away by tooth decay or severely damaged teeth to restore them.
Before placing a crown, dentists remove a small portion of the outer tooth layer to ensure proper fit and stable bonding.
Dental crowns are made of various materials, including resin, metal, and ceramic. Dental technicians craft crowns to match your natural tooth color, making them nearly indistinguishable from your original teeth.
Types of dental crowns
Dental crowns can come in all shapes, sizes, and forms. However, not everyone may be eligible for all of these crowns. Talk to your dentist to see which option works best for you:
- Metal crowns: Crowns are commonly made of metal, including palladium, nickel, chromium, and even gold. They’re perfect for back teeth because of their exceptional strength.
- Porcelain-fused-to-metal (PFM) crowns consist of a porcelain outer structure fused to a metal inner structure. They are highly durable and also aesthetic.
- Pressed ceramic crowns: They have a hard inner ceramic core and can mimic the translucent hue of natural teeth. They are good for both the front and back teeth.
- All-ceramic or porcelain crowns: Zirconium dioxide is the most popular type, as it can more closely mimic the natural appearance of the tooth than any other type of dental crown and withstand heavy biting and chewing forces.
- Same-day dental crowns: Some dentists 3D print crowns in their offices without outsourcing them to a dental lab. With this technology, you can get crowns in just one office visit.
- All-resin crowns: Crowns can also be made of resin. Typically, only temporary crowns are made from resin.
What is teeth whitening treatment?
Tooth whitening is a cosmetic dental procedure that bleaches or lightens a tooth’s color shade to make it appear whiter.
Teeth whitening works by using whitening agents, usually containing hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, to break down the discoloration on the enamel and dentin of your teeth. It can then change the color of your teeth.
Teeth whitening products
A wide variety of over-the-counter whitening kits are available in the market today.
- Teeth whitening strips: Plastic strips are coated with bleaching agents and applied daily to the teeth (Touch-ups are needed every 6 to 12 months). However, you risk blotchy white spots and uneven whitening on your teeth.
- Paint-on varnishes: Whitening gels are painted directly on the teeth with the help of an applicator brush or pen. They are short-lasting (upkeep every 4 to 6 months).
- LED whitening kits: A coating gel is applied on the teeth, and then a blue LED light is shone on it to activate the gel. Even in small doses, UV light can irritate and burn your gums.
- Whitening toothpaste: Teeth are brushed with this toothpaste around two to three times a day. However, since most of these toothpastes contain abrasives like baking soda, they can wear the enamel down.
- Whitening rinses: They rinse the mouth after eating for 60 seconds. They contain alcohol, which can burn your mouth and damage the good bacteria in your mouth.
- Whitening chewing gum: This gum is intended to be chewed after eating. They contain extra abrasives to grind the surfaces of the teeth, causing further damage to the teeth.
Professional whitening at a dental office can also be of various types.
- In-house whitening: Prescription-strength whitening agents are administered by a dental professional. A gum coating is applied to protect them from harm. (Results are long-lasting, requiring touch-ups no more than once a year.) Repeated whitening can cause tooth sensitivity and long-term tooth damage.
- Laser whitening: During this whitening procedure, a strong ultraviolet beam is used to break up the stains on the teeth. This is a risky method as the light can burn the gums, lips, and tongue. You should only get it done once a year.
Dental professionals may recommend other treatment options for those with severe damage to their teeth.
To match the patient’s dental restorations to the color of the patient’s surrounding teeth, you can get:
- Veneers are ultra-thin shells placed on the front of the patient’s teeth. They minimally harm teeth and mimic natural tooth structure.
- Dental implants are biocompatible posts surgically embedded into your bone to hold an overlying crown-like prosthesis. This is a good choice for those with severely stained or damaged teeth.
Whiten your teeth, not your crowns.
In other words, you can whiten your natural teeth to match your crowns; however, chemical whitening does not work on crowns. Instead, focus on maintaining proper oral hygiene and prioritizing your dental health.
If you still want to whiten your teeth to achieve your desired aesthetics, you can book an appointment with your dental practitioner. The dentist can offer you various options to meet your expectations.
FAQs
Q: Can I whiten my teeth if I have crowns?
Yes, but the crowns won’t change color.
Teeth whitening only works on your natural teeth. When you whiten, your real teeth will get lighter while your crowns stay exactly the same shade they’ve always been. This can make the crowns really obvious unless they already happen to match the color you’re going for.
Q: What if my crown is stained or darker than my other teeth?
Whitening won’t fix it, but your dentist can replace the crown.
Unfortunately, whitening treatments won’t help with that. Since crowns don’t respond to bleaching at all, you’d need to talk to your dentist about getting it replaced with one that matches your current tooth color.
Q: Do crowns stain over time like real teeth?
They can, just not the same way.
Sort of, but not really. Crowns themselves don’t absorb stains the way your natural teeth do, but the edges where they meet your gums can pick up some discoloration over time, especially if you’re a regular coffee, tea, or wine drinker.
Your dental cleanings will help with surface stains, but if there’s staining that’s really noticeable or seems to be underneath, you might need a replacement.
