Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Can I Whiten Fake Teeth?

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When I was born, I was missing my two lateral incisors so I had two fake incisors placed in my mouth. Currently, I have a retainer and the two fake teeth replacing my laterals. My plan is to get implants in the next two years. I have very yellow teeth and want to whiten them a bit. Do fake teeth whiten?

– Dave in Oklahoma

Dave,
The bad news is that prosthetic teeth do not whiten. Many patients do not realize it but only natural teeth whiten, meaning teeth with veneers, porcelain crowns, or composite bonding will not whiten, including your teeth on your retainer. The whitening agent must come into contact with a live surface, like your natural tooth. Whitening agents allow the pores in the enamel to open and remain open reaching the dentin, which is the underlying material in the tooth. The oxygen in the whitening agent penetrates the dentin layer where more whitening takes place and makes it last.

Teeth that have root canals with no porcelain crown on them will not whiten either unless your dentist preforms internal tooth bleaching. This is done by drilling a small hole behind the tooth and adding a whitening agent within the tooth. This procedure may whiten the tooth, however it may never get as white as the other teeth and it may require some type of permanent dental restoration placed on the surface to match the other teeth.

We recommend that you bleach your teeth approximately one month before your porcelain crowns are placed on the dental implants. This will make it easier for the dentist to match your new crowns to your new tooth color. If you are not interested in waiting two years to whiten your teeth, then whiten them now and have a new retainer made to match your new tooth color after you’re done with bleaching. It may cost you several hundred dollars for a new retainer, however if your tooth color is unsatisfactory to you, it may be worth the cost. If you elect to have your teeth whitened now, be sure you touch up your smile and whiten again right before your crowns are made.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Noah of Region Dental

Should I See a Dentist for Professional Whitening?

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I want to whiten my teeth as they’re looking yellowish and dull in tone. I don’t want to use Crest strips as they don’ seem to work that well for me. I’m considering getting professional whitening with a dentist. Does it really work well and how much does it cost? Also, how often does it need to be done?

 – Mark in Oklahoma

Dear Mark,

If you’re looking to effectively whiten your teeth, seeing a dentist is a wise move.  They will give you dramatically whiter teeth without the hassle. Also, it’s important to know that any whitening product bought over the counter or treatment from your dentist, can be harmful to your enamel if it’s over-used. Products that you buy over the counter may lighten teeth a couple of shades, however it’s very temporary and the product must be used over and over to maintain tooth brightness. The reason is because these bleaching products are not as strong as what the dentist uses.

If you opt for professional teeth bleaching at the dental office, teeth tend to remain white and bright for several years. They usually never go back to the original shade but colorful diets, dark liquids and tobacco habits do discolor teeth quicker. We recommend patients touch up every few years if they notice darkening of the teeth. Touching up the teeth is a procedure that’s fairly inexpensive.

Most dentists have two types of whitening procedures available. One is an in-office procedure where a bleaching agent is applied to your teeth and a light is placed over your teeth to activate the bleaching product. This takes approximately two hours and brightens up the color of your teeth several shades. This may cost several hundred dollars.

Another option is to have bleach trays constructed and you can bleach your teeth in the comfort of your own home. This procedure is less expensive than the in-office treatment and works just as well.

We recommend you consult with your dentist to see if you are a good candidate for teeth whitening and which product is most suitable for your teeth.

This blog brought to you by Dr. Noah of Region Dental.