Can I Whiten My Dental Bonding?
Posted by Annmarie SanSevero
I have dental bonding that is about five years old. They’re very stained and cover the surface of my two front teeth which makes them look really bad next to my natural teeth. I was told the original color could not be whitened once they were on. What I’m wondering is if it is possible to just whiten them back to the the color they were when I had them done? Replacing them every few years will get expensive.
Danni
Dear Danni,
While teeth whitening is fantastic for making natural teeth look younger and brighter, it does not work on dental work. Because of that it will have the opposite effect you are going for. Your natural teeth will whiten and your bonding will stay the same, making them look worse.
You have a few options here. First, if the staining is all surface and hasn’t gotten into the dental bonding, then you might be able to have your dentist polish them. That will only work depending on the type of stains.
Your second option is to replace the dental bonding. It is not as stain resistant as other treatments or even your natural teeth, so you should expect to replace them every few years.
The third option is the one I’d recommend in your case. When it comes to dental bonding, it is better for small repairs, like tooth chips for small gaps. You wrote that the bonding covers the entire surface of your two front teeth. You would be better served with having the bonding replaced with porcelain veneers.
These are tiny wafers of porcelain that cover the entire front surface of a tooth. They are not only more stain resistant than bonding, they’re more stain resistant than your natural teeth. Plus, they look more natural. This is what celebrities use to get their Hollywood smiles. It’s initially more expensive, but will last you for decades when well taken care of. You should not have to replace it. I’m actually surprised your dentist didn’t suggest that from the beginning.
This blog is brought to you by a skilled cosmetic dentist in Franklin, TN, Dr. Christopher Weber.
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