In the quest to have perfect teeth, we often forget about the little things. Perhaps you’ve whitened your teeth before and are no stranger to that brilliant smile. However, if you’re like most people, your dentist appointments revolve around fixing cavities or putting on new crowns after a nasty filling incident. If you’re one of the few who has crowns on your teeth, you might be hesitant to whiten them because they look so natural and beautiful. But what if there was a way that you could have bright white teeth and also have those crowns? That’s right, with all these benefits of crowns for your smile too! You see, not all crowns are scary and made out of metal — modern dentists use porcelain as their primary material for crowns.
Why Teeth Whitening is Good for You
Teeth whitening is important because it helps with your self-esteem. If you have teeth that are stained or yellow, you may feel embarrassed and want to hide them from the world. You might also be worried about what others think of your teeth and what their opinion of you might be. Your bright white smile can make you look more confident and self-assured.
If you’re looking for a way to improve your smile, teeth whitening could be a great solution for you! Teeth whitening strips will help remove stains from your enamel and give you a brighter, whiter appearance. And if those strips aren’t enough, there are other methods of teeth whitening that can give you the perfect smile: laser whitening or in-office bleaching treatments. No matter which method you choose, whitening your teeth will only take a few minutes! Plus, they won’t hurt at all. What do you have to lose by trying?
What Is a Crown?
A crown is a custom-made dental device that is fused to the tooth, made up of metal and/or porcelain. They are often used to protect teeth from breakage or as an alternative to removing a tooth. Crowns are made out of either metal or porcelain. Porcelain is becoming more and more popular because it looks like a natural tooth, it’s strong, and it can last for decades without needing to be replaced.
Benefits of Teeth Whitening with Crowns
So, what are the benefits of teeth whitening with crowns? Porcelain crowns can withstand higher temperatures and they also resist stains and tooth decay, making them a great choice for those who want to maintain their natural smile. They’re also less likely to have problems with heat sensitivity like metal crowns might. Additionally, porcelain crowns will look more natural than metal ones and there is no need for patients to worry about it turning their teeth yellow over time. If you’ve been looking for a way to whiten your teeth without replacing those beautiful porcelain crowns on your teeth, now you know! All you have to do is ask your dentist about this procedure.
Tips for Teeth Whitening with Crowns
Here are five tips for teeth whitening with crowns:
1. Make sure you have porcelain crowns. Porcelain is a material that’s strong enough to withstand being whitened, and won’t chip or break due to the bleaching process.
2. Schedule your appointment for as soon as you can after getting your new crowns because it takes about six months for the material to harden completely and become less sensitive to chemicals.
3. Bring two sets of gloves with you when you go in for your appointment so that your dentist can wear one set while they work on your teeth, and you can wear the second set when they start on their next patient.
4. If you have any other fillings on those same teeth, they might get stained too, so make sure to mention this when scheduling your appointment. Your dentist may want to take extra precautions by making sure the tooth is numb during the entire procedure to prevent any sensitivity issues from happening afterward.
5. Have more than one conversation with your dentist before deciding if teeth whitening is right for you — sometimes it’s not possible if there are other health concerns or problems with your teeth, like decay or cracks in the enamel.
Check-up Before You Bleach Your Teeth
If you’re getting ready to whiten your teeth, it’s important to schedule a check-up with your dentist first. This is because those porcelain crowns can be damaged if too much bleach is applied, especially if the bleaching process happens over and over again. The best advice for teeth whitening with crowns is to get a professional opinion first and only go ahead with any lightening treatments if they give you the go-ahead.
Be Proactive During the Bleaching Process
The biggest concern people have when it comes to crowns is the bleaching process. You want your teeth to be as white as possible, but you also don’t want to damage your crowns in the process. Here are some tips for how to whiten your teeth with crowns:
1) Take care of your crowns before you start the bleaching process. If you don’t take care of them beforehand, there’s a higher chance that they will crack or break during the bleaching process.
2) Be proactive and talk to your dentist about what products they recommend before you start. They will be able to help protect your teeth and crowns while still getting that perfect smile you’ve always dreamed of.
3) Always use a custom-fit mouth tray so that the bleach doesn’t go over the edge and onto your gums or other parts of your mouth. This will help avoid any negative side effects such as gum irritation or dry mouth.
4) Before applying bleach, put Vaseline around the edges of any crowns on your teeth so that it doesn’t get stuck in between them and can protect them from chemical burns.
5) Be ready for extra sensitivity after bleaching — increase tooth brushing time from 2 minutes to 3 minutes if necessary, drink more water, take more breaks from chewing hard food, and avoid acidic foods such as oranges for at least 48 hours after bleaching.
After You Bleach Your Terms
If you’re keen on whitening your teeth, it is important to know that not all toothpaste is created equal. Most store-bought toothpastes use harsh chemicals like peroxide that cause damage to the enamel. The worst part? You might not even notice the damage until you go in for a cleaning appointment.
You might think that bleaching your teeth would be enough to make them whiter, but not so fast! After you bleach your teeth, it is advisable to brush them with fluoride toothpaste and rinse them with water. This will help seal up any pores left open from the bleaching process, which can lead to brown spots on your teeth. Regularly brushing and flossing with fluoride toothpaste will also keep stains at bay and maintain healthy gums. That way, whatever color your crowns are, they will stay looking as new as possible!
Reference:
1-Porcelain veneers: a review of the literature
Received 15 April 1999, Revised 25 June 1999, Accepted 10 September 1999, Available online 27 January 2000.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0300-5712(99)00066-4
2-The fit of metal-ceramic crowns, a clinical study
Accepted 3 June 1985, Available online 6 April 2006.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0109-5641(85)80019-1
3-Bonding of all-porcelain crowns: structural characteristics of the substrate
Received 20 December 1999, Revised 16 April 2000, Accepted 1 May 2000, Available online 10 January 2001.
https://doi.org/10.1016/S0109-5641(00)00059-2
