You already know that professional teeth whitening from your dentist is an effective, yet affordable way to enhance the natural beauty of your smile. In just one visit to the practice, you can walk out with a smile that’s several shades whiter. However, would you see the same results if you have direct bonding? Can you even whiten your bonded teeth? Continue reading to learn how bonding responds to teeth whitening and what your options are.
How Does Bonding Respond to Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening allows for a simple solution to extrinsic stains caused by dark-colored foods, beverages, and tobacco products over time. However, the products that are used for brightening teeth are meant to be effective for natural tooth enamel, not bonding material. The bonding resin that is used is nonporous. This means that the whitening agent is unable to penetrate the surface and is therefore ineffective.
When you get direct bonding, it is color-matched to blend in with the rest of your smile for the most natural appearance possible. If you are looking to get bonding and have your teeth whitened, you should start with the whitening so the resin used can be made to match your pearly whites once you have your brightened results.
What Are Your Options?
The best time for you to whiten your smile is before you have a bonding procedure. However, if you already have bonding and wish to whiten your teeth, there are a couple different routes that you can take. Talk to your dentist about the following options:
- Have your teeth whitened and your old bonding replaced to match your smile at its whitest.
- Opt for a longer-lasting solution to discoloration, such as a dental veneers. This way, the cosmetic flaws that were corrected from the bonding and discoloration are both addressed.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
There are two options for professionally whitening your smile. Here is what each one entails:
- In-Office Teeth Whitening: If you’re looking for quick results, you can have your smile whitened in the dental office. During your appointment, a special whitening gel is added to the teeth. The gel penetrates the tooth enamel to brighten your smile up to eight shades in just one visit!
- Take-Home Teeth Whitening: If you’d rather whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home, take-home whitening kits are also an option. They include custom-made whitening trays and a professional strength whitening gel. In just a couple short weeks, you will see results!
If you want to whiten your teeth but have direct bonding, talk to your dentist about your options. This way, you can work towards a smile that makes you feel confident!
About the Author
Dr. Michael Michel is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for nearly 40 years! He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery from Kansas State University School of Dentistry and is committed to continuing education to keep his knowledge and skills sharp. Through his studies with Bio Research, he has honed his skills with the non-surgical treatment of temporomandibular joint disfunction (TMD). He also has experience with dental sleep medicine, Invisalign, and Nomad imaging system. Currently, Dr. Michel is a proud member of the American Dental Association and Kansas Dental Association. For more information on teeth whitening or to schedule an appointment at one of his offices in Topeka & Silver Lake, visit his website or call (785) 273-0801.