06 Nov Can You Get Your Teeth Whitened If You Have Crowns?
Even if you’ve had dental work done in the past, you can still get your teeth whitened. The trouble is that whitening treatments only work on natural tooth enamel. If you get your teeth whitened, any fillings or crowns you have might look slightly yellow in comparison.
This isn’t usually a problem if the crowns are on the back teeth, because they aren’t as noticeable. But if you have restorations in your front teeth, you will be limited to whitening your teeth to a shade that matches. If you want to go lighter, you will have to get your crowns replaced with new ones that match your whiter teeth.
What Are the Best Options for Teeth Whitening If You Have Crowns?
Whitening treatments simply do not work on crowns. The porcelain or composite resin they’re made from has already been tinted, and there’s no way to change it. Even though they can get stained over time, you can’t lighten the shade of fillings or crowns. The best thing to do is get them replaced.
In fact, most crowns and fillings will need to be replaced eventually. If it’s been more than ten years since you got them, it may be time for new ones anyway. And if you still have any silver amalgam fillings, we can remove them safely and replace them with bio-compatible fillings instead.
Whenever you do need new restorations, like fillings in the front teeth, inlays, onlays, or crowns, it’s a good time to ask about whitening treatments. If you get your teeth whitened first, then your dentist can match the shade of your restorations to your newly whitened teeth.
Natural Remedies for Whiter Teeth
After a whitening treatment, it’s important to take good care of your teeth. You don’t want to go back to dull, yellowish teeth or stain your new restorations. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent that from happening.
For instance:
- Adding oil pulling to your brushing and flossing routine can help keep your teeth whiter.
- Making your own toothpaste or using a dentist-recommended whitening toothpaste will help the effects of your whitening treatment last longer.
- Avoiding things that stain your teeth—like coffee and tobacco—will keep your crowns and your natural teeth looking bright.
Cosmetic Dentistry from a Holistic Perspective
Want to get a whiter smile for the holidays? Now is the time to book an appointment. We can equip you with an at-home whitening kit or book you for a single-visit professional whitening treatment. If you need to replace any crowns or old restorations, we can do that too. It’s time to make your wish for a perfect smile come true! If you live in the Prescott area, contact us to schedule a visit today.
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash used with permission under the Creative Commons license for commercial use 10/17/25.