Dental implants are designed with a titanium post that anchors the replacement to your jawbone; this makes them the closest dental restoration to natural teeth! That said, if you like your morning coffee or can’t resist a good bottle of wine, they’re likely to dull over time. When colorful foods and drinks catch up with your dental implants, can you get them professionally whitened like you would natural teeth?
Technically, you could – but the results might not be as effective as you’d like. Keep reading to learn why!
Teeth Whitening: All About Pours
Having dental implants doesn’t prevent you from being eligible for teeth whitening. However, the whitening agents used in professional formulas don’t affect implants the same way they do natural teeth – that is to say, they don’t affect them at all. You see, the chemicals are designed to slip past the pours in your enamel and eliminate stains. Dental implant materials, however, are nonporous!
So a teeth whitening treatment won’t brighten your dental restoration. Unfortunately, that’s not all. It will brighten any natural teeth you have, resulting in a two-toned smile. If you’d rather your teeth look as seamless as possible, it’s better to schedule a whitening treatment, then a dental implant placement.
How Should I Brighten My Smile?
But what should you do if you already have dental implants and are still wanting that pristine look? Then it’s best to talk to your dentist. They might be able to polish your implants and give them a renewed shine. Or they might have to remove the implant, whiten any natural teeth, and replace the old restoration with a newly color-matched prosthetic that more closely resembles your whitening results.
Basically, you still have options when it comes to enhancing the aesthetics of your dental implants. Your dentist will be able to steer you towards the best, most efficient method.
Keeping Your Smile White and Bright
If you’d like your treatment results to last, it’s important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine. That means brushing twice daily and flossing at least once per day. This simple habit helps remove food particles from your smile, and mitigates bacteria build up, which can also contribute to yellowy teeth.
To go the extra mile, you can also rinse your mouth after every meal with warm water or an antibacterial mouthwash. This helps loosen up debris and bacteria, freeing particles before they have the chance to settle in and cause staining.
For more personalized tips on maintaining your whitening results, look no further than your dentist! They’ll take your unique oral situation and preferences into account and help you enjoy your treatment for as long as possible.
About the Practice
Drs. Manpreet and Navdeep Dhaliwal haves decades of experience in dentistry, and are dedicated to providing personalized, effective treatment for their patients. Dr. Navdeep is particularly skilled in esthetic dentistry such as whitening treatments and would be happy to talk with you about how to enhance your smile – and your dental implants! To contact the office, call 253-833-2290.
