Dental health is vital

Is It Possible to Have Teeth Whitening if You Have Fillings?

by Felecia Butler

If you've had work done on your teeth, you'll be glad to hear that teeth whitening is possible even for those who have fillings. There is no reason why fillings should be a hindrance to a whiter, brighter smile. However, you need to understand certain things before getting a whitening treatment if you already have fillings in your teeth.

1. Do Dental Fillings Affect Teeth Whitening Results?

Dental fillings do not affect whitening results for the natural teeth. The treatment that your dentist uses will still remove stains from your teeth. However, having dental fillings may affect the overall outcome, since teeth whitening treatments do not remove stains on the fillings. Therefore, teeth whitening may create a discrepancy between your natural teeth and the dental fillings. The results might be even more disappointing if your fillings are on your front teeth, as the difference will be more noticeable.

2. Is Teeth Whitening Harmful To Dental Filings?

Research shows that teeth whitening treatments have no harmful effect on past dental work, including fillings, crowns, and veneers. The cleaning agent used by dentists does not affect the fillings as it doesn't react with compound filling materials, metal or the materials used for dental bonding. Therefore, your fillings will not become loose or get damaged in any way due to the whitening treatment.

3. Whitening Stained Fillings

The standard whitening treatments do not get rid of the stains on dental fillings. Replacing the stained fillings is the only way of dealing with stains on the fillings. Once you get the whitening treatment, your dentist will remove the fillings and then implant new replacements that resemble the appearance of the natural teeth. This will ensure that your teeth are uniform with a whiter and brighter appearance.

4. Should You Replace White Fillings?

According to dentists, most dental composite fillings have between five to seven years of lifespan. This means that you must replace them at a certain point. However, if they are stained, you don't have to wait until their lifespan ends. You can replace them at any time. Furthermore, the procedure of replacing dental fillings is usually simple and painless.

5. Consult A Professional Dentist

If you have any doubts about teeth whitening, it's always good to seek advice from a cosmetic dentistry professional. Inform the dentist about what you want and your fears, and he or she will advise you accordingly. With the information you get, you will be able to make the right decision.

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