Teeth Whitening and Dental Fillings
I have quite a few dental fillings. Some of them are amalgam, that I want to replace. Others are composite, which I like. But, I want to whiten my teeth so I will likely need to change the composite fillings too so that they can match. My question is what order do I do this? Is there anything else I need to know about changing fillings?
Charlie
Dear Charlie,
I’m glad you wrote. I would start with the teeth whitening. That will allow you get your teeth the color you want and then you will be able to match the new dental fillings to the brighter color. There are a couple of types of professional teeth whitening. You can do at home teeth whitening. This allows you to just put the whitening gel in some custom made trays that your dentist provides for you and you wear them at a time which is most convenient for you. Obviously, the longer you wear them each day, the faster your teeth whitens, but that schedule is completely up to you.
A second option is Zoom Whitening. This allows you to whiten your teeth in one day, but you’ll do it in your dentist’s office with several short whitening sessions under the Zoom light. Once you have your teeth the color you want, then you can go ahead and replace your fillings.
The amalgam fillings that you have are made mostly from mercury. While the American Dental Association does say they are safe, mercury is a known toxin so you want to make sure that the dentist you have do the procedure knows how to do a sanitary amalgam removal. You do not want to inhale or swallow any of the mercury.
I would look for a mercury-free dentist or a holistic dentist when it comes to switching out your fillings. They will know the right safety precautions to take as well as have the equipment required to do the job properly.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Tetracycline Stains and No Money for Porcelain Veneers
I’ve had tetracycline stains for most of my life. Ten years ago, I asked my dentist if I could whiten my teeth to get rid of the stains. He told me that the only solution for tetracycline stains is porcelain veneers. I priced those and there is not a chance in the world I will be able to afford that. My smile is so humiliating to me that I never do it. Is there a chance that teeth whitening has improved enough in the last ten years to make a difference?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
While porcelain veneers are still the best solution for tetracycline stains, you can make a decent difference by using teeth whitening. Make sure you use take home teeth whitening trays instead of something like Zoom Whitening. Zoom would take too many sessions and you are trying to save money.
While you can make a difference with the bleaching, you will have to be persistent. You will get the best results if you can wear the trays overnight. If you can’t tolerate the bleaching for that long, then just wear them during the day for as long as you can. I would plan on bleaching for several months but it will make a difference.
As I mentioned at the beginning, porcelain veneers will give you a much better result. My recommendation is that you start with the whitening while you save up for the veneers. However, you would need to have them done by a skilled cosmetic dentist. Dental school will not be enough. You will want someone with post doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. This is especially true when it comes to tetracycline stains. They are one of the most challenging cases there are.
You’ll want to ask if they’ve done these type of cases before. If they haven’t, look for someone else. If they say they have done them, then ask to see before and after images of the cases so that you can get an idea whether or not the results are beautiful and something that you would be proud to have yourself.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Two Concerns with My Porcelain Veneers
I had porcelain veneers placed about five days ago and love them. That being said, I have two concerns. First, I did not realize I should not be using whitening toothpaste on them. I did that because I wanted to keep them bright, but a friend told me that they can damage porcelain veneers. Did I ruin my new smile makeover? Second, I was only able to get six veneers. I wanted a white smile, which my dentist gave me. But, the teeth next to the porcelain veneers are not white and it is detracting from my beautiful new teeth. If I get my teeth whitened, will it damage the veneers?
Zack
Dear Zack,
I’m glad you wrote. Let’s start with the toothpaste because that has you really worried. While it is true that most-over-the-counter toothpastes will damage both cosmetic dental work, as well as your normal teeth, that damage would happen after some prolonged use. It sounds like you’d just stared using it, so I would not be too worried. So you know, there is one whitening toothpaste that I would recommend which is safe for both your teeth as well as your porcelain veneers–Supersmile Toothpaste. If you want to keep stains off of your teeth, this is the only toothpaste I would recommend.
As for the natural teeth being a different color, there is a fix for that. Technically, your dentist should have addressed this before you had your porcelain veneers were placed. Most smiles are eight to ten teeth wide. Knowing that you were only getting six porcelain veneers, your dentist should have anticipated the color difference. Standard procedure in those cases is to have the patient do teeth whitening before they get their veneers, that way the natural teeth will blend in with the veneers.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Pain with Teeth Whitening
I’ve been whitening my teeth and I’ve started having some pain. It only lasts a few seconds, but it does hurt. It’s always around where I had a chipped tooth repaired. I’ve stopped whitening for now. Do you know if teeth whitening could weaken the bonding around the tooth repair. If so, how do I handle this?
Paula
Dear Paula,
There hasn’t been a case where teeth whitening damaged the bonding on a tooth repair. I’m assuming that you had dental bonding repairing the chip. Something that can damage bonding is alcohol, so you definitely do not want to allow alcohol to sit on your teeth. Also, be aware that if you use mouthwash, make sure you use one that is alcohol free. There are some out there.
In your case, it sounds more like something has damaged your tooth repair which left a little open spot. With that exposed, even a little bit, it would be easy for you to have that pain. My suggestion is that you continue to pause the teeth whitening until you see your dentist. Have him repair your tooth. Hopefully, you are having your teeth whitening done through a dentist. They can fix the spot that was damaged and then you’ll be able to continue with your whitening.
If you’re not doing this under the care of a dentist, then I think it is important you find one. Not only will your dentist be able to prevent a host of other problems that can pop up. Plus, your dentist can provide you with a lot stronger of a whitening gel which will allow you to whiten your teeth a whole lot faster than anything you can get over the counter.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel, a metal-free dentist.
Will Crest Whitestrips Damage My Porcelain Veneers?
I had four porcelain veneers placed. I like them a lot but my other teeth look so dark next to them. If I got something like Crest Whitestrips to try to whiten my natural teeth, would they damage my porcelain veneers?
Camilla
Dear Camilla,
I am glad you like your porcelain veneers. It is a shame that your dentist did not plan your case better. In fact, I am a bit frustrated on your behalf. He could have avoided you having any color differences.
Most people have smiles that are eight to ten teeth wide, so he should have known that four veneers would have a color discrepancy. The solution to that, when you can’t get ten teeth veneered, is to have professional teeth whitening done ahead of time. This ensures that your smile blends together naturally.
While Crest Whitestrips will not damage your porcelain veneers, I do not think that you will get the results you are hoping for out of them. First, the whitening gel that they use is very weak. It would take a large number of boxes to see any real results. Second, they are only designed to cover the front six teeth. As four of those are veneered, you’ll only be getting two teeth with any gel on them. You could wear two sets or cut them in half, but that will not help with the strength.
In your place, I would ask your dentist to make custom teeth whitening trays for you. They could even be designed to go around your porcelain veneers. The gel your dentist can provide you is significantly stronger than anything you would get over the counter, which means your teeth will whiten much sooner.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
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Will Household Bleach Whiten Teeth?
If I am looking to whiten my teeth but don’t really want to go to the dentist, would using household bleach to rinse around in your mouth whiten them? I’m looking for options to improve my smile but am new to town and haven’t really set up with a dentist yet.
Avelyn
Dear Avelyn,
Bleach, such as Clorox used in laundry, is a base. Another base you may have heard of is Lye. It’s a rather strong corrosive that will destroy living tissue. In fact, dentists often use it in root canal treatments. An active ingredient in bleach, is sodium hypochlorite. This cleanser can be used inside a tooth to get rid of any dead organic material left in a tooth. While it dissolves the organic material, it also cleanses the inside of the tooth, like a disinfectant. This isn’t dentists using cheap-o material. It is actually a process taught in dental school.
If you swish it around in your mouth, then you are going to be damaging any tissue you have in your mouth, including your cheeks and gums. The only safe and effective way to whiten your teeth is with professional teeth whitening.
Second, when bleach comes in contact with certain types of other chemicals, it is a reaction which actually turns it into a deadly gas. You would not want to breathe those vapors in.
I would use this as an opportunity to find your new dentist. You will have to have your teeth thoroughly cleaned before you whiten them anyway. If you don’t do that, then your results will be splotchy.
While you are looking for a dentist, is a good time to assess what type of services you need. The dental world has really grown. While teeth whitening is, technically, a cosmetic procedure, it is the easiest of the cosmetic procedures and pretty much any dentist can do it. However, if you are going to want any of the more advanced procedures, such as porcelain veneers, then you will want a dentist with advanced post-doctoral training in smile makeovers. These are not adequately taught in dental school and a dentist has to invest in training after they graduate to get the training they need.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Luster Premium Home Whitening
My dentist charges quite a bit for teeth whitening. I noticed that I can purchase Luster Premium Home Teeth Whitening from Amazon for a fraction of the cost. Would this work for me? Is it safe?
Jaimie
Dear Jaimie,
When I did a search for this, at first a different product showed up, which was just named Premium Home Whitening. I did some digging until I found the exact one you were asking about. With this product, I think you are dealing with a phony product. They achieve whitening by using zinc oxide, which is actually a pigment more than a whitening ingredient. This will “stain” your teeth whiter, making them look whiter briefly, but it doesn’t whiten your teeth and will not actually whiten your teeth, just paint them.
I have also noticed there is a similarly named product Premium Whitening. This currently sells for $20. While it does have a viable whitening ingredient, there are a few problems with it, all of which stem from the whitening tray they use.
It will not be custom fit to your bite. As a result, it will cause a couple of problems. First, saliva will get in which dilutes the effectiveness of your whitening gel. Second the whitening gel will leak out of the tray, which not only further dilutes the whitening gel but also puts your gums at risk of sensitivity and even a small risk of an infection from the gel.
Looking at this particular tray, I see an additional problem. Instead of having two separate trays, one for each arch of your teeth, this kit has one tray which you have to bite down on in order to keep it in your mouth. This is going to lead to jaw pain. For those with TMJ Disorder, it could be quite painful. Plus, you are not likely to be able to hold it there for very long.
Your safest and most effective option is to have teeth whitening done professionally. You could save up for it or ask your dentist about payment plans.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Rules for Touching Up Teeth Whitening
I’m looking to touch up my smile ahead of my upcoming dental crown placement. However, I’m having trouble getting information from my dentist on how to go about this. My specific questions are mostly in regard to how long I have to whiten, such as how many hours per day and how many days/weeks to plan.
Fannie
Dear Fannie,
I’m a bit concerned that your dentist cannot answer these questions. These are pretty basic cosmetic questions. Much more basic that making a dental crown blend in naturally to the adjacent teeth.
While there isn’t an definitive number of hours and days I can give you, there are general principles. The first of which being that the longer you wear the teeth whitening gel each day, the faster your teeth will whiten. For example, if you wear them for five hours a day, your teeth will whiten much faster than if you just whitened for 30 minutes a day.
If you are in a hurry, the most effective way to do it would be to wear the teeth whitening trays over night. This is not only because the gel will be on your teeth longer, but also because we produce less saliva at night. If that is not possible for you, then just wear them for as long as you can tolerate throughout the day. Another speedy option is Zoom Whitening. It is an in-office teeth whitening procedure that will whiten your teeth in just one appointment.
The one definitive is something you did not ask. That is how long you need to wait between the time you finish your whitening and when you can get your dental crown made. Your teeth will continue whitening for up to two weeks after you complete your procedure. After that, you will be safe to have your dental crown done.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Can Teeth Be Too Bleached for Dental Work?
I whiten my teeth every other year because I like a very white smile. This year, I was in an accident that damaged a tooth and now I need a dental crown. My dentist cannot seem to find a crown shade white enough to match my teeth. He told me he is using the whitest color, but it is markedly darker than the rest of my teeth. What do I do?
Candice
Dear Candice,
I have some good news for you. It is definitely possible for you to get a porcelain crown that matches your white teeth. However, you may have to do it with a different dentist. Here is why.
Dentists use a shade guide to match dental work to your teeth. Above was the standard shade guide for many years. I’m willing to bet your dentist is still working from this shade guide. This served dentists very well until about the 1990s, when teeth whitening exploded in popularity.
Once people started whitening their teeth, the shade guide no longer had shades white enough for these patients. Dentists who did a lot of cosmetic work recognized this was an issue that needed to be addressed. As a result, the shade guides developed an extention for dentists who did cosmetic work. Here is an image of that below:
As you can see, this has much whiter options. I’m also willing to bet your dentist does not do a lot of cosmetic work in his office. He probably does not have this shade guide. I think you will be better served if you went to a dentist who has the tools required to give you a natural looking result. This is especially true with a tooth that is visible when you smile. A flat shade, is not going to be enough. In order to have the variance of translucency that a natural tooth has, your dentist will have to provide a color map with various creams and tints to truly mimic your other teeth. I don’t think your current dentist will know how to do this.
Look for a dentist who does regular cosmetic work and you should be able to get the dental crown you need.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Evaluation of Premium Home Whitening
I have been considering whitening my teeth for some time now. I keep seeing ads for Premium Home Whitening. It is less expensive than what my dentist offers. Do you know anything about this product? Will it work?
Carla
Dear Carla,
I will start with the positive about this option. Their whitening ingredient is 35% carbamide peroxide. This is a legitimate whitening ingredient and will whiten your teeth. That being said, here are my concerns.
First, the blue light. This does nothing to help with the whitening of your teeth. It won’t hurt anything either. What bothers me is that they are advertising it as if it helps with the whitening. I don’t like it when people mislead patients. However, the biggest issue is their whitening trays.
When you get teeth whitening done by a dentist, they custom make trays to fit your bite precisely. This keeps the whitening gel securely on your teeth and only your teeth. With premium whitening, you are not going to get a secure fit. This causes some of the gel to leak out, wasting the whitening gel. It also allows your saliva to mingle with the gel weakening its potency even further. There is an additional consideration of the gel getting on your gums, which will cause irritation.
You would have more effective and safer whitening through your dentist. If price is the only obstacle, you have a couple of options. First, just be honest with your dentist. Tell him that you’ve been wanting to bleach your teeth but are having a hard time meeting his fee. See if he’ll come down on the cost a bit. If not, you can call around to other dental offices and see if their whitening is within your budget. Make sure you do it following a check up and cleaning or the results will not be good. Let them know you have recently had your teeth cleaned and just want the price for whitening only.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.