Whitening Filled Teeth: 3 Facts You Need to Know
If some of your teeth are filled, you might have heard that teeth whitening is off-limits for you. This isn't quite true, but you do need to take a few factors into consideration when deciding whether or not to have a professional teeth whitening procedure when you have dental fillings. Here are three critical facts that can help you decide whether teeth whitening is right for you.
1. Teeth Whitening Doesn't Harm Dental Fillings
Many people worry that teeth whitening will damage their fillings, but there is no evidence that this is the case. In fact, more than 10 years of studies have demonstrated that it is perfectly safe to have your filled teeth professionally whitened.
The chemical that dentists use to whiten teeth is called carbamide peroxide. Although this chemical is an extremely powerful stain remover, it doesn't react with composite or metal dental fillings. That means your fillings won't fall out, dissolve, or become loose as a result of teeth whitening.
2. Teeth Whitening Doesn't Whiten Dental Fillings
The bad news is that professional teeth whitening can't get rid of stains on dental composite materials. If you have stained white fillings in your front teeth, professional teeth whitening won't restore them to their original colour, which could mean that they end up standing out against your newly whitened teeth. However, if your teeth are stained and your fillings are still white, having your teeth whitened could make the difference less noticeable.
If you have dental fillings in your incisors or canine teeth, talk to your dentist about the results you can expect from teeth whitening. It's important to have a realistic expectation of the results, so you're not disappointed or shocked when your fillings don't get any whiter.
3. You Can Replace Your Dental Fillings to Whiten Your Smile
If you're keen to get rid of the stains on your dental fillings, you can have the fillings replaced. Research shows that the average lifespan of a composite filling is roughly 5-7 years, so depending on the age of your filling, it could be worth having it replaced at the same time as you have your teeth whitened.
Replacing a filling is usually a quick and easy procedure for an experienced dentist. Your dentist will use a local anesthetic to ensure you don't feel any pain. If you're serious about getting a whiter smile, replacing the fillings in your front teeth could be the best solution.
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