Can you tell me which teeth whitening brands will work on dental bonding? I’ve tried Crest strips and another brand, but my whitening still looks dingy. Instead of wasting money trying different brands, I hope you can tell me which ones will get the best results. I got the bonding in 2016 when I lived in Omaha and want to refresh it. Thanks for your help. Bryce from Walkill, NY
Thank you for your question, Bryce.
Will Teeth Whitening Work on Bonding?
Teeth whitening will not work on dental bonding, whether it is a premier over-the-counter brand or professional whitening from a dentist. Bleaching gel penetrates natural teeth to break down stains, but it will not remove bonding discoloration. Read about the effects of abrasives on bonding in our post, Will I Need New Dental Bonding Again?
What Are the Effects of Trying to Whiten Dental Bonding?
If you try to whiten dental bonding with bleaching gel containing carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, the gel may whiten your natural teeth while leaving the bonding unchanged. Any bonding discoloration or stains will become more noticeable after your natural teeth are whiter.
What Is the Treatment for Dark or Stained Dental Bonding?
Depending on the condition and age of your dental bonding, a skilled cosmetic dentist may be able to polish it and improve its appearance. Otherwise, the dentist will recommend replacing your bonding. If you want whiter teeth and dental bonding, speak with the dentist about whitening your teeth first. After your teeth are as bright as you wish, the dentist will blend dental composite to match your tooth shade and translucence.
The benefits of replacing dental bonding include the following:
- Requires less removal of tooth enamel than porcelain veneers
- Matches the shape, shade, and characteristics of adjacent teeth
- Looks natural
- Conceals tooth discoloration that will not improve with bleaching gel
Read our post that compares porcelain veneers with composite veneers.
Request a Dental Bonding Consultation
Schedule consultations with two advanced cosmetic dentists to discuss your options for improving your dental bonding. Dentists apply bonding by hand while you sit in the dental chair. Advanced cosmetic dentists have the training, instruments, materials, and artistic talent to blend the bonding seamlessly with your natural teeth—even if you decide to bleach them before bonding.
Beverly Hills accredited Fellow of cosmetic dentistry Dr. Brian LeSage sponsors this post. See examples of his beautiful results in his smile gallery of patient photos.
Dental bonding before and after photos of Dr. LeSage’s patient. See his smile gallery for case details.