Because teeth whitening agents are not effective on porcelain materials, it is often impossible to whiten teeth after porcelain is applied. Basically, porcelain is a material that is very resistant to stains, so just need to perform daily dental care and hygiene to prevent yellow stains from forming, causing loss of aesthetics.
1. What is teeth whitening?
The nature of the teeth whitening process is to create an oxidation-reduction reaction to break down the protein chains that cause yellow stains on the teeth. With this method, the teeth will become bright and radiant, helping to smile more confidently.
1.1. Teeth whitening at home
Currently, customers can whiten their teeth at home with bleaching trays and teeth whitening gel. To apply this method, you still need to see a doctor to take dental impressions and receive plastic whitening trays as well as instructions on how to whiten your teeth at home. Home teeth whitening gel has a fairly mild whitening concentration, only from 10% – 15%. Customers only need to apply the bleach to the tray and hold it for about 2-3 hours a day, and their teeth will begin to lighten after about 2-3 days.
1.2. Teeth whitening at the dentist
Different from teeth whitening at home, teeth whitening at the dentist is a method that applies modern technology to improve the color of teeth. The whitening gel at the dentist has a concentration of about 35% and is activated by a laser light for about 60 minutes. During the whitening process, the gums and other soft tissues will be isolated from the teeth to avoid damage due to contact with high concentrations of bleach.
2. Can porcelain teeth be whitened after being covered with porcelain?
In fact, porcelain teeth are basically made from pure porcelain material, which is resistant to staining, especially food coloring. Therefore, porcelain teeth will always maintain their original whiteness when taking good care of their teeth. Improper care or having certain oral diseases can also cause the outer layer of porcelain teeth to change color.
However, bleaching agents only work on real tooth tissue, so whitening porcelain teeth is unnecessary because it does not effectively whiten or remove stains on tooth enamel. Teeth whitening is only really effective in cases where the enamel is not too discolored or only slightly infected with antibiotics. So after the tooth has been covered with porcelain, teeth whitening methods cannot be used anymore.
3. Notes to help protect porcelain teeth from discoloration and yellowing
3.1. Oral hygiene
It is important to brush your teeth at least twice a day, morning and night, with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove plaque and bacteria while ensuring that the gums are not damaged. In addition, you can combine the use of dental floss and mouthwash to thoroughly clean small food particles stuck between teeth to ensure a completely clean mouth.
3.2. Foods to avoid
– Dark foods such as soft drinks, chocolate,…
– Foods containing a lot of sugar, starch
– Foods that are too tough, too hard, requiring strong chewing force
– Alcohol, tobacco
4. Choosing a dental clinic to cover porcelain teeth to prolong their lifespan
A reputable dental clinic often meets the following criteria:
4.1. Medical team
The doctor is the most decisive factor in the success of the porcelain crown procedure. Therefore, how long the porcelain crown will last after being crowned depends largely on the doctor’s porcelain crown technique. The technique is performed by a doctor with high expertise and many years of experience in the profession, ensuring that it will not chip or break during use.
4.2. Modern equipment
Modern equipment and technology will greatly help the porcelain crown process, from consultation examination to the final porcelain crown step. Therefore, if you choose a dental clinic equipped with advanced machinery, it can help save a lot of time, as well as improve the effectiveness of the porcelain crown procedure.
4.3. Public and transparent prices
The cost of services at dental facilities must be public and transparent so that customers can proactively consider and choose according to their needs and economic conditions.
So, after porcelain crowns, real teeth cannot be whitened because the whitening agent only works on real tooth enamel. However, it is possible to keep porcelain teeth shiny if you apply some simple dental care steps right at home.
