Can crowns, fillings or veneers be whitened?

No. Teeth whitening changes the colour of natural tooth enamel, and a crown, filling, veneer or bridge is made from a material that does not respond to whitening gel in the same way. If you whiten your teeth, any visible crowns or fillings will stay the same colour while the natural teeth around them lighten, which can leave an uneven result unless this is planned for beforehand.

In short

• Whitening only changes the colour of natural tooth enamel. It does not work on a crown, filling, veneer or bridge.
• A visible crown or filling can look noticeably different once the natural teeth around it have been whitened.
• Planning ahead with your dentist, before you start whitening, helps avoid an uneven result.
• Some white or chalky patches on teeth can become more visible after whitening, since they may not lighten at the same rate as the surrounding enamel.
• Existing dental work sometimes needs to be replaced to match a new, whiter shade, which is a decision to make with your dentist.

This article is part of the teeth whitening information on this site for patients in Cape Town.

Why does whitening not work on a crown or filling?

Whitening gel, whether applied by a dentist or bought over the counter, works by changing the colour of natural tooth enamel from the inside. A crown, filling, veneer or bridge is made from a different material entirely, and this material does not respond to whitening gel in the same way, so it keeps its original colour throughout the whitening process. This is true whichever method is used, described on the teeth whitening service page, whether in-chair whitening at a dental practice or a dentist-supplied take-home kit.

What does this mean if I have a visible crown or filling?

If a crown, filling or veneer is visible when you smile, whitening the natural teeth around it can leave a noticeable mismatch, since the restoration will not lighten to match. This matters most for front teeth, where the difference is easy to see. How long does a dental crown last? has more on how a crown is placed and, in time, replaced, and the same planning applies to a visible filling, covered in White fillings or silver fillings: what is the difference? A dentist can talk through whether whitening first and matching new work to the result afterward, or replacing older work first, suits your own teeth better.

Can white spots or other discolouration change too?

Whitening does not treat every kind of discolouration in the same way. White or chalky patches caused by other factors, sometimes called de-calcification, can become more noticeable after whitening, since the patch may not lighten at the same rate as the enamel around it. Discolouration from an old injury, a medicine taken in the past, or a previous root canal treatment can also respond differently to whitening than ordinary staining from food or drink. This is why an examination beforehand matters, so your dentist can explain what result to expect for your own teeth before you commit to treatment.

What should I discuss with a dentist beforehand?

Before starting whitening, it is worth asking your dentist to check your teeth for any fillings, crowns or veneers that would be visible once your natural teeth are lighter, and to talk through whether any of them might need to be replaced afterward to match. A crowns and bridges appointment can address a crown that no longer matches once whitening is finished. The safety of a home or over-the-counter product is a separate question from whether it will work on existing dental work, and this is covered in Are whitening strips from the pharmacy safe?

How do I reach Dr Davies?

To ask whether whitening suits your own teeth, including any crowns or fillings you already have, call Dr Davies directly on her own mobile, which is shown on this page. Dr Davies provides teeth whitening at BRS Dental on Strand Street, in Cape Town City Centre, and this page gives general information rather than an assessment of your own teeth and dental work.