Whitening your smile is one of the most popular dental treatment trends worldwide

Patients often ask for a brilliant, evenly white smile, but sometimes this is not as easy as it seems. Dr Steven Mok at G Dental has created this blog to answer a very common question he gets asked in his practice; can dental crowns be whitened?

Firstly, what exactly is a porcelain crown?

A porcelain crown sometimes referred to as a ‘cap’, is a dental appliance that covers the whole surface of a tooth. If you have cracked or broken teeth or have severe decay, a dental crown may be recommended. Depending on a patient’s oral health, they may require a full, or a partial crown to be fitted. If the entire tooth is missing, a dental implant will be inserted and a dental crown will be placed on top. Crowns can also be used to help reverse the effects of teeth grinding or an improper bite. To fit a dental crown, Dr Steven Mok will firstly, slightly reduce the size of your natural tooth so the crown can fit perfectly over the top. Impressions will be taken of this natural tooth and sent to a speciality laboratory for manufacture. Before your permanent crown will be ready, you will be given a temporary crown to wear. On the second visit to the Melbourne office, you will receive your permanent porcelain crown that should match perfectly with your smile.

What are porcelain crowns made from?

Thanks to the current advancements in dental technology, today’s porcelain crowns are made from a rather strong, and very dense material made from a range of minerals. Creating porcelain crowns with a non-porous material means they are resistant to stains and any surface stains that appear won’t reach down into the restoration. Often, just brushing your teeth daily is enough to keep your crowns as fresh as they day G Dental applied them.

The best way to whiten porcelain crowns is to replace them

Essentially, porcelain crowns cannot be whitened. As they are made from a non-porous material they are not only resistant to stains, but also teeth whitening. If you have had one porcelain crown fitted onto a remaining tooth or onto a dental implant, you will need to be careful about using teeth whitening products. If you lighten your natural teeth too much, they won’t match the colour of your crown. The opposite also applies if you leave your natural teeth to discolour or stain, and they will eventually mismatch with your dental crown. It’s suggested that you maintain optimum oral health to keep your teeth white and bright, rather than letting them discolour and risk having your teeth not match your dental appliance.

Porcelain crowns from G Dental Melbourne

Dental crowns are dental appliances that serve not only an aesthetic role but also a functional one. If the porcelain crown was manufactured to high standards, expertly fitted and well looked after, they can possibly last a lifetime. G Dental works with patients every step of the way to ensure a seamless treatment process with realistic expectations set from the start. To find out more about why porcelain crowns can’t be whitened, or to schedule an appointment, contact G Dental today.