Teeth Whitening Before Dental Work in the “Esthetic Zone”

If restorative and cosmetic dental work is in your future, it is crucial to have procedures done in the proper sequence for optimal results. The “esthetic zone” is the teeth that people see when you talk and smile. Whitening your teeth after you’ve had crowns, implants, or a bridge placed in the esthetic zone may lead to suboptimal results because bleaching or whitening your teeth only affect natural teeth and do not affect the shades of crowns and fillings.

Why Teeth Whitening?

Our teeth become yellower and lose their brilliant appearance as we age. Teeth whitening is the simplest way to achieve a whiter, brighter smile for your natural teeth. The procedure is safe, effective, and non-invasive. However, if you have dental work such as crowns or fillings, they will not be affected by a teeth whitening treatment. If you whiten your teeth after restoration work is done, you may realize your teeth do not look natural because some teeth look whiter than others.

What is the Esthetic Zone for Teeth?

To determine which teeth are visible to others, smile broadly. The portion of the teeth and gums that is visible is called the “esthetic zone” or the “smile zone.” Most people get only these teeth whitened, as it is less critical for teeth others can’t see to be bright white. Typically, your smile zone is the top front teeth, including all anterior visible spaces. The bottom teeth may or may not show when you smile.

When Should You Whiten Your Teeth?

Any time you want a gleaming, whiter smile is a good time for a whitening treatment if your teeth and gums are in good health. However, if you will be getting dental restorations such as a partial denture, crown, or dental implant, you need to whiten your natural teeth before you have any restoration work performed.

Crowns and restorations look like your natural teeth and allow you to chew and eat more comfortably, but they differ from natural teeth in many ways. The most noticeable is that crowns, fillings, and other cosmetic procedures, such as veneers, cannot be whitened or bleached like natural teeth. If you need to get dental work performed in the esthetic zone, do not wait until after the restorations are in place to whiten your natural teeth. The result will be brighter, whiter teeth that do not match the color of the restorations because they were color-matched to your teeth before they were bleached.

Advantages of Teeth Whitening Before Esthetic Zone Work

Getting your teeth whitened before having restorative or cosmetic dental work done (including crowns, veneers, bonding, and dental implants) is the best way to ensure the results look natural. Have your teeth whitened before your restoration work begins. This lets your dentist perfectly match the color and shade of your restorations or veneers to the new, brighter natural teeth.