Will over-the-counter bleaching ruin my porcelain veneers?

Hello,

I was wondering if I can bleach my porcelain veneers using over-the-counter bleaching products like Crest Whitestrips or other brands? Will this ruin them? Now that I have veneers, my other teeth look yellowish to me. I want to bleach my natural teeth since they stand out now, but I don’t want to damage my new veneers.

– Katie in Washington, DC

Katie,

Good question. There are many over-the-counter products out there. Crest Whitestrips or another generic brand are the only kind that may work under certain circumstances. This is because the strips contain a peroxide gel on the strip itself so the gel remains on the tooth long enough that it actually penetrates the tooth.

Many of the other teeth whitening products like toothpastes, powders, or rinses just don’t stay on the teeth long enough to be very effective. Also, there are some products out there that have citric acid in them. Sometimes this can etch the tooth surface causing damage to your teeth. You may notice that the teeth seem whiter for a short time, but only for a few short days. Then they may end up darker than they were before you whitened them. You’ll notice that the damaged area of the tooth actually shows more stain.

The Whitestrips may not work very well for your case since they are designed to cover your front teeth. But since you have porcelain veneers over your front teeth, I assume you want to whiten the teeth that sit further back in your mouth. You may be able to try cutting the strips in order to apply them to the teeth you want whitened. Although, that could end up being a bit tricky to apply them. Even though the strips contain peroxide bleach, it still is very weak compared to professional whitening techniques. So the results will take some time. Whitestrips are also pretty pricey, so you may be better off seeing a dentist to help you with your teeth bleaching.

The products and peroxide that a dentist can use are much more powerful and when it’s done right will give you beautiful results. You may be able to take advantage of a special since many dentist offices offer free teeth whitening or other packages for new patients. Although, it is not good to price shop when it comes to porcelain veneers, dental bonding, dental implants, or any other cosmetic or elaborate treatment. You should be alright with teeth whitening.

Lastly, you should know that the bleaching itself will not damage the veneer or change their color. The teeth behind the veneers may actually become lighter so you may see that the veneers seems a bit whiter.

This post is sponsored by Baton Rouge Dentist Sherwood Dental Care.