At-home teeth whitening kids will not deliver immediate results. The manufacturer might promise that you will see noticeable results within a certain number of days or weeks, and as the days go by, you can expect to see these changes. Some people might notice a curious, unexpected side effect as their dental enamel responds to the teeth whitening treatment. Although most teeth are changing their color as anticipated, others are not. Can it be that you've forgotten to account for the dental restorations in your mouth?

Easy to Overlook

Once a damaged tooth has been restored, there can be a tendency to forget about the problem—now that it has been solved. You may have had a deteriorated tooth restored to its former vitality with composite dental bonding, a veneer, or a crown. The objective was to make the restoration look as natural as possible, and so it's all too easy to overlook the fact that some of your teeth aren't as natural as they look.

Porous and Permeable 

Like the dental enamel coating your teeth, the surface of dental restoration is porous. Its permeability differs from enamel, but it can still react to external agents which may discolor its surface. In short, a dental restoration can become discolored, just like a natural tooth. However, unlike a natural tooth, a restoration cannot be lightened courtesy of the active ingredient in a teeth whitening kit. Those with dental restorations can inadvertently give their smile a duotone effect—when their natural teeth lighten via exposure to the whitening agent, whereas their restorations do not.

Irreversible at Home

It's impossible to reverse this duotone error yourself. Admittedly, if you stop whitening your teeth, they will progressively discolor once again, bringing them back into line with the color of your restorations. Of course, this is an impractical and imprecise course of action, so you need to see your dentist, who is the only one who can correct the problem.

Correctable by a Dentist

Your dentist will discuss the ultimate shade of whitening you wish to achieve. Your restorations must then be removed. They will be replaced with restorations already at this predetermined shade of white. Your other teeth can then be whitened to match your restorations. Follow-up treatments will be necessary to maintain this color uniformity. 

Natural dental enamel can be whitened. Dental restorations cannot. If you should ever forget this simple rule, you may end up with duotone teeth, which require a dental appointment to correct. If you'd rather leave the work to someone else, reach out to clinics like Watersedge Family Dental.