Question:
I need a crown replaced and would also like my teeth whitened. I have
been advised (after research with several local dentist practices) that
I should have the teeth whitening done first and then match the crown
to the new colour.
Also I should use a home whitening kit (administered by the practice
rather than over the counter) as I can then have more control over the
colour plus this method has been fully researched and is safe. This is
opposed to having whitening done at the dentists which uses heat and
light which has not been full researched as yet plus u have little
control over the end shade.
I have been told too that I should allow up to 3 weeks to use the home
kit and then up to 6 weeks to let the shade settle before having the
crown work done.
I feel quite nervous and am concerned that it could take approx 2
months during which time my teeth won't match (the crown is one of my
front teeth!). Yet I want to follow the best procedure as it is
expensive and important to get right.
Answer:
Your plan is quite good. I hope you DO get enough whitening to make
the crown look dark by comparison. It probably won't look terribly
strange by comparison. You might try not to do this before a family
wedding, where this discrepency can be documented.
Nothing wrong with the in-office bleaching methods--they're quicker and
more convenient. However, the potential for increased tooth sensitivity
is greater, and it is considerably more costly.
