Teeth Whitening With Crowns and Veneers
Whether crowns, veneers and fillings can be whitened, what happens when you whiten the teeth around them, and the options a dentist can offer.
Can Crowns and Veneers Be Whitened?
No. The American Dental Association says only natural teeth can be whitened, not tooth-coloured restorations such as crowns, veneers and fillings. The NHS and healthdirect say whitening does not change the colour of crowns, veneers, dentures, implants or fillings, and healthdirect says the colour of a veneer cannot be changed once it is fitted.
That applies to every kind of whitening: dentist treatments, home LED kits, strips and whitening toothpaste. So no home kit is the “best” for crowns; the question is how to keep your teeth matching.
What Happens If You Whiten Around a Crown
The ADA says people with tooth-coloured restorations, including crowns and implants, should know that only their natural teeth will lighten, which can leave a difference in shade between the two. In practice, a crown or veneer on a front tooth can end up looking darker than the whitened teeth next to it.
Crowns and veneers can also stop matching over time without whitening: the Australian Dental Association says they can chip, fracture or stop matching your other teeth.
Your Options
See a dentist first
The NHS says a dentist should check your teeth and gums are healthy before you whiten. Tell them about any crowns, veneers or fillings, especially on your front teeth.
Planning a new crown or veneer?
The Australian Dental Association and healthdirect say porcelain and zirconia crowns can be colour-matched to your other teeth. Ask your dentist whether to whiten first, so the new crown can be matched to your lighter shade.
Already have crowns or veneers?
healthdirect lists veneers and crowns as alternatives to whitening. If whitening would leave existing work looking darker, ask your dentist whether it can be replaced or redone to match.
If You Whiten at Home
Home kits, strips and whitening toothpastes lighten natural enamel only. If your crowns or veneers are on teeth that show when you smile, talk to your dentist before you start. healthdirect also warns that whitening can cause pain or further damage in cracked teeth.
If your crowns are on back teeth that do not show, whitening your front teeth may not cause a visible mismatch. To compare home options, see our whitening kit guides for Australia, the UK and EU and the United States, and our whitening strips comparison.
Read: crowns and veneersFrequently Asked Questions
- Do whitening strips or whitening toothpaste work on crowns? No. They work only on natural enamel (NHS, healthdirect).
- Will my crown match after whitening? Only if your natural teeth stay close to the crown's shade. The ADA says whitening can leave a difference in shade between natural teeth and restorations.
- Can I whiten if I have a dental implant? The implant's crown will not change colour (NHS, ADA); only the natural teeth around it will.