I had two dental implants placed about five years ago and they’re doing great. I couldn’t be happier with them in terms of how they’re holding up and how natural they look and feel. However, I keep looking at my smile in the mirror and I’m not happy with the way it looks overall. I’m considering having some cosmetic work done to make my smile pop a little bit more. The problem is, the implants show a bit when I smile, and I’ve heard that dental implants won’t change color if I whiten. Is this true? If so, what are my options for cosmetic work? Can I have veneers or something put over the top or pay to have them recolored?
Ella – Louisiana
Dear Ella,
Unfortunately, you heard right. Dental implants are typically made from porcelain or another material that doesn’t respond to tooth whitening agents. They’re incredibly stain-resistant, but you can’t really change the color of them once they’re made, either. A lot goes into making a crown.
To give them the appearance of natural tooth structure, they’re made in layers. This gives the same type of translucency you see in your natural teeth. Sometimes, a lab can recolor crowns, but this is usually done to make them darker not lighter. This is because the color is already baked in.
You also can’t put a veneer on a crown. It would be difficult, if not impossible to place. If your dentist did find a good way to bond them on, the result would be bulky. You’d likely be unhappy with their appearance. However, you’re not without options.
If they’re farther back, whitening your teeth may not be a problem. Teeth naturally look darker towards the back, and so a shade or two of difference may not be noticeable.
If they’re in a prominent position, and visible when you smile, you can replace the crowns after you finished whitening. This way, you could have them made to match your final shade. Done well, they’ll blend seamlessly. Bear in mind, it’s only the crown on top of the dental implants that you’d have to replace. The rest of them, including the screws and posts, should be just fine as they are. So, it’ll probably only take a couple of weeks to complete, versus the months you spent initially. It was also cost less.
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