Can Dental Implants Be Whitened?

Whitening and Implants

If you’ve had a dental implant crown (the part that looks like a tooth) for a long time, you may start to see some discoloration, depending on what material the implant is made of. Usually, the more expensive materials (zirconia) see little to no discoloration while cheaper materials (like plastic) see pretty dramatic discoloration over time. If you’re seeing some discoloration, you really only have one option: a new crown.

It’s unfortunate but it’s the reality. You cannot use traditional means to whiten dental implants because the materials dental implants are made of cannot compare to natural enamel. Whitening toothpaste uses small particles to very gently “scratch” the enamel, removing surface stains. If you tried to use a whitening toothpaste on acrylic dental implants, it would scratch the plastic and make it even more susceptible to staining. The plastic would become compromised, allowing dark-colored liquids like red wine and coffee to invade the crown. More professional whitening methods, like Kor and Zoom!, would have similar negative results.

Research Before You Spend

As with most things in life, it’s important to do your research before you spend the money on a dental implant. They’re a big investment and shouldn’t be taken lightly. If you’re looking to cut corners with your dental implants, make sure to remember what dental implants are and what purpose they serve. Implants are replacing and mimicking your lost teeth. Your natural teeth go through a lot on a daily basis which means dental implants made of weak materials will not last.

If you only want to go through implant surgery once, make sure it’s the best of the best. Choosing the cheapest implant option is synonymous with choosing a non-long-lasting implant. You will undoubtedly be in the dentist’s chair a few years down the road.

Omega Teeth

Don’t want to worry about your dental implants failing or becoming discolored later on? Stanley Dentistry’s Omega Teeth dental implant process uses the best materials and the most innovative methods to produce unparalleled results. Omega Teeth patients very rarely have complications — both in the longterm and in the short term. Dr. Stanley only uses zirconia for all the dental implants he places so there are no concerns of discoloration.

If you’re looking into getting dental implants, make sure to check out Omega Teeth!