Patients with an existing restoration, a tooth or teeth with a lot of damage, or discoloration from tetracycline would not be good candidates for bleaching. Patients who have a ceramic crown, or cap, in the front are not good candidates, said Takemoto. Because there s a change in the shade of the permanent teeth, it s not going to match the caps. If bleaching is not the best option for a patient, alternatives are available, sometimes in conjunction with bleaching. Dr. Kumasaka explained that bleaching may be done in combination with veneering, another procedure for whitening teeth.
Veneers are custom-made shells that are attached directly to a tooth.
If not cared for properly, veneers can chip or peel. Patients should avoid fingernail biting and chewing on hard items. Kumasaka said that after bleaching, a tooth that is damaged extensively, blocked out, or misaligned would be veneered to match the rest of the teeth. Patients with brown stripes on their teeth would not benefit from bleaching at all. Veneering would be necessary for all teeth.