Should I Have Cavities Filled Before Teeth Whitening? - Lincroft Village Dental Care Lincroft New Jersey (2024)

Teeth whitening treatments are one of the popular treatments used to improve the way a person's teeth look. A single whitening session can improve the color of a person's teeth by up to 10 shades. It is an effective way to get rid of most types of discoloration and stains that form on teeth surfaces, like those caused by aging and consuming color-rich foods or beverages.

Why cavities should be fixed before teeth whitening

Teeth whitening treatments performed by dentists use bleaching chemicals, like hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen carbamide, to lift stains and discoloration away from the inner and outer surfaces of teeth. These chemicals weaken teeth enamel and they can irritate teeth that have already been damaged by decay.

A tooth with a cavity can end up being severely irritated after teeth whitening, leading to pain, discomfort and increased sensitivity. In some cases, the whitening treatments can end up permanently damaging the tooth.

Things are even worse if the tooth is already decayed. Whitening treatments are not effective on stains and discoloration caused by tooth decay and it can end up damaging the tooth even more.

Having tooth decay does not automatically disqualify a patient from getting teeth whitening treatments. It simply means the dentist needs to address the cavities and decay before proceeding with whitening the patient's teeth.

Dealing with cavities and tooth decay

Composite resins are a great way to fill up cavities. The composite can be matched with the target shade of white planned for the patient's whitening procedure. The dentist will typically clean out the tooth before filling it up with a composite. Composite resin has a putty-like consistency and they are hardened using a curing light.

A tooth that has been severely damaged by tooth decay might need a root canal. This involves cleaning out the soft tissues in the tooth's pulp chamber and closing it up. The dentist might hold off covering the tooth with a crown until the patient's whitening treatments are completed.

What to expect during teeth whitening

Teeth whitening treatments are often done using customized mouth trays. The dentist takes an impression of the patient's mouth and sends it to a lab that makes the mouth trays. The tray is used to immerse the patient's teeth in the whitening product, and it prevents the chemicals in it from getting into the patient's jaw where it can irritate the gums.

The patient bites down on the mouth tray after it has been filled with the whitening product, and they keep it there for 60 to 90 minutes. The dentist removes the mouth tray and rinses the patient's teeth. A fluoride treatment might be performed to reduce teeth sensitivity. The patient should have noticeably whiter teeth after each whitening session. Most patients will need more than one treatment to reach the desired color.

Fix your cavities and whiten your teeth

Call or visit our Lincroft clinic to learn more about how we can whiten your teeth if you also have cavities.

Request an appointment here: https://lincroftvillagedental.com or call Lincroft Village Dental Care at (732) 842-5005 for an appointment in our Lincroft office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Read our Yelp reviews.

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Should I Have Cavities Filled Before Teeth Whitening? - Lincroft Village Dental Care Lincroft New Jersey (2024)

FAQs

Should I Have Cavities Filled Before Teeth Whitening? - Lincroft Village Dental Care Lincroft New Jersey? ›

We will then examine your teeth and gums to ensure that they are healthy enough for whitening. This way if any cavities or infections exist they can be treated first. To learn more or to get started, call (732) 842-5005 and schedule your appointment.

Should I have cavities filled before teeth whitening? ›

If you have cavities and plan to whiten, fill them now. In addition to the fact that it's important for your teeth to be as healthy as possible before undergoing tooth-whitening treatment, it's also not a bad idea to clean out any existing decay if there are any visible signs of decay on your mouth at all.

Can you get your teeth professionally whitened with cavities? ›

A tooth with a cavity can end up being severely irritated after teeth whitening, leading to pain, discomfort and increased sensitivity. In some cases, the whitening treatments can end up permanently damaging the tooth. Things are even worse if the tooth is already decayed.

Can I get my teeth whitened if I have fillings? ›

If they are not leaky, you can do it either way. Teeth whitening will not impact your fillings. However, it will not whiten them either. If any of them are visible, you will want to do the whitening first, and then have the composite filling replaced afterward to match the new whiter color.

Do teeth whitening kits affect fillings? ›

Not only do whitening agents not change the color of dental fillings, but some cause unwanted change. While these do not damage the dental treatment, there could be an effect on the hardness. That means at a microscopic level, an individual may experience a greater chance of microleakage.

What not to do before getting teeth whitened at dentist? ›

Don't Consume Foods that Can Stain Your Teeth

Avoid dark foods/liquids, drink through a straw when you can, don't smoke, brush/floss frequently and you should be looking great. Keep in mind, the less you indulge in “staining” foods and drinks, the longer your results should last.

How long after whitening can I get a filling? ›

It is advisable that composite restorations on bleached enamel surfaces be performed after an interval of at least 2 weeks, regardless of the concentration of bleaching agent used.

Do you pay extra for white fillings? ›

Most dental practices offer white fillings as a normal part of the treatment they give you. However, white fillings are classed as a 'cosmetic' treatment, and you can therefore only have them if you pay for them. Q. Are there any alternatives to fillings?

Why do my teeth look more yellow after whitening? ›

Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.

What to do before teeth whitening? ›

Before Teeth Whitening
  1. Eat: Sounds simple enough, right? ...
  2. Brush your teeth: You probably do this out of habit every time you visit a dentist. ...
  3. Floss: All food particles need to be removed. ...
  4. Time: Set aside enough time for your teeth whitening appointment.

How to whiten teeth in 2 minutes? ›

Baking-powder eliminates stains on the surface of your teeth and lemon juice as we already said has multiple components that lighten teeth. Just mix a teaspoon of baking powder and a teaspoon of freshly squeezed lemon juice and brush your teeth with the paste this mixture will work wonders in just two minutes.

When should you not get a cavity filled? ›

What kind of cavity doesn't need to be filled? If you have a very small cavity limited to the enamel (or outer layer) of your tooth, you may not need to get a filling. This is especially true if you have had very few cavities in the past and practice good oral hygiene.

Do all cavities need to be filled before veneers? ›

Veneers can cover up minor imperfections in your teeth but cannot fix decay or structural damage. If your cavities are deep and affect the inner layers of your tooth, you will need to get them treated before considering veneers. This may involve fillings, root canals, or even extractions in severe cases.

Do you have to get cavities filled before veneers? ›

If you need an implant or any cavities filled, you want to do this before the veneer process. On your first veneer visit, the dentist, a very thin layer of enamel is removed from your teeth.

Should you whiten your teeth before or after the dentist? ›

The result will be that your teeth will not appear uniformly white after the whitening procedure. This is why your emergency dentist near you will always recommend that you go for dental cleaning before you whiten your teeth. Sometimes, one can whiten their teeth on the same day as their dental cleaning.

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