"Can I whiten my crowns?" is one of the most frequently asked questions in cosmetic dentistry. Teeth whitening has become one of the most popular and successful procedures. It can be accomplished in under an hour; it is relatively inexpensive and makes a big difference for people who want to brighten up their smiles. It would be wonderful to be able to do the same thing for crowns. The average shade of white teeth in America keeps getting whiter every year and what was once considered a nornmal healthy color is now perceived as being too yellow. Although many people can have great success with whitening, the notable exceptions are previous dental work and tetracycline stains. The best solution in these cases is to replace the dental work or cover the stains with veneers. Porcelain is very color stable and will not change for the life of the teeth. In the case of one or two crowns dictating the color of the rest of the teeth we recommend whitening the dark teeth and then replacing the crowns to match the new brighter color.
