If you have veneers and your smile has started to look uneven, or you are thinking about whitening, it helps to know how whitening products behave around veneers. In short, products made to whiten natural teeth are not designed to change the shade of a veneer. This page explains why, what can be done instead and what to ask your dentist. It is general information, and your dentist advises what suits your teeth. To learn about veneers themselves, see our page on dental veneers and dental laminates.
Do whitening products work on veneers
Whitening products work on the natural enamel of your teeth, by lightening stains that sit in or on it. A veneer is made of a different material, so it does not respond in the same way. We offer veneers in porcelain and in composite resin. Whitening a natural tooth can change its shade. Whitening a veneer generally does not, and the veneer stays the shade it was made.
That is why using a whitening product on a mouth that has veneers can be uneven. The natural teeth may change while the veneers do not. Please ask your dentist before you use any whitening product, so you know what to expect.
Why veneers look different from natural teeth
A natural tooth can darken or stain over time from food, drinks and age. A veneer has its own surface and its own shade, chosen when it was made. This means that, over time, your veneers and your natural teeth may no longer match, even if both look clean. A difference in shade between a veneer and the tooth beside it is the most common reason people ask about whitening veneers.
If your veneers look dull or stained
Veneers can pick up surface marks from food, drinks and tobacco. Often a dull look is surface buildup, not a change to the veneer itself. A professional cleaning and polish at the dental office can remove surface stain, and your dentist can tell you whether that is what you are seeing. Different veneer materials are treated differently, so it matters to let your dentist look and advise. In some cases, if a veneer is worn or marked in a way that cleaning cannot address, your dentist may talk with you about replacing it.
If your natural teeth are darker than your veneers
When the veneers look lighter than the teeth beside them, the issue is usually the natural teeth. Whitening the natural teeth can bring them closer to the veneers. Your dentist checks your teeth and gums first, because whitening may suit healthy natural teeth and not others, and explains the options. We offer in-office teeth whitening. You can read about our teeth whitening.
Because veneers do not change shade the way natural teeth do, whitening is something to plan with your dentist. It is not a quick fix to try on your own.
Planning whitening before veneers
If you are thinking about veneers, it is worth talking about whitening first. The shade of a veneer is chosen to go with your natural teeth at the time. If you whiten your natural teeth before the veneer shade is chosen, the veneers can be matched to the lighter shade. If you whiten afterwards, the natural teeth may change and the veneers will not. Ask your dentist about the order that makes sense for you.
What not to do at home
A few things are worth avoiding:
- Using whitening products without asking your dentist first. They are meant for natural teeth, and they will not change a veneer.
- Scrubbing hard at stains. A harsh brush or a gritty product can wear the surface of a veneer.
- Trying to remove stain from a veneer yourself. Do not use tools or unproven recipes on veneers. Book a visit with your dentist instead.
- Ignoring a change. If a veneer looks different, feels rough or has a chip, tell your dentist.
Questions people ask
Can stains on veneers be removed?
Surface stains can often be removed with a professional cleaning and polish. Your dentist looks at the veneer and tells you what is possible for yours. Stain that has gone deeper, or a worn veneer, may mean a different step, and your dentist advises.
Can you whiten composite veneers?
Composite resin veneers do not respond to whitening products the way natural teeth do, and the shade does not usually change. Your dentist can look at your veneers and explain your options, which may include a polish or changing the veneer.
Ask about veneers
If your veneers look different from your natural teeth, or you are thinking about whitening, our team is glad to take a look and talk through your options. Read about our dental veneers and dental laminates, then call (858) 748-2101 or book a visit at our Poway office.
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Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Google: Individual results vary. How long a treatment lasts, and how it looks and feels, depends on each patient.