In 2011 I received 3 dental implants. They feel natural and they are very durable. I haven’t had any problems with them at all. Although it took 2 years to pay for them on the payment plan, it was worth it. I would do it all over again if I needed to. My concern is the color of my natural teeth. I smile a lot, but my smile looks dull and I want whiter teeth. My 3 implants are on the left, upper front side and they are very visible when I smile. If I understand it correctly, if I get my teeth whitened, they will be darker than the implants because the implant crowns won’t change color. I am wondering what my options are to get my natural teeth whitened and to have the implants match them. Is there some kind of overlay that can be placed on the crowns? Thanks. Camelia

Camelia – Your understanding is correct. Dental implant crowns are made of porcelain, and they are stain resistant and colorfast. Layers of porcelain are used to create natural tooth color and translucence. The color is baked into the porcelain at a dental laboratory. Although porcelain veneers can be placed over natural teeth, it would be difficult to place them over dental crowns. It would make your implant crowns look bulky, and your crowns would still be noticeably different from your natural teeth.

Since your implant crowns are clearly visible when you smile, if you get your teeth whitened, you would need to replace your crowns if you want them to match. Only the top, or crown, of each dental implant needs to be replaced. It will only take two to three weeks to receive crowns that match your natural teeth.

Your teeth can be whitened, but if you have dental implants, you should work with a cosmetic dentist to ensure you have crowns that seamlessly blend with them. Schedule a consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist to discuss your options.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.