How to Whiten Porcelain Teeth

When it comes to whitening porcelain teeth, there is good and bad news. The good news is that they do not stain very easily. The bad news is that you cannot whiten stained porcelain teeth at home. In fact, there are no over-the-counter products that will work on porcelain. If you truly want to whiten your porcelain teeth, you have one option available: bonding. Bonding can be done by your dentist; it involves covering the teeth with a composite resin, which is then hardened. With bonding, you lose some translucency but gain the desired whiteness.

Instructions

• 1

  Consult a professional. Your dentist can tell you about bonding, including costs involved and if it will work for you.

• 2

  Decide the level of whiteness you want. If your other teeth are darker, you must bleach them first. Consult your dentist regarding which method to use. Match the color of your natural teeth with the desired color of your porcelain teeth. Bleaching procedures that can be performed by the dentist can take several hours and cost hundreds of dollars, with price varying depending on location and practitioner.

• 3

  Wait for the dentist to apply the composite resin over your porcelain teeth. After applying the resin, the dentist places a high-intensity light over your teeth to accelerate the hardening process. To complete the process, the dentist polishes your teeth. Bonding normally is completed in one office visit, and can cost several hundred dollars per tooth, depending on the location and the practitioner.

• 4

  Discuss post-procedure care with your dentist, and follow his directions to avoid staining your teeth again.