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Composite bonding is a popular cosmetic dental procedure that uses tooth-coloured resin to fix minor imperfections—like chips, cracks, or gaps—in your smile. It's often chosen for its affordability, non-invasive nature, and natural-looking results.
But what happens when you've whitened your natural teeth and your bonded teeth no longer match? This is a common concern, especially since whitening products don’t work the same way on bonding material as they do on natural enamel. In this post, we’ll explore how bonding responds to whitening treatments, what your options are, and how to keep your bonded teeth looking their best.
Composite bonding involves applying a tooth-coloured resin to the surface of your teeth to improve their appearance. Dentists often recommend bonding for:
When performed well, composite bonding blends seamlessly with your natural teeth. However, unlike natural enamel, bonding resin doesn’t respond to whitening treatments. This can lead to uneven colouring if you whiten your teeth after bonding.
Short answer: no. Composite bonding material is non-porous, which means it won’t absorb the bleaching agents in teeth whitening products. Natural enamel, on the other hand, is porous—allowing whitening gels to lift away stains and lighten the shade.
As a result, if you whiten your natural teeth after having bonding work done, your bonded teeth may stand out and appear darker in comparison. Over time, the resin itself can also stain, especially if you're a fan of coffee, red wine, or highly pigmented foods.
The ideal time to whiten your teeth is before you have bonding done. This way, your dentist can match the resin to your brightest, whitest tooth shade. If you maintain good oral hygiene and avoid heavy staining foods, your bonded and natural teeth should stay well-matched for years.
If you've already had bonding work and want to whiten your teeth now, you have a few options:
While whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains from your natural teeth, they won’t change the colour of bonded resin. Similarly, home remedies like baking soda or hydrogen peroxide won't lighten bonded material and may even damage it.
If your bonding looks dull or stained, your dentist may be able to polish the resin to improve its appearance. But if the discolouration is significant or the bond is older than 10 years, replacement is usually the best option.
Bonded teeth aren’t permanent and require good maintenance to stay looking their best. Here are some dos and don’ts to help preserve your bonded smile:
If you’re planning on getting cosmetic bonding, talk to your dentist about whitening beforehand. It's much easier to match bonding to freshly whitened teeth than to try and correct mismatched shades later on.
If your bonded teeth no longer match your natural ones or have become stained, your dentist can discuss the best options for replacement or alternative treatments like veneers. Either way, your dentist’s goal is to help you achieve a healthy, confident smile that lasts.
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