How can composite bonding work with teeth whitening?

8 June 2022

Composite bonding is a great way to fix or alter discoloured, chipped or broken teeth- and achieve the perfect, pearly whites you have always dreamed of. If you’re wanting to transform your smile, composite bonding is a non-invasive, quick and low-cost way to achieve this.

Many people want to further whiten their teeth after having this procedure, and often ask- how can composite bonding work with teeth whitening? If this is a question you’ve asked yourself, keep reading and discover exactly how you can make teeth whitening work alongside composite bonding.

What is composite bonding?

Composite bonding is a simple, quick and straightforward dental procedure that can improve the composite look of your teeth greatly. Firstly, your dentist will make an appointment to colour match your teeth to their wide selection of resins. Once this colour has been matched to your smile, it will be time to prep your teeth for the procedure. The surface of your natural tooth will be gently prepped before a liquid is applied to aid the adhering of the resin. The resin will then be applied and maneuvered into the perfect shape for your desired outcome. To finish, your dentist will harden the material using ultraviolet light to complete your treatment.

Why do people get composite bonding treatment?

There are a variety of different reasons why someone may choose to get composite bonding:

• To fix tooth discolouration
• To repair a chipped tooth
• To restore a broken tooth

Can you get your composite bonding whitened?

A lot of people want to know whether they can get their bonded teeth whitened following a composite bonding procedure. Unfortunately, there are some issues that can arise when considering whitening the composite resin. The material used for composite bonding is nonporous- which means this is resistant to the bleaching agents in teeth whitening treatments. Therefore, it will be difficult to achieve a pearly white smile from normal whitening treatments. Additionally, the whitening treatments are likely to respond to your natural teeth but not the bonding. Therefore, you may end up with a clear colour difference between the natural and composite bonded teeth in your mouth.

Why does composite bonding not respond to teeth whitening treatment?

As mentioned previously, composite bonding doesn’t respond to teeth whitening treatments due to the nonporous nature of the resin material used. Normal tooth enamel is porous, so the teeth whitening products are able to break the pigment molecules and, in turn, whiten the teeth. This is not possible with composite bonding.

What are my options for whitening my bonded teeth?

If you’re still set on wanting to whiten your cosmetically bonded teeth, there are a few options to look at.

1. One way to whiten your bonded teeth is to remove and replace the bonding. In this instance, you can make an appointment with your dentist to remove your composite bonding, whiten your natural teeth and replace the bonding with a whiter coloured resin.
2. Another option when considering whitening bonded teeth, is to opt for a different dental procedure. You may want to look at swapping your composite bonding out for veneers. Porcelain veneers are extremely stain-resistant and are more permanent than composite bonding. If you’re interested in learning more about the differences between veneers and composite bonding, check out our blog here.

How to keep your composite bonding white after treatment

There are a few ways to keep your composite bonding white after treatment. Following aftercare advice can ensure your smile says bright and pearly-white for a much longer time.

If you want to learn more about the best ways to look after your dental procedure, check out our blog on how to care for your composite bonding here.