The dental implant on my front tooth doesn’t match the others anymore. I have had it for a couple years now. It used to blend in with my teeth but now that I have been bleaching my teeth, I am not seeing the implant change color. So now the implant appears much darker than the surrounding teeth. Is there a special teeth whitening formula I can use to whiten the implant?

– Margie in Nebraska

Margie,

Sorry to have to inform you that no amount of tooth whitening or bleaching product will change the color of your dental implant. Ideally, you should have done any teeth whitening prior to the implant being placed.

The porcelain crown that is attached to the implant post is highly stain resistant. So the original color will remain in place because of the seal used. A cosmetic dentist may be able to add staining to darken the crown, but lightening it is not an option at this time. The whitening products you used at home, remove surface stains and the oxygen in them penetrates deep into the tooth to whiten them. But on an artificial tooth like the restoration on your dental implant, the oxygen will not be able to penetrate. Therefore, it will not lighten.

Most cosmetic dentists will inform you of this at the time when the dental implant is placed. The only way to have the restoration match the surrounding teeth is to have the porcelain crown replaced. If this is the route you decide to go, whiten your teeth first. Then, let the color stabilize before the crown is placed. That way the cosmetic dentist will be able to successfully make a match so it look natural and blends in perfectly.