Crest 3d before and after
Whitening-strip results depend on the starting shade, stain type, peroxide exposure, and whether fillings or crowns are present.
The short answer
Whitening-strip results depend on the starting shade, stain type, peroxide exposure, and whether fillings or crowns are present. Peroxide can lighten natural enamel, but it does not change the color of tooth-colored restorations.
What is the direct answer?
What does this question mean?
A before-and-after comparison may reflect removal of surface stains rather than a change in the deeper dentine color. Lighting, dehydration of enamel, camera settings, and the original shade can also alter the appearance.
What can you do next?
Check the product instructions, keep gel off the gums, and stop if marked sensitivity or soft-tissue irritation develops. A dental examination can identify cavities, cracks, gum recession, or restorations before whitening.
When should you seek dental care?
Seek dental care for pain that persists after stopping, a white or sore patch on the gum, uneven dark areas, or sensitivity from a cavity or crack. A dentist should assess whitening when restorations or untreated disease are present.
What should you ask the dentist?
Ask whether your discoloration is extrinsic or intrinsic, whether the teeth and gums are healthy enough for whitening, and how existing fillings or crowns will look afterward. Ask about alternatives if the shade cannot be changed with peroxide.
Frequently asked questions
Why are my fillings not whiter?
Tooth-colored fillings and crowns retain their material shade while natural enamel may lighten around them.
Can strips remove yellow stains?
They may reduce some surface discoloration, but the cause and depth of the stain determine the result.