Just because you have a chipped or cracked tooth doesn’t mean you can’t head to your local dentist for some whitening! If a tooth gets chipped or cracked, the surface enamel may be thinner or nonexistent in that particular spot. That can cause that portion of your tooth to respond differently to whitening agents.
Whitening treatments — particularly professional options like laser whitening — are most effective on healthy enamel. If that protective layer is compromised, you can have more sensitivity or inconsistency. Before you proceed with treatment, it’s always a good idea to have your dentist or whitening technician evaluate it to ensure it’s safe to proceed.
Will Laser Whitening Make My Chipped Tooth More Sensitive or Damaged Southampton?
It might, according to how bad the chip or crack is. There are a few different types of laser whitening treatments, but they all use a special gel that’s applied to your teeth and then exposed to a focused light.
This works super-well on undameged enamel but could be irritating if the gel spreads onto the damaged area of your tooth.
If you chipped a tooth, it might be exposing the dentin (the softer layer just below the enamel). This is one part of the mouth that is more sensitive and doesn’t react well to whitening.
If whitening gel penetrates that layer, it can be uncomfortable or painful. That’s also why it’s vital to “red flag” any damage in advance so that it can be dealt with properly.
What Should I Tell My Dentist Before Laser Whitening If I’ve Had a Crack or Chip?
Be honest and detailed. Even if it’s a little chip you got years ago or what you think is a tiny crack, mention it. The damage isn’t always visible to the naked eye, but it can still impact the way your teeth react to whitening.
Tell your dentist or whitening specialist if you ever have had:
- A cracked or broken tooth, even if it’s just small
- Bonding or fillings on the front teeth
- Past root canal or trauma
- Sensitivity in certain areas
This allows them to check if laser whitening will be appropriate or any tweaks must be made before they can start the treatment. See Here Our Before And After Laser Teeth Whitening Results
Should I Repair My Chipped Tooth Before Getting Laser Teeth Whitening Southampton?
Yes, in most cases, repairing a chipped tooth prior to whitening is the best solution. When a tooth is fixed—through bonding, a veneer, or a filling, for instance—then it becomes strengthened and better protected. That’s because it’s less likely to react adversely to whitening products.
What’s more, pre-fixing the damage means the surface on which you’ll bleach is more uniform. If you go through whitening first and then have repair work performed, the new material may not match the rest of your whiter teeth and will need to be redone. So, finding the chip first will save you the time, money and pain in the long run.
How Does a Cracked Tooth React to Laser Whitening Compared to a Healthy One Southampton?
A healthy tooth has a strong layer of enamel to shield the more vulnerable interiors. A cracked tooth won’t have this full coverage, and the whitening gel may flow into the crack. It brings about an intense sensitivity or pain during or after the procedure.
Second, the crack may not whiten at the same rate as the rest of your tooth. You may see splotches if the gel did a great job on the healthy enamel but faltered on the damaged part. This is not the case with everyone, but it is something to at least be aware of — particularly if the crack is deep.
Can Whitening Highlight My Chipped Tooth More Instead of Hiding It Southampton?
Surprisingly, yes. Whitening does not mask flaws — it can accentuate them. If you suspect the tinted enamel on the chip won’t react to the whitening gel like all the other enamel on your teeth, the chip might actually appear darker or more stained in comparison, if the treatment bleaches the rest of your smile.
This contrast can cause the chip to stand out more, notably under specific types of lighting or in photographs. That’s what makes it so often better to repair the tooth first and then whiten uniformly everything that you wish to lighten. You will get a mix of color with more balance and a natural look.
Will My Whitening Results Be Uneven If I Have a Cracked or Repaired Tooth?
It’s possible. And stuff that, when placed on a tooth, stabilizes it — bonding, for instance, or composite resin — doesn’t whiten in the way your enamel does. That means the part you had filled may not shade as the rest of your teeth do over time and you may be left with a mismatch. Check Here, You’re Suitable For Treatment Or Not
If you have a repaired tooth, you might want to ask the dentist if he or she would be willing to adjust or replace the filling after you have whitened to match your new shade. Some people will do whitening first, let that take shape, and then modify the repair based on the final color.
What Are Safer Whitening Alternatives If My Teeth Are Chipped or Fragile?
If you have sensitive teeth, or several chips and cracks, you might want to try something a bit more gentle at first.
Here are a few alternatives:
- Low-concentration whitening gels: These are worn for longer — and are gentler on enamel.
- Whitening toothpaste or strips Weaker, but useful for light surface stains.
- Take-home custom trays: When performed following the guidance of a dentist, this approach enables you to whiten on your own time and takes just a few minutes.
- Touch-up treatments: Light touch-ups can still be used occasionally, as opposed to full, deep treatment.
And, of course, the ability to fix the damage at all opens up the door to stronger mechanisms (read: laser whitening) down the line.
If I Fix My Tooth First, Will That Help Me Get Better Whitening Results Later?
Definitely. Also correcting a tooth should be done prior to whitening to eliminate any sensitivity, get the tooth surface more even, and provides the gel a nice smooth surface to work with. Once your teeth are fixed, they are in the best condition to respond to the treatment — which equals more predictable, and natural-looking results.
Plus once you’ve whitened you can have a shade guide on hand at the dentist to match any future repairs perfectly to your new tooth colour. It’s a good trade-off to balance that: strong, healthy teeth and a great, shining smile.
Professional Laser Whitening at Home with LA Teeth Whitening Southampton
LA Teeth Whitening, Our main area of expertise is providing safe and effective laser whitening services in the convenience of your own home. Whether you’ve got a chipped or cracked tooth or any dental history you don’t quite get, we’ll walk you through it. Every smile is fact and it’s our intentions to provide the best results while maintaining the health and protection of your teeth. No stress, no travel — just professional care, where you are.