Does teeth whitening work on worn down teeth?

[Rob M]

Hi

My lower front teeth have worn down over the years and become very yellow at the tips. I think that probably the best treatment would be to have teeth whitening to make these teeth white and natural looking again.

Could you tell me if teeth whitening works on worn down teeth? I have read that it can make them very sensitive but I am willing to accept that as long as they become whiter looking. Do you think whitening will work on my worn down front teeth or do you recommend an alternative treatment?

[Dr Ehsan J. Esfahani]

Hello Rob,

Thank you for your post.

Teeth whitening can be tried on worn down teeth, but there is the increased chance of sensitivity or loss of vitality. If the lower front teeth are very worn down I suggest you have temporary dressings placed prior to teeth whitening and then consider composite or porcelain veneers after the teeth whitening.

For mild or moderately worn down front teeth which are very yellow at the tips then laser, home or combination teeth whitening should be tried first as it is a conservative treatment. In most cases the staining is removed and the natural looking appearance is restored.

Following teeth whitening it may be still necessary to restore the form and function of the worn down teeth and additional treatments like composite veneer build-ups are necessary. We have experienced cosmetic dentists at Pearl you have treated many wear cases successfully.