Can I Have My Teeth Whitened if I Have Cavities?

Professional teeth whitening treatments from a qualified dentist can deliver remarkable results far superior to anything offered by over-the-counter whitening products. One of the benefits of receiving cosmetic dental treatments from a trained professional is that they thoroughly inspect your teeth during your consultation to ensure that you can undergo a procedure without complications. Here’s a brief guide to why it’s essential to have any tooth decay treated before receiving teeth whitening.

How Does Teeth Whitening Brighten a Smile?

Professional teeth whitening comes in the form of an in-office procedure that can be completed in about an hour or a take-home treatment that usually takes about two weeks. These treatments both work by coating the teeth with professional-grade whitening gel using customized dental trays to ensure that the smile is whitened evenly without exposing the gum tissue to the bleaching agent. When your treatment is complete, your smile will be up to eight shades whiter.

Why Shouldn’t I Have My Teeth Whitened if I Have Cavities?

Cavities are dental infections that expose the interior structures of a tooth to the oral environment, and they will not get better on their own. Since exposing teeth with cavities to the professional-grade whitening gel used in cosmetic dentistry can cause a great deal of discomfort as well as internal dental injuries, dentists will not perform these treatments on people with untreated tooth decay.

How Can I Prepare My Smile for Teeth Whitening?

If you would like a brighter smile but have cavities, you may be able to become an excellent candidate for professional teeth whitening after undergoing one or more preliminary restorative treatments. Dentists usually treat cavities with dental fillings, but advanced tooth decay may require root canal therapy. In some cases, it is necessary to remove a severely decayed tooth and consider an appropriate replacement such as a partial denture or a dental implant. If you have gum disease, your dentist can address the infection with periodontal therapy.

Once your mouth is free from oral infections, you will be likely to be an excellent candidate for teeth whitening. Consulting with your dentist can help you determine if this cosmetic dental procedure is right for you.

About the Author

Dr. David R. Lloyd earned his dental degree from the Emory University School of Dentistry and served as a dental officer in the U.S. Navy. He is proud to be a member of the Florida Dental Association, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. His office in Daytona Beach offers general, restorative, emergency, and cosmetic dentistry such as teeth whitening treatments. To book your teeth whitening consultation, contact his office online or dial (386) 253-3629.