Dental Implants in Manchester – Is Teeth Whitening/Straightening Carried Out Before or After Treatment?

10 February 2020

Dental Implants in Manchester – Is Teeth Whitening/Straightening Carried Out Before or After Treatment?

One of the most popular questions we get asked as dentists with regards to dental implants in Manchester is “should I look to whiten or straighten teeth before or after treatment?” In this post, we’ll set out to put the record straight.

Before we dive in, however, it’s worth noting that these are in effect two separate treatments – one of laser teeth whitening and the other of teeth straightening. Therefore, in order not to cause too much confusion we’ll address them as such.

Firstly, laser teeth whitening In Manchester

It stands to reason that if you’re spending all that money on dental implants, then you want your smile to look at its absolute best. Unfortunately, over time our teeth tend to discolour. This can be down to a number of factors including age, genetics, diet and poor oral hygiene.

Naturally, it isn’t ideal for pearly white implant crowns to be fitted to less-than-white teeth because your smile is going to be highlighted for all the wrong reasons.

Of course, one of the best treatments to create/restore a whiter, brighter smile is laser teeth whitening. In Manchester at least, this is the most common cosmetic dental procedure. And, while there are many other forms of teeth whitening available, professional chairside teeth whitening is quick, and results can often be seen immediately. So we’ll focus more on this type, although the answer remains the same across all varieties.

So, the question is…how exactly does teeth whitening fit in with dental implants? Should you whiten teeth before undergoing dental implant treatment or after?

The answer lies in the genetic make-up of our natural teeth…

Did you know that each of our natural teeth is porous? In other words, they contain thousands of microscopic pores just like our skin. Therefore, every time we partake in stain-inducing foods and beverages such as tomato sauce, curry, red wine, cola,

and coffee, it seeps through the pores of the teeth and causes staining.

By the same token, laser teeth whitening works by applying a stain removing gel which penetrates the same pores and lifts out any staining, revealing a whiter, brighter smile.

So what’s this got to do with dental implants in Manchester?

Despite the fact that modern-day crowns are designed to look as near to natural teeth as possible, the porcelain outer layer is solid. In other words, porcelain isn’t a porous material. So while dental porcelain is designed to be resistant to staining, it also means that dental crowns cannot be whitened.

For this reason, it’s usually advisable to undergo laser teeth whitening, or indeed any type of teeth whitening treatment, before undergoing dental implants. This way, your newly implanted crowns can be coloured to flawlessly match your new whiter and brighter smile.

So now we’ve got that cleared up, does the same apply to teeth straightening?

Let’s take a closer look…

Invisalign treatment in Manchester 

When it comes to recreating the perfect smile, there are multiple options available. If you want to replace a missing tooth, then opt for an implant-based restoration. If you want to straighten teeth then opt for a modern orthodontic treatment like Invisalign. But what if you want to do both?

It’s not a well-known fact but Invisalign clear aligner treatment is not only compatible with dental implants here in Manchester, but it can also work in conjunction with dental implants to improve a smile. This means that you can undergo Invisalign treatment either before, during or after dental implant restoration.

Invisalign and dental implants – A good partnership

The thing to remember is that dental implants are a permanent restoration. They are attached to the jaw using a titanium rod, so their position, shape, and angle are all ‘set in stone’. In other words, once they’re in position, that’s where they stay!

Our natural teeth, on the other hand, are attached to our mouths by a flexible cord-like structure known as the periodontal ligament (or PDL for short.) The PDL is made up of connective tissue-like fibres that are designed to flex, bend and move.

Therefore it’s possible for the teeth around the implant area to be moved, repositioned or adjusted and this is why Invisalign in Manchester is an effective treatment for those who already have dental implants.

But wait!

We’ve already stated that treatment can be carried out before, during, and after undergoing an implant-based restoration, so let’s see how Invisalign treatment can assist patients at any stage of the implant process.

Before – Most dentists are likely to suggest undergoing orthodontic treatment like Invisalign in Manchester before an implant restoration is carried out because it’s easier and gives the orthodontist more flexibility to design your smile before any implants are positioned.

During – Because a dental implant procedure can last several months or more, sometimes patients can also undergo Invisalign treatment during an implant procedure, although this isn’t particularly common. It does mean, however, that your dentist will need to take into account the correct order of sequence, paying particular attention to the permanent and final position of an implant/implants, but achieving it is not impossible.

After – As already mentioned, it is possible to move the teeth around the implant site and as such, your dentist will come up with a treatment plan that allows you to do just that.

So there you have it… When to straighten or whiten teeth before (during) or after dental implants. But just in case you forgot, here’s a quick recap…

• Laser teeth whitening in Manchester– It’s advisable to get any form of teeth whitening carried out before undergoing implants. Why? Because porcelain crowns that sit on top of implants cannot be whitened.
• Invisalign – In Manchester, our dentist would probably suggest that you undergo teeth straightening before any implant-based restoration. However, it isn’t impossible for clear aligner treatment to be carried out after – and even during – the missing tooth restoration.

If you’re not happy with your existing smile and would like to find out more about laser teeth whitening, Invisalign, dental implants or a combination of all three, then come and talk to our experienced team at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. We create great-looking smiles for a living, so call today on 0161 486 0743 to book a no-obligation consultation.