Are You a Suitable Candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Sam (Editorial Lead) 18 August 2022

3,485 2 minutes read

Teeth whitening works brilliantly for some people and disappointingly for others. Sam wrote this so you can self-assess before you spend $600–$900 on a session that won’t deliver what you hoped for.

Who whitening works really well for

Adults with intrinsic yellowing from coffee, tea, wine, ageing or smoking history. This is the “default” candidate and the results can be dramatic.
Healthy enamel and dentine — no major decay, no extensive restorations on visible front teeth.
Realistic expectations — wants whiter teeth, not Hollywood-impossible white.
Patients without significant existing sensitivity.

Who whitening works poorly for

Tetracycline-stained teeth

If you took tetracycline antibiotics as a child while teeth were forming, you may have characteristic banded grey, brown or yellow staining. These respond poorly to peroxide. The realistic answer is veneers or crowns rather than whitening.

Fluorosis

Mild fluorosis (white flecks or patches from excess fluoride during tooth development) responds reasonably to whitening but the white patches often look more prominent rather than less. Severe fluorosis (brown patches) needs micro-abrasion or restorative work.

Single non-vital (dead) tooth

A tooth that has died after trauma or infection — typically a single front tooth turning grey years after a knock — won’t respond to external whitening. There’s a specific “internal bleaching” technique that works on these.

Existing front-tooth restorations

Composite, porcelain veneers and crowns don’t whiten with the surrounding teeth. If you have visible front-tooth restorations, plan to replace them after whitening to match the new shade — otherwise they’ll appear darker than your natural teeth.

Translucent teeth

Some people have naturally translucent edges to their teeth. Whitening can paradoxically make these look greyer (because the translucency is more visible against a whiter background). Bonding to add opacity may be a better solution.

Who shouldn’t whiten

Pregnant or breastfeeding women — precaution, limited safety data.
Anyone under 18 — still-developing enamel, larger pulp chambers, higher sensitivity.
People with untreated decay or active gum disease — fix those first; gel contact with diseased tissue causes problems.
Patients with cracked teeth until the cracks are addressed.
Patients with severe existing sensitivity — whitening will amplify it.

The pre-whitening checklist

Have a dental check-up first. Active decay or gum issues need treating before whitening.
Have your teeth professionally cleaned. Surface staining can artificially make starting shade look worse.
Use sensitive-teeth toothpaste for 1–2 weeks before treatment to reduce post-op sensitivity.
If you have visible composite or porcelain restorations, plan in advance whether you’ll be replacing them after whitening.
Set a realistic target shade with your dentist using the Vita guide. Don’t aim past your enamel ceiling.