Should I Get My Teeth Whitened Before or After Getting Veneers?

If you’re considering veneers to transform your smile, you may also consider teeth whitening for an extra boost of brightness. Both cosmetic dental treatments can enhance your look, but the order in which you do them matters.

At Solay Dental in Oldsmar and New Port Richey, Florida, our Dr. Shiva Soleimani and our cosmetic dental team offer a full range of restorative and cosmetic dental services to help you achieve your best smile. 

Veneers are a great choice for a lasting transformation, and pairing them with teeth whitening can ensure your results look balanced and natural. 

Here’s what you need to know about combining veneers with teeth whitening and which one to do first.

What veneers do

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells that bond to the surface of your teeth to  correct imperfections. Made from porcelain or composite materials, veneers can:

• Cover stained, chipped, or worn teeth
• Reinforce cracked teeth
• Fill in gaps
• Create a more balanced smile

Because we remove a thin layer of enamel for a proper fit, veneers are a permanent cosmetic dental treatment. It’s also more expensive than other procedures, and some folks may choose to place veneers on the more visible front teeth. 

If you want an evenly bright smile without having to cover all of your teeth, teeth whitening is the way to go. 

Teeth whitening before veneers

In most cases, we recommend whitening your teeth before getting veneers. Veneers don’t stain or respond to teeth whitening actions, so we design shells to match the natural color of your teeth. 

Whitening first gives us the brightest shade for your natural teeth, ensuring your final results are balanced and beautiful. Getting teeth whitened before veneers also removes dark stains that may show through the translucent shells. 

After whitening, we may wait a few weeks before moving ahead with the veneers, allowing time for any tooth sensitivity to fade. We help plan the ideal timing between treatments so you get seamless and natural-looking results.

Teeth whitening after veneers

You can whiten your teeth after veneers. But because we can only brighten the color of your natural teeth, this process is a bit more complex. We carefully apply the whitening agent to the right teeth and make sure to lighten them to a shade that matches your veneers.

Since we remove the enamel, you always need veneers to protect. While veneers are durable and last a long time, we may need to replace them at some point due to wear-and-tear. Given the permanence of the veneers, you need to make sure it’s the right treatment for you.

At Solay Dental, we’re here to help you love your smile, whether you’re looking for teeth whitening, veneers, or a complete smile makeover. 

Call us today or book an appointment online to schedule a consultation.