How Bonding Responds to Color
Teeth whitening products and procedures provide an effective, simple way to remove stains caused by foods, drinks, and habits over time. Teeth-staining culprits, in particular, include juicy, colorful berries and tomato-based sauces; coffee, tea, caffeinated soda, and red wine; and smoking and chewing tobacco.
Trying to whiten bonded teeth, however, is a different story.
The color of the bonding resin and porcelain is designed to match your natural tooth color. Then, when bonded to your natural teeth, no one except dental professionals can tell which teeth are bonded.
Unlike tooth enamel, though, bonding resin is nonporous. On your natural teeth, stains form when the staining agents penetrate your teeth's pores – and whitening agents penetrate the surface of your teeth to whiten them.
Because of the nonporous nature of resin, whitening agents can't penetrate them. So, your resin-bonded teeth can look stained or discolored in certain areas due to the contrast with your bleached natural teeth. And like any plastic item, resin can become discolored over time when exposed to various staining agents.
Simply put, bonding resin can appear stained, but you can't whiten it with tooth-whitening products.