tetracycline staining Archives

Botched cosmetic dentistry. What do I do?

September 2, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I hate my ugly tetracycline-stained teeth. They have stolen my joy and self confidence one too many times. I decided that I will not feel embarrassed or ashamed of my smile anymore. So I scheduled a consultation with my dentist. Finally, I felt like I was going to be proud to show off my smile because he said he had the solution, teeth whitening and dental bonding to cover the deep stains. So, I went for it. Well, it’s not even been a week and I’m regretting getting my hopes up. Maybe I will be plagued by tetracycline my entire life. I mean, maybe my expectations were to high? They do look better than before I had any work done. But they are a far cry from the pearly, white smile which is what I was hoping for. Is this as good as it gets? I feel like the cosmetic dentistry is botched.

– Kendra in Minnesota

Kendra,

Thank you for your honesty. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that there is something better. The bad news, your dentist didn’t select the best treatment plan to cover your tetracycline stains.

An expert cosmetic dentist knows that porcelain veneers are the best way to cover dark tetracycline stains. Your dentist was a bit conservative selecting teeth whitening and dental bonding to improve your smile. You need to get a second opinion. Although your current dentist may do decent cosmetic dentistry, your circumstances require a cosmetic dentist that truly understands the situation.

Look for a cosmetic dentist in your area that has successfully treated tetracycline stains in the past. Ask to see a portfolio of their work and check out their credentials. The right cosmetic dentist can deliver you that beautiful smile that you envision.

Porcelain veneers will be applied to the surfaces of your teeth and will cover the stains. Even if your dentist offers porcelain veneers at his office, it sounds like it’s time for a visit to an expert to get the best results. Sadly, botched cosmetic dentistry isn’t uncommon when it comes to tetracycline stains.

I was told I’m not a porcelain veneers candidate. Is that true?

August 28, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I am so disappointed to hear my cosmetic dentist tell me I’m not a candidate for porcelain veneers. He blamed it on my overbite because my top teeth come down over my bottom teeth when me mouth is closed. So, his solution is six porcelain crowns on my top teeth. He also mentioned that crowns were the way to go because of tetracycline stains on my front teeth. Does this sounds like an appropriate treatment plan? I really was hoping to get porcelain veneers because I don’t want to have my front teeth all shaved down to stubs, unless it’s the only way to fix my smile. Also, can my bottom teeth be whitened to match the top ones after the cosmetic dentistry is complete?

Please let me know your thoughts?

Thanks,

Tami in Nevada

Tami,

It’s a good thing you reached out. Your intuition is right. You don’t want crowns on all your teeth because there are other options where you don’t have to have them ground down. And the overbite concern the dentist provided is also inaccurate. Porcelain veneers are applied to the front of the teeth, so no work needs to be done on the back of the front teeth. For individuals with an overbite, porcelain veneers are the better choice.

Here is what is likely happening. Not every dentist is experienced in doing cosmetic dentistry. It actually takes extensive training beyond dental school. It sounds like porcelain crowns are within your dentist’s comfort zone and porcelain veneers are not. So, first of all, you never want to push a dentist out of their comfort zone. But your overbite is not an issue that should exclude you from porcelain veneers.

Also, not every dentist is experienced in treating tetracycline stains. This kind of stains requires an expert cosmetic dentist. t sounds like it’s time to find an excellent cosmetic dentist in your area. You can still see your general dentist for routine exams, cleaning and maintenance. If you can find a cosmetic dentist that is accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) that would be a great starting point.

Then, during the consultation, listen to their recommendations. Find out about their training and experience, specifically with tetracycline cases and an overbite. Porcelain veneers can be used to successfully treat your case, but ask to see before and after photos of cases similar to yours.

In regard to whitening your lower teeth, it takes a powerful formulation of teeth whitening agents to treat tetracycline stains. Kor whitening may be the best choice to address that. But an excellent cosmetic dentist will be able to present you with all the options and will absolutely be able to match the new porcelain veneers to your bottom teeth.

A beautiful smile can be yours, when you find the right cosmetic dentist. Thank you for your question. Hopefully, this was helpful.

Have Old Tetracycline Stains- Replace Dental Bonding or Get Veneers?

August 17, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I had dental bonding done ages ago to cover up tetracycline stains. As the years have gone by, my teeth have taken on a very unnatural mismatched look, but I haven’t been able to do anything about it. I asked my dentist what my options are, and he told me I have to get porcelain veneers. I tried explaining to him that they’re out of my budget, but he says that’s all I can do. I asked him if he could do more dental bonding to fix it, but he said no. I asked him if I could whiten them and he said it wouldn’t work. I’m at a loss here. Is there an alternative or do I really have to live with funky looking teeth until I can afford veneers?

Thanks,

Lucinda in Arizona

Dear Lucinda,

It sounds like you’re seeing a dentist who doesn’t handle much cosmetic dental work. Porcelain veneers are usually the preferred method to treat tetracycline staining and they’ll give you the best results if you’re looking for a bright and uniform smile. However, they’re not the only option.

The dental bonding can absolutely be redone, unless there’s a structural problem with your teeth. Given that he says you’re a candidate for veneers, your teeth are probably sound. Teeth whitening, on the other hand, is very difficult to achieve results with. Tetracycline stains are highly resistant to whitening, and it can take months of repeated at-home whitening (even using a professional-strength gel) to see results.

For starters, it’s a good idea to visit a dentist who does a lot of cosmetic work. It’s possible that some of the staining can be removed with polishing. You can try at-home whitening, but only if you’re patient enough to stick with it, even if you don’t see results right away. This won’t change the color of the dental bonding, which is why it will need to be replaced. For the best results, it’s a good idea to see if the original bonding can be removed before you start whitening, and then replaced after you finish whitening.

This method isn’t the traditional one. It will take months to complete, and you’ll probably want to find an alternate dentist to do it. If you’re not up for the lengthy treatment process or don’t think you’ll have the dedication needed to whiten effectively, your only other logical option is to start saving up for porcelain veneers.