treating tetracycline stains Archives

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.

I can’t afford porcelain veneers to cover tetracycline stains.

August 19, 2021 by Brian Sartin

I have tetracycline stains from medication given to me as a baby. I was told porcelain veneers are the best treatment for this condition. But I simply cannot afford it. I had a dentist put dental bonding on my teeth but they are chipping already. Do you know if Zoom whitening is an option? I’m so sick of hating my smile.

-Jen in California

Jen,

Tetracycline stains are permanent. For most patients they appear as very dark brown or gray stains. The discoloration occurs in the dentin of the teeth.

As you’ve mentioned, porcelain veneers are one of the ways they can be treated. But the work must be done by an expert cosmetic dentist that is experienced in specifically treating tetracycline stains. Your general family dentist will likely not know how to how to successfully treat them.

But, it sounds like porcelain veneers aren’t an option for you at this time. So, here are a couple more affordable ideas to help improve the appearance of your smile. These treatments won’t be as effective as porcelain veneers. But, they will help.

First, the old dental bonding material needs to be removed, if your enamel is still in tact. It is possible that a hygienist could remove it for you, using sandpaper disks. Having a hygienist do the work instead of a dentist would be less expensive. Then, you should have the dentist get you started on a home teeth whitening treatment. You will want to request the strongest formulation that you can tolerate without experiencing discomfort and sensitivity. You’ll want to keep this up nightly over the course of two months. I know you’re trying to find an affordable way to whiten your teeth, but fight the temptation to use over-the-counter whitening products. They simply aren’t strong enough for tetracycline stains.

Also, you may be interested in Zoom whitening or laser tooth whitening from your dentist. Although your dentist may tell you it is much stronger than at home whitening, it will require multiple rounds of whitening in the office. And with Zoom whitening, you will end up racking up the costs very quickly. With take home trays you will end up with similar results over the course of a couple months, rather than having the expense of multiple rounds of Zoom.

The down side of your situation is if the original dentist removed enamel on the teeth before the dental bonding was placed. If that is the case, you really need to save up and have a cosmetic dentist do porcelain veneers. In the long run, it will deliver the best results and you will be happiest over the longrun. In the interim, you could have the dental bonding smoothed out. Having the dental bonding redone every couple years will end up adding up and you’ll be better off saving your money for veneers.

Good luck! Thank you for reaching out. Hopefully this gives you some options.

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.