whitening porcelain veneers Archives

I have had porcelain veneers for at least five years on my front teeth. Over time, I was feeling like they were looking faded and kind of dull. So I decided to take matters into my own hands and use teeth whitening strips to lighten them up. Big mistake! Now I have this funky looking smile because the veneers are a different color than the rest of my teeth. What did I do? Please tell me something can be done?

-Amelia in North Dakota

Amelia,

Yikes that doesn’t sound good. Well, it will do little good to tell you this now, but let’s hope it helps someone else that may be tempted to whiten their veneers on their own. Porcelain veneers must be maintained with a non-abrasive toothpaste and professionally cleaned to keep them looking their best. Actually, non-teeth whitening toothpaste is recommended so the glaze is not compromised. All that to be said, porcelain veneers are highly resistant to stains. But over time it is not uncommon for them to loose their sparkle. Coffee, red wine, berries, and tea area all items that can cause discoloration. The best way to improve the look of your veneers is to have them professional cleaned in the dentist office.

Let’s discuss what has happened. Based on what you have described, it sounds like the surrounding teeth that do not have veneers on them are likely whiter than the veneered teeth. This is because teeth whitening strips will not whiten porcelain veneers. They will be the same color they were when you started, unless the barrier has been compromised and scratches have caused them to take on staining.

At this point, you’d be best served to make an appointment at your dentist office. They can assess them damage and determine if the veneers can be buffed and polished. Please don’t continue trying things at home. It will only make their appearance worse. If the staining cannot be taken care of and your surrounding teeth are truly much whiter now than the veneers, you may need to have the porcelain veneers replaced to match your whiter teeth.

Thanks for your question. Hopefully, you have saved someone else from making the same mistake.

I have Lumineers and have for years. They don’t look that great anymore. Have you ever heard of placing new Lumineers over old ones to freshen up a smile? I understand teeth whitening won’t work on Lumineers. So, I was wondering if adding a new layer of Lumineers would improve how they look? When I originally had them done, my dentist knew I wanted them whiter but he was told that wasn’t an option. He’s a nice guy and I’ve been happy with him for most of my treatment, but I don’t think I need to keep my “dingy” teeth when I’m sure there is a way they can be better? Do you have any insight?

-Lisa in Michigan

Lisa,

Technically, it is possible to place new Lumineers over old Lumineers. But that’s just silly.

Just for clarification and for any other web viewers reading this response, it is important to realize the Lumineers are just another brand of porcelain veneers. Lumineers are popular, mainly because of the huge advertising campaign behind them. At one time, several years ago, the Lumineers brand was promoting the option to place Lumineers on top of crowns. So, it is possible you saw something about that. But, the truth is that most patients didn’t like them. There was no shortage of reader complaints and the company no longer promotes this approach. Placing new Lumineers over old ones is similar to the concept of covering crowns with them.

If a dentist was to place new porcelain veneers (Lumineers) over old ones, he or she would essentially be doing them over anyway. For example, the old veneers would require preparation and you would get a much better result if they were simply redone. You also would run the risk of the final product being too thick and not looking natural.

This idea of placing new ones on top of the old ones, really wouldn’t have the staying power of having the smile makeover redone either. When porcelain is bonded onto porcelain, the bond isn’t as strong or successful as if the tooth bonding was done to a natural tooth. Think about this possibility as well, what happens when the veneer underneath has issues? Again, it is in your best interest to have them redone. Otherwise you run the risk of them looking funny and they may stain more easily along the margin.

Also, going back to your original question about your dentist claiming that a whiter color wasn’t available, that is just not right. It sounds like your dentist may be a great general or family dentist. But cosmetic dentistry isn’t his thing. In order to do beautiful cosmetic dentistry, a dentist must undergo extensive training beyond dental school. It also takes a passion for aesthetics and an artistic eye to deliver truly beautiful results. You may not realize that less than two percent of dentists will create a stunning smile makeover. So, maybe it’s time to consult with an expert cosmetic dentist that can give you the smile you have always wanted.

Freaking out because I put whitening strips on my veneers!

Can new Lumineers be put over top of old ones?