Why would a dentist tell me I need porcelain veneers instead of teeth whitening? My teeth are really yellow. I have tried to whiten them myself but it’s hardly noticeable. I know that no one else can tell that I’ve been trying to whiten my teeth. So I gave up. 2 weeks ago I talked to my dentist about it and she told me that she can get my teeth super white. I told her that I don’t want them to be super white just natural white. She said she can get them to the white shade of my choice and she started talking about porcelain veneers and prepping my teeth. She also said that if I really want my teeth white, because they are so yellow porcelain veneers are the way to go. The problem with her reasoning is that I want all of my teeth white, not just my front teeth and there is no way I am going to spend over $1k for each tooth. This is ridiculous. I just want to know if I really need porcelain veneers or if there is another way to get my teeth white. – Artuela
Artuela – We recommend that you schedule an appointment with an experienced cosmetic dentist. There are several reasons why you should see a cosmetic dentist before receiving teeth whitening or porcelain veneers.
Why See a Cosmetic Dentist about Porcelain Veneers?
- He or she will examine your teeth, do diagnostic studies if necessary, and determine the cause of the stains in them. You will also find out which treatment is best to brighten your smile.
- Artistic cosmetic dentists have significant training and experience with whitening teeth that other dentists have had difficulty whitening.
- If you are a candidate for teeth whitening, a cosmetic dentist will know which form of whitening will work for your case.
- He or she may also be able to explain why porcelain veneers were recommended by your dentist. Without examining your teeth, we can’t speculate on the reason for that recommendation.
Find a few experienced cosmetic dentists—preferably accredited cosmetic dentist—in your area, and schedule a consultation with each of them. You will be more comfortable choosing a provider for your treatment after the consultations. See our blog post on what you should know before choosing porcelain veneers.
This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.