I have six porcelain veneers on my upper front teeth. I’ve had them for years. The left canine veneer is starting to stain. More specifically there is a small gray stain near the margin. The color of the veneers is fine. Is there any way to remove the stain? Thanks! Sandy P. from Connecticut.

Sandy – It’s difficult to discern the problem without seeing your porcelain veneers and knowing how long you’ve had them.

Porcelain veneers are actually more stain-resistant than natural teeth, and they retain their color. If they do stain, it’s usually a result of something getting between the veneer and your tooth, or the glaze of the veneer is broken. Acid fluorides and power-polishing equipment can break the glaze.

If veneers are ten or twenty years old, it is possible that tiny particles are between the tooth and your veneers, as a result of leakage. The leakage can occur if the margin of the porcelain veneers breaks down. Microleakage must be addressed to prevent decay. In this case, the veneer will need to be replaced with a new one.

This blog post is sponsored by Lowell cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.