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Why do porcelain veneers turn gray?

Posted on January 31, 2017 by AllSmiles.

In June last year I got 8 porcelain veneers on my front teeth. 3 of the 8 veneers are light gray. I noticed the color change in October but it was so slight I was wondering if it was the lighting in my bathroom. Two Thursdays ago I looked because the sun outside was bright and I took a close look in the rearview mirror of my car. I asked my sister to look at them too and she agrees that the same three teeth are gray. I didn’t tell her what was wrong with veneers. I just asked her to look at them and she noticed the exact problem that I have seen. Last week I had an appointment with the dentist who did my veneers. My regular dentist doesn’t do them, so she referred me to someone else. This dentist is a cosmetic dentist. When I returned to him, he said that the 3 teeth must be darker than the others so he needs to make the veneers thicker. I’m not sure he knows what he is talking about. I’m wondering isn’t this something he should have taken into account before he had the veneers made. Can I trust him to do the replacements?  Also, why do porcelain veneers turn gray? Thanks for your help. Connie

Connie,

Your cosmetic dentist clearly lacks the skill to give you porcelain veneers that have the right color and translucence. If he provides you with thicker veneers, they will look thicker than your other teeth. That’s not the solution. Any dentist can claim to be a cosmetic dentist, but a true cosmetic dentist would know how to determine why your veneers are turning gray and what to do about it.

What’s a true cosmetic dentist? It’s a dentist who has received extensive, hands-on training in cosmetic dentistry and who has experience in the art. He or she has an artistic inclination to produce beautiful results. Your work was done by a cosmetic dentist in name only.

We suggest that you not leave the replacement of your porcelain veneers in the hands of the dentist who originally placed them. Look for a cosmetic dentist with several years of post-graduate training in cosmetic dentistry. If you can find an accredited cosmetic dentist, that’s even better.

Why Do Porcelain Veneers Turn Gray?

Porcelain veneers don’t turn gray unless there is a problem. Consider a few possibilities:

  • Some of your natural teeth might be dark, and they weren’t properly prepared before the veneers were placed, or the veneers weren’t design to conceal them. Your new cosmetic dentist will want to examine your natural teeth and determine if some of them really are darker than the others. If so, bleaching might help. Otherwise, the dark teeth might require careful preparation to lighten their appearance before the veneers are placed. A skilled cosmetic dentist will work with a ceramist to produce porcelain that conceals the darkness and still looks natural.
  • There might be micro-leakage beneath the veneers. When veneers aren’t properly bonded, food or drink can seep behind them and cause discoloration. In this case, they will have an uneven gray color. It also promotes a buildup of bacteria and can cause tooth decay. In either case, an expert cosmetic dentist can identify the problem and resolve it.
  • There might be a problem with the glaze of the veneers. The veneers might not have been glazed at all, they might have been improperly glazed, or the glaze might be damaged.

Schedule a consultation with one or two accredited cosmetic dentists to help you decide which provider will restore your smile.

 

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

 

 

Filed Under: Cosmetic dentist, Porcelain veneers Tagged With: accredited cosmetic dentist Massachusetts, how to choose a cosmetic dentist, Lowell MA cosmetic dentist, Lowell porcelain veneers, porcelain veneers gray

Cosmetic dentist can’t get my crown right

Posted on January 15, 2017 by AllSmiles.

I have been waiting for decent crowns from my cosmetic dentist for 6 months. I got a temporary crown on July 12 of last year. 3 times a crown came in from the lab but it didn’t fit right. Both times the crown was shoving against the tooth behind it and the one in front of it. It was like the crown was too big. After the crown was removed the dental assistant took impressions of my mouth again. I have had 4 different impressions. My dentist told me not to worry because the temporary crown will hold up. How long am I going to have to wear this thing? Is it normal to take so long to get a crown to fit right? Is it too late to get out of the commitment with this dentist? Thanks. Ian

Ian – Although your dentist practices cosmetic dentistry, he or she might not be a skilled cosmetic dentist. A well-made and fitted temporary crown can last several months, but the force of chewing on an imbalanced crown can affect your bite. In most cases, a permanent crown is received and placed in about three weeks. When a temporary crown needs to worn for a prolonged period, some dentists replace it with a new temporary crown to ensure it doesn’t wear out and put your oral health in jeopardy. A misaligned bite can cause tooth, head, and neck pain.

Below are some things to consider:

  • If four impressions of your teeth were taken, it is likely that the previous three impressions were not taken correctly. This raises concern about the ability to correctly fit your crown.
  • We encourage you to speak frankly with your dentist about your concerns, and ask for his or her estimate on when you will receive your permanent crown.
  • You can also consider receiving a second opinion from an experienced, accredited cosmetic dentist. Precise, digital images or impressions of your teeth will be taken to help produce a crown that fits correctly. With current technology, a skilled cosmetic dentist can accurately take impressions of your teeth. He or she will also work with a talented ceramist to give you beautiful crowns that fit well.

We hope that your issue is resolved soon and that you will be very pleased with the results.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Filed Under: Cosmetic dentist, Porcelain crowns Tagged With: crown bite is off, dentist can't get crown right, how long wear temporary crown, Lowell accredited cosmetic dentist, Lowell cosmetic dentist, temporary crown hurts

What brands of teeth whitening work for fluorosis stains?

Posted on November 16, 2016 by AllSmiles.

What’s the best brand of teeth whitening get rid of fluorosis stains on my teeth? I have tried the strips, the paint on gel and I got a whitening kit with strong gel, and the stains aren’t going away. It really looks like the whitening didn’t do anything at all. Are there certain brands are known to a least lighten up fluorosis stains? Thanks – Patrick

Patrick– The correct treatment for fluorosis stains depends on the extent and the color of the stains. Using teeth whitening on fluorosis stains might not be the best option. Unlike surface stains on teeth that can develop from dark foods or drinks, fluorosis stains start within the teeth and are seen on the tooth enamel. If there are just a few spots, dental bonding can be used to cover the affected areas.

If you have extensive spotting, teeth whitening—even professional strength whitening from a dentist—might not help. It might make the stains more noticeable. Porcelain veneers will cover the stains, and a cosmetic dentist will work with you to decide how white you want your teeth to be. It takes skill to create translucence in porcelain veneers without making teeth look pasty or unnaturally white. An artistic cosmetic dentist will give you a new smile with porcelain veneers that looks completely natural.

Regardless of the treatment you decide on, don’t let just any dentist whiten your teeth. Find an accredited cosmetic dentist to examine your teeth. He or she will determine the best treatment for your case, and you’ll get beautiful results.

 

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

Filed Under: Cosmetic dentist, Teeth whitening Tagged With: Lowell teeth whitening, stains on teeth, teeth whitening fluorosis

Do I really need to replace all of my crowns so they match?

Posted on October 17, 2016 by AllSmiles.

I have 8 crowns on my top front teeth that are 17 years old. I know that I am fortunate that they lasted so long, so no complaints here. One of the left canine crowns is lose. I am worried that it will come off. I saw my dentist and he said rather than replacing one crown he really needs to replace them all. I went into the office expecting to have the one tooth fixed, but not needing a new crown on every tooth. Do I really need to have all of the crowns replaced at the same time? Do they all need to be replaced anyway? Thank you. Anita

 

Anita – One lose crown doesn’t mean that all of your crowns need to be replaced. In general, it might be easier for a dentist to ensure the crowns match by replacing them all, but a skilled cosmetic dentist can perfectly match the replacement crown.

If you’ve had crowns for 17 years, it might be time to replace them. A cosmetic dentist will need to measure your crowns at the margin, their overall condition, and your bite to determine if they are wearing out. If any part of your natural teeth is exposed due to wear from the crowns, tooth decay can occur.

Another consideration is the color of your crowns. If they look worn, or if you want a brighter smile, eventually all of your crowns will need to be replaced. If you want a whiter smile and only replace one crown at a time, keep in mind that your new crowns will be noticeably whiter than the others.

It’s more affordable to receive crowns in phases, but the crowned teeth won’t match until all of the work is done.

Speak with your current dentist and with two accredited cosmetic dentists. An accredited cosmetic dentist has extensive post-graduate training in designing smiles that look completely natural.Let each dentist know your goals for your smile and find out how treatment can be made affordable for you. Remember that an examination is required to determine the condition of your crowns and teeth. Each dentist should let you know your options. Compare your options and decide which dentist you want to replace your crowns.

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

Filed Under: Cosmetic dentist, Porcelain crowns Tagged With: accredited cosmetic dentist Andover MA, accredited cosmetic dentist Massachusetts, color of dental crowns, Lowell MA cosmetic dentist, Lowell porcelain crowns, replace one dental crown or all, tooth crowns don't match

Can porcelain veneers be placed over old composite?

Posted on August 11, 2016 by AllSmiles.

I have 2 teeth that have a lot composite in them. I lost part of each tooth in an accident. I don’t like the way the composite wears over time and it never really matched my teeth, so I asked my dentist about veneers. He said that crowns will be better. I really want veneers and I am thinking about switching dentists to get it done. Can I get veneers over the composite? Thanks. Stephanie M.

Stephanie – The answer for whether or not porcelain veneers should be used over composite depends on each individual’s case.

You mentioned that you have a lot of composite in your teeth. If a tooth is at least half composite, it can break. Placing a porcelain crown over the tooth, instead of putting veneers on it will protect it from breaking off. The crown will also protect the tooth from decay.

The location of the composite is also a consideration in determining the most effective treatment. If the composite is on the front of each tooth, then trimming the composite and placing porcelain veneers on your teeth can produce excellent results.

You are considering the possibility of going to another dentist, so consider getting a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist—if possible, an accredited cosmetic dentist. He or she will be able to determine which treatment is best for your case. Also, a skilled cosmetic dentist can perfectly blend and manipulate composite to match the translucence, color, and characteristics of your natural teeth. An experienced cosmetic dentist will be produce beautiful results with replacing the composite, or providing you with porcelain crowns or porcelain veneers.

This post is sponsored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Filed Under: Cosmetic dentist, Porcelain veneers Tagged With: accredited cosmetic dentist Massachusetts, Lowell accredited cosmetic dentist, Lowell porcelain veneers, Middlesex County accredited cosmetic dentist, porcelain veneers over composite, porcelain veneers vs composite

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