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Advanced cosmetic and general dentistry

Are Veneers My Only Option for Tetracycline-Stained Teeth?

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I am increasingly self-conscious about tetracycline stains on my teeth. It is embarrassing to try to explain it to people who seem distracted by my teeth and unable to concentrate on our conversation. Last month, I had a consultation with a cosmetic dentist who recommended porcelain veneers. The cost of $20,000 – $30,000 would heavily impact my savings. My teeth and self-esteem are worth it, but I am interested in knowing whether I have other options. – Thank you. Aaron from Georgia

Aaron,

Thank you for your question.

The cost quoted to you is reasonable for premier porcelain veneers from a skilled dentist. We will explain more about the treatment for tetracycline stains.

Do Porcelain Veneers Work for Tetracycline Stains?

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

Porcelain veneer

Concealing tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers takes advanced training, skill, and artistry from a cosmetic dentist. If you find a dentist with low fees who claims to be able to hide the stains, you can count on getting inferior results. The stains may show through the veneers, or the veneers may look opaque or pasty, making it evident that you had dental work. But an advanced cosmetic dentist and adept ceramist can produce incredible results with veneers.

Will Bonding or Teeth Whitening Help Tetracycline Stains?

Whether dental bonding or teeth whitening will help tetracycline stains depends on the severity of stains and a dentist’s skill and experience.

  • Dental bonding – The skill and precision it takes a cosmetic dentist to blend composites and apply them to your teeth to hide tetracycline stains can be more costly than porcelain veneers.
  • Teeth whitening – A skilled cosmetic dentist may recommend a high-strength whitening system to improve tetracycline stains, but the results will not be as effective as porcelain veneers. Bleaching treatment is a tiny fraction of the cost of porcelain veneers.

Request Another Consultation for Tetracycline Stains

Comparing your options can help you understand whether you are making the right decision regarding cosmetic dentistry. We recommend scheduling another consultation with an accredited cosmetic dentist to examine your x-rays and teeth. The second opinion can clarify which treatment will give you results that help you feel good about your smile.

Best wishes.

Dr. Michael Szarek, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, Massachusetts, sponsors this post.

New dental crowns for a gap make my jaw and neck hurt

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I received a dental implant on a left incisor and crowns on all front six teeth. I received the other crowns to close a large gap between my front teeth. Now my speech is slurred and lispy, and I have neck and jaw pain, dry mouth, and numbness in my lips. I regret closing my gap. Are the crowns causing this problem? If so, I want them removed, and I will keep my gap. – Dahlia from CT

Dahlia,

Closing your gap is not the issue, but the quality of your crown placement is the problem. Correctly sized and seated crowns do not create the symptoms you described.

When Dental Crowns Cause Symptoms

When dental crowns cause symptoms, including pain, numbness, or dry mouth, it could be that the crowns are too thick, too long, or both.

  • Oversized crowns – Oversized crowns can prevent your lips from closing naturally and effortlessly.
  • Lip incompetence – When your bite is correct and you put your teeth together, your lips should close naturally without thinking about it or trying to close them. Your lip numbness and dry mouth suggest you have lip incompetence—the ability to close your gaps naturally.
  • Thick crowns – Too-thick crowns can disrupt your bite (the way your upper and lower teeth fit together) and cause jaw and neck pain. Speech problems can result, too.

What to Do About Faulty Crowns

When dental crowns cause pain and dry mouth, you must find a cosmetic dentist to correct the issue. A dry mouth and lack of saliva breeds bacteria and promotes rapid tooth decay. Saliva contains antibodies to help fight decay, so don’t let the problems linger.

Diagram of three phases of dental implants, for information on implants and diabetes from the office of Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Get a second opinion to check your implant crown and crowns on your natural teeth

We recommend that you find an advanced cosmetic dentist—preferably accredited—for a second opinion. It is challenging for a dentist to place multiple crowns simultaneously and balance your bite correctly. But a trained cosmetic dentist who understands occlusion and bite (how your teeth fit together and come in contact when you bite) can evaluate your case.

The cosmetic dentist will do the following:

 

Unfortunately, you may need new crowns. But your oral health is essential to your well-being.

Best wishes.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA, sponsors this post.

My new porcelain veneers look old after 5 months

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In September, a well-known cosmetic dentist in a community about 50 miles away placed 8 porcelain veneers on my upper front teeth. I love my new smile because it looks natural and better than my teeth. Last week I noticed that my smile doesn’t look as glossy as when I first got the veneers. It looks like my veneers are beginning to have a matte finish. I’ve tried different toothpaste brands, but it’s not working. I’m afraid that I have done something wrong, although I was trying to be diligent about taking care of my veneers. My workload has increased since Covid, and due to the distance of the cosmetic dentist’s office, I’m unable to see her until mid-February. Can my dentist restore the luster of my veneers? Is there something I should do or avoid at home until my appointment? Thank you. Darren from CT

Darren,

You were fortunate to find a cosmetic dentist who gave you a natural-looking smile. Although Dr. Szarek would need to examine your veneers to determine why they are losing their luster, we’ll review two possible reasons.

Why Might New Porcelain Veneers Lose Their Gloss?

New porcelain veneers might lose their gloss or luster due to dental equipment that damages the glaze or because you received composite veneers instead of porcelain.

Damage to porcelain veneers

Although porcelain is denser than tooth enamel, a potent abrasive can damage the glaze and make your veneers look dull. Toothpaste alone would not make your veneers lose their gloss within five months.

  • Power polishing equipment – A hygienist must be trained to care for porcelain veneers. Otherwise, if they use power polishing equipment (e.g., Prophy Jet) on your veneers, it will blast away the glaze. Your veneers will look dull or look like they have a matte finish.
  • Acidulated fluoride – If a hygienist uses fluoride that contains hydrofluoric acid, it will etch the porcelain. Your veneers will look dull and more easily pick up stains.

Type of veneers you received

Although porcelain veneers are limited in how they can be damaged, composite veneers are not as durable. Composite is softer than tooth structure. Abrasive toothpaste, pumice polishing at the dentist, or alcohol-based mouthwash can cause composite veneers to lose their gloss or luster. If you received composite veneers, they will lose their gloss over time. And if you use the abrasive products mentioned, it will accelerate the loss of luster on composite.

Can Your Dentist Restore the Shine on Your Porcelain Veneers?

Yes, an advanced cosmetic dentist can restore the gloss on your porcelain veneers with these steps:

  • Polish your veneers with diamond polishing instruments and polishing paste
  • Finish with ultra-fine diamond polishing paste

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA, sponsors this post. Dr. Szarek’s office is convenient to Dracut, Pelham, Andover, Wilmington, Burlington, and Windham.

Before-and-after porcelain veneers photos from Massachusetts accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD

Before-and-after porcelain veneers photos from accredited cosmetic dentist Michael Szarek, DMD

Getting no cosmetic dentistry is better than going cheap

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I have six porcelain fused to metal crowns on my front teeth. In 2016, I asked my dentist to whiten my teeth, and now my crowns look bad. My dentist said I would need to get all new crowns to match my teeth. Why didn’t she tell me that before she whitened my teeth? I didn’t have money for that, so I just dealt with the mismatch.

In February 2018, I visited an AACD cosmetic dentist who told me he wouldn’t replace only six crowns. He said that if I didn’t do all eight crowns, I wouldn’t like the results. I considered getting eight crowns until the office quoted the cost of $825 per crown. I told the dentist that I need time to think about it.

So, I made the mistake of returning to the dentist that originally placed my crowns and mismatched them by whitening my teeth. She placed four new crowns for 2/3 the cost of the crowns that cost $825 each. I hated the crowns and told her that my crowns are too short and still don’t match my teeth. My dentist told me that I look at too many ads and am expecting perfect teeth. Although the teeth look short, after five visits, she corrected my bite.

It’s almost 2021, and I am depressed about my teeth. I feel like I’m throwing money away. But I’m only 53 years old, and I can’t see accepting my smile for the rest of my life. I’m getting anxious about going to a dentist who will keep me in a cycle of no-good crowns. Thanks. Alaina from NJ

Alaina,

Photo of teeth whitening trays in a case, for information on DIY teeth whitening from Lowell, MA dentist Dr. Michael Szarek.

Get your teeth whitened before getting new crowns to ensure a match

An advanced cosmetic dentist, like the accredited cosmetic dentist you visited, will do a beautiful job in creating crowns that look good and function well. We recommend that if you can’t afford a well-trained cosmetic dentist, it’s best to leave your teeth alone, especially if your dentist adjusted your bite correctly.

The first dentist should have told you that bleaching your teeth wouldn’t help your crowns, but it would cause a noticeable color difference. And it doesn’t take an advanced cosmetic dentist to know that. If you can now afford to correct your smile, don’t compromise on quality. Be prepared to invest in a smile that a true cosmetic dentist can create. It will look good, it will last, and your quality of life will improve.

 

Michael Szarek, DMD, an accredited cosmetic dentist in Lowell, MA, sponsors this post.

Chipped Tooth? What to Expect from a Porcelain Veneer or an Alternative

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Last week I was at a family pool party and had an accident that chipped my tooth. The chip isn’t large, but it’s on the inside of my right center tooth, so it’s noticeable. I have questions about porcelain veneers if you have a few minutes.

If I get a veneer, can it look like my original tooth shape? Will the color match my left front tooth? How much time will it take to get the tooth repaired?

Thanks. Tanya W.

Tanya,

The results depend on the dentist who does the work. If a family dentist restores your tooth, the results might not look natural. But an expert cosmetic dentist can perfectly match a veneer to your left center tooth.

An Alternative to Porcelain Veneers

Photo of dental forceps holding a single porcelain veneers, from the office of accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek of Lowell, MA.

It’s not necessary to cover the entire front of your tooth with a porcelain veneer to conceal a chip

If the only damage to your right front tooth is a chip, composite bonding is the best way to conceal it. The process is less invasive than a porcelain veneer, and a cosmetic dentist will complete it while you’re sitting in the dental chair:

  • Roughen the surface of your tooth where it’s chipped
  • Apply dental composite that matches your tooth shade
  • Shape the composite to mimic the characteristics of your teeth
  • Harden the composite and further shape and polish it

In contrast, a porcelain veneer requires the following steps:

  • Remove a small amount of tooth enamel to ensure the veneer fits well and looks natural
  • Take impressions and photos of your teeth
  • Place a temporary veneer over your tooth for you to try out
  • If you approve the look and feel of the temporary, a ceramist will make the final veneer
  • Send instructions, impressions, and photos to the lab and ceramist to make your porcelain
  • Bond the veneer to your tooth after you’re sure it’s beautiful

In either case, choose an expert cosmetic dentist—preferably accredited—to achieve natural-looking results that help you smile with confidence again. Cosmetic dentistry is an art. Only dentists with post-graduate training and artistic ability to achieve lifelike results. And there are only a few genuine cosmetic dentists.

Lowell, MA, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post.