porcelain veneers second opinion Archives - Lowell Cosmetic Dentistry Blog

My Temp Veneers for Front Teeth Have Humps at the Top

Posted on September 17, 2024 by AllSmiles.

I’m currently in the process of getting porcelain veneers replaced for my two center front teeth. It’s been a challenge for me and my dentist. I originally had bonding on these teeth, which my dentist replaced with veneers. Unfortunately, those veneers felt too bulky, making it difficult to close my mouth comfortably.

My new dentist tried bonding again, but the results looked amateurish. She suggested a new set of porcelain veneers to create a more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing smile. She’s already prepped my teeth for the new veneers.

My question is, do all veneers for front teeth have a noticeable hump at the top? Most veneers have this, but I’ve noticed a smoother transition with Durathins. Right now, I’m wearing temporaries, and while they look okay, they still have that unwanted hump. I’m concerned and don’t want to move forward. – Thanks Meghan from RI

Meghan,

We understand your concerns.

It sounds like you’re having a frustrating experience with your dental veneers. It’s completely understandable to want a natural-looking, comfortable smile. A well-placed veneer should seamlessly blend with natural teeth without unsightly humps or irregularities.

A skilled cosmetic dentist should be able to create a beautiful, functional smile without compromising aesthetics. If your current dentist doesn’t meet your expectations, consider a second opinion from an experienced cosmetic dentist.

Porcelain veneers after photo of a woman's smile that was restored by Lowell, MA accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Szarek.

Smooth, well-formed porcelain veneers from Dr. Szarek and his ceramist

Before committing to the final veneers, your dentist must schedule a try-in appointment so you can see how they will look and feel. Skilled cosmetic dentists adjust the veneers until you are delighted with the result.

Don’t hesitate to voice your concerns and expectations to your dentist. A good dentist will listen to your feedback and work with you to achieve the smile you desire.

Lowell, Massachusetts, accredited cosmetic dentist Dr. Michael Szarek sponsors this post. Read how Dr. Szarek strives to give his patients the best dental care in Lowell.

Should My Porcelain Veneers Still Hurt?

Posted on October 14, 2023 by AllSmiles.

My porcelain veneers hurt, and I want them removed. I got them in early September, and all eight veneers still hurt. I take ibuprofen twice daily – in the morning before work, then six hours later. I know ibuprofen isn’t good for my stomach, but my dentist seems clueless. He examined the veneers and my teeth and asked me to be patient because the veneers would become more comfortable. How long will it take for the pain to go away? And why didn’t anyone tell me that porcelain veneers hurt for weeks after you got them? Thanks. Dehlia for IN

Dehlia,

Should Your Porcelain Veneers Still Hurt?

Porcelain veneers should look natural and be comfortable

Porcelain veneers should not hurt. Although you may experience sensitivity in your teeth after getting veneers, the sensitivity should not linger. Still, the veneers should not hurt. You’ve experienced symptoms for over a month, which is unusual, so we recommend scheduling an exam with an advanced cosmetic dentist.

A cosmetic dentist must examine your teeth and veneers to determine the cause of your discomfort and how to alleviate it. Perhaps the dentist aggressively prepared your teeth by shaving away too much tooth enamel, or you may have tooth infections.

Can You Remove Porcelain Veneers and Return to Natural Teeth?

After a dentist prepares your teeth for porcelain veneers, you cannot have them removed and return to your natural teeth, which would increase sensitivity. You will need some type of cosmetic dentistry to protect your teeth, and veneers are less invasive than dental crowns.

Without an exam and X-rays, we will not guess what is causing your pain, so promptly make an appointment with a skilled cosmetic dentist. The dentist will explain your options for getting relief.

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

Are Veneers My Only Option for Tetracycline-Stained Teeth?

Posted on May 19, 2022 by AllSmiles.

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?

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.

My porcelain veneer is noticeably too long

Posted on February 13, 2017 by AllSmiles.

My left top incisor was chipped when I was 27 years old. My dentist did a good job of bonding it and even I couldn’t tell where the chip was. I have to look at an old picture with the chipped tooth to pinpoint exactly where it was broken. Now I’m 49 yrs old. Within the past 2 months I noticed that the bonding was starting to get weak and chip away. I switched dentists last fall because my former dentist moved out of state. My current dentist said that I need a crown not bonding this time. I didn’t agree to a crown after he explained that he would have to grind down my tooth. So his next recommendation was a porcelain veneer. I shouldn’t have agreed to it, but I did. The porcelain veneer is longer than the tooth next to it. I called the office 1 ½ week ago and complained about the way the veneer looks. I saw my dentist early last week and he took a look at it and he said it looks fine. I asked him to see if he could do something about it. He removed the veneer and cleaned it. Then he rebonded it. Now it’s too long AND crooked. So he just made things worse. So removing it and rebonding it implied that maybe the dentist thought he put it on too low so it looked longer that it really is. I think the veneer is just plain too long. I was pretty frank and told my dentist that I hate the veneer. He said he can order another one and I told him I will call the office to let him know what I decide. I don’t trust the process. Should I just leave this dentist and find somebody who knows what they are doing? Thanks. Timothy

Timothy,

Yes, you should leave the dentist and find one who knows what he or she is doing.

Your porcelain veneer needs to be examined to determine the real issue. If your veneer was bonded incorrectly the second time, it might have been incorrectly bonded in the first place. It is also possible that the ceramist who made the veneer didn’t get correct instructions on the size and proportions of the veneer.

We are also concerned why your dentist didn’t think that dental bonding was still an option. Was your dentist uncomfortable with his ability to match the bonding to your tooth? Was there something different about the tooth structure that would prevent dental bonding from correctly restoring it this time?

We suggest that you find an experienced and accredited cosmetic dentist to examine your tooth and porcelain veneer. A dentist who is accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has proven experience, skill, and training in aesthetic restoration of teeth. He or she will let you know what went wrong, as well as your options for restoring your tooth. You can also consider asking your dentist for a refund or some type of compensation for the expense of having your tooth properly restored.

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

My porcelain veneers are sliding down

Posted on November 20, 2015 by AllSmiles.

None of my 8 porcelain veneers have fallen off. I’m happy for that! I’ve read bad stories online about veneers coming completely off. My case is different. My veneers look like they are sliding down or maybe pulling away from my gums. I got the veneers in July ’14 so they are a little more than a year old. 3 of the 8 seem to be sliding down. My dentist took a look at them and said she will fill in the gap or margin. I am wondering what the chances are that this will be a repeat performance on the other 5 teeth. Also how often will I have to get this done or retouched? Is this normal? I have already asked my dentist all of these questions and she answered them, but I need a second opinion. When I got the veneers I wasn’t told about this possibility and the maintenance required on them. Thanks. Hope J.

Hope J. – It is not normal for new porcelain veneers to develop a gap at the margin. This problem is often due to improper bonding technique. Whether or not you will experience the issue with the other veneers depends on whether or not they were properly bonded.

If the restoration of the three veneers isn’t done properly, it may need to be repeated. Dr. Szarek would need to examine your teeth and veneers to determine why the gap is occurring and to let you know if you can expect the issue with your other veneers.

It’s good that you are asking questions now. We recommend that you schedule an appointment for an examination with an accredited cosmetic dentist in your area. The examination will provide you with accurate information on your veneers, what you can expect for the future, and how to avoid a recurring issue.

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