Tetracycline Stains and No Money for Porcelain Veneers
I’ve had tetracycline stains for most of my life. Ten years ago, I asked my dentist if I could whiten my teeth to get rid of the stains. He told me that the only solution for tetracycline stains is porcelain veneers. I priced those and there is not a chance in the world I will be able to afford that. My smile is so humiliating to me that I never do it. Is there a chance that teeth whitening has improved enough in the last ten years to make a difference?
Kelly
Dear Kelly,
While porcelain veneers are still the best solution for tetracycline stains, you can make a decent difference by using teeth whitening. Make sure you use take home teeth whitening trays instead of something like Zoom Whitening. Zoom would take too many sessions and you are trying to save money.
While you can make a difference with the bleaching, you will have to be persistent. You will get the best results if you can wear the trays overnight. If you can’t tolerate the bleaching for that long, then just wear them during the day for as long as you can. I would plan on bleaching for several months but it will make a difference.
As I mentioned at the beginning, porcelain veneers will give you a much better result. My recommendation is that you start with the whitening while you save up for the veneers. However, you would need to have them done by a skilled cosmetic dentist. Dental school will not be enough. You will want someone with post doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry. This is especially true when it comes to tetracycline stains. They are one of the most challenging cases there are.
You’ll want to ask if they’ve done these type of cases before. If they haven’t, look for someone else. If they say they have done them, then ask to see before and after images of the cases so that you can get an idea whether or not the results are beautiful and something that you would be proud to have yourself.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Tetracycline Stains and No Money for Porcelain Veneers
I have had tetracycline stains most of my life. My dentist does not do cosmetic dentistry but recommended someone for me. He told me the solution for my issue is to get porcelain veneers. They are way too expensive for me. Is there any other possible solution for me? I would love to not be too ashamed to smile.
Sandy
Dear Sandy,
I am glad you wrote. Before I answer your question, I want to make sure those who are unfamiliar with tetracycline stains understand what we’re dealing with here. Tetracycline stains are dark stains on teeth which are a result of the tetracycline medication taken while someone’s teeth are still developing.
While porcelain veneers are the ideal solution, they are not the only thing which will help improve your smile. What you don’t want to do is look for cheap cosmetic dentistry. The results will not be good. Instead, I recommend you have professional teeth whitening done. If you’re persistent, it will make a huge difference. I would plan on it taking a few months, but it will be improving that whole time.
While it will not be as stunning as porcelain veneers, it will allow you to smile again without feeling embarrassed. Don’t try to take a short cut with something like Zoom Whitening. While that is strong, it would take too many sessions to make as much a difference as the regular take home trays. That would cost too much.
Then, while you are doing the teeth whitening and improving your smile, you’ll be able to save up for the porcelain veneers and get the smile of your dreams.
This blog is brought to you by Moline Dentist Dr. Thomas Goebel.
Brown spots on my teeth and whitening makes them worse
Since childhood, I’ve had brown spots on six front teeth. I was told that the discoloration came from illness and frequent fever as a child. My dentist has tried whitening my teeth with different products. Although my teeth are whiter, the discoloration looks darker than ever. My dentist says that he may be able to grind away the discoloration and put composite over it. The process sounds painful. And my dentist doesn’t sound as if he knows that it will work. I am 33 years old and finally stable enough to get this done right without being my dentist’s guinea pig. Is grinding off the stains the only option? – Thank you. Ksenia from Chicago
Ksenia,
You are wise to be cautious about letting your dentist try to remove or reduce the brown spots on your teeth. Your dentist’s attempt to improve your teeth with bleaching shows that he does not understand how to predict the results of whatever treatment he uses.
What Causes Brown Spots on Teeth?
Brown spots on teeth can result from a variety of conditions—some medical and some external. Some causes of brown tooth stains include:
- Excessive intake of fluoride (fluorosis stains)
- High fever during childhood while teeth are developing
- Taking the antibiotic tetracycline while teeth are developing
- Tobacco products
- Tooth decay
- Trauma
- Untreated decalcification around braces
Will Teeth Whitening Remove Brown Spots?
Teeth whitening will not remove embedded brown spots caused by fluorosis, tetracycline, fever during childhood, and other factors.
Microabrasion for Brown Spots on Teeth
Microabrasion is a process that uses hydrochloric acid and pumice to gently remove a small about of tooth enamel. If the brown spots on your teeth are not deeply embedded, microabrasion might work.
Severe Brown Spots on Teeth
When brown spots on your teeth are severe, a cosmetic dentist can conceal them with dental bonding or porcelain veneers.
Dental Bonding for Brown Spots on Teeth
Dental bonding can conceal brown spots if a skilled cosmetic dentist does it. The dentist will take these steps:
- Clean and dry your teeth
- Roughen the surface
- Lightly etch your teeth
- Blend dental composite to perfectly match your natural tooth shade
- Apply and sculpt the composite
- Harden and polish it
Porcelain Veneers for Brown Spots on Teeth
Porcelain veneers will conceal brown spots on teeth. Although they are more expensive than dental bonding, they last longer. Veneers can last up to 20 years, but bonding must be renewed every three to five years—if not sooner.
A cosmetic dentist takes these steps for veneers:
- Talks to you about your preferences for tooth shape, size, and color
- Prepares your teeth by removing less than one millimeter of tooth enamel
- Takes impressions of your teeth
- Give you temporary veneers to wear before you approve the look and feel
- Sends your case to a ceramist to make your porcelain veneers
- Bonds the veneers on after you approve the look and feel
A dentist must have advanced cosmetic dentistry training to achieve natural-looking results with composite or veneers. Your cosmetic dentist must:
- Conceal the brown spots
- Maintain translucence in the bonding or porcelain veneers
- Perfectly match the bonding or veneers with the surrounding teeth
We recommend looking for a cosmetic dentist and scheduling a consultation to examine your teeth and explain your treatment options. Verify the dentist’s credentials before agreeing to treatment. Read our post, Her porcelain veneers keep falling off, but are they really veneers?, to understand why you must be cautious.
Dr. Thomas J. Goebel, a cosmetic dentist in Moline, IL, sponsors this post. Visit his smile gallery to see before-and-after patient photos.