March 2023 - Arnold Dental

I am having trouble with my new porcelain veneers. I had them placed about eight months ago. Since then, they have started turning gray and I am really distraught about this. I spent everything I had to get them. I looked up some things on the internet and it sounds like I could have damaged them. I’ve been using Listerine after brushing. I did not realize that was a problem. No one gave me any instructions about how to care for them or what not to do. Is there anything I can do to get them back to the way they were?

Mason

Dear Mason,

I am sorry that your dental office did not give you any guidance on caring for your porcelain veneers. They should have. While using Listerine is not a good idea, it would not be the cause of your veneers turning gray. What can happen is the alcohol content in the mouthwash can damage the bonding. If you want to use a mouthwash, I recommend you use one that is alcohol-free. I believe Colgate has an alcohol-free mouthwash. Just look at the ingredients before purchasing to know with certainty.

I see a couple of possibilities for why these veneers are turning gray. The first is that you did not really get porcelain veneers and the surface is picking up stains. Some dentists will place composite bonding and call them veneers. This is unethical and just plain dishonest.

The second possibility is that something damaged the glazing on your porcelain veneers. You mentioned that it has been about eight months since they were placed. If you recently had a dental cleaning, then it is possible that your hygienist used something like a power prophy jet during your cleaning. If your dentist did not educate you on how to care for your veneers, then he may not have instructed his hygienist either.

A prophy jet will completely remove the glaze, which is what protects the veneers from stains. If that was removed, it would not take long for them to start changing color.

Either way, it sounds to me like your dentist is responsible for fixing this. Either his office damaged them or they did not give you what they said they did. I would insist they fix this. You may want to see an expert cosmetic dentist who can put eyes on your veneers and tell you exactly what happened. This will give you some leverage. Make sure you see someone who is AACD accredited for that second opinion. They are the top cosmetic dentists in the country.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Last year I lost both of my upper front teeth playing hockey. Yes I know, I should’ve been wearing my guard, and believe me I’ll never forget it again! Right now I’m wearing a flipper to fill that space while I’m healing. I’m leaning toward getting implants there, but I’m kind of worried about how they’re going to look. It seems like the metal of the implant will show near the gum line, maybe? Does this happen?

Thanks,
Jared

Dear Jared,

First off, sorry about your accident! The flipper is a great way to go as a temporary solution. Though, obviously, you’ll want a long-term solution. The great news is you picked the right one! Dental implants are the best tooth replacement option around.

Bone And Healing

It’s good that you’ve had some time for the sockets to heal and the bone to fill in naturally. The longer it goes without anything there, however, you run the risk of bone atrophy, where it starts to shrink away. Generally, there needs to be a minimum of one millimeter of bone around a dental implant. More is needed in certain situations, such as if the implant is to be situated in proximity to another implant or a natural tooth. More is needed in many anterior (near the front) cases as well. Some cases require the grafting of bone where there is not enough. Your doctor will be able to tell you whether you are a candidate for implants there or not.

Will The Metal Show By My Gums?

If you are a candidate, you’ll be delighted to know that anterior implants are among the most beautiful ways to restore missing teeth. They will be designed to appear to emerge from the gingiva (gums) in a most natural manner: assuring they are properly placed and cared for, and there will be no metal showing at or around the gums.

Because it is an anterior tooth, however, you want to make certain the dentist has post-doctoral cosmetic dentistry training. This way you will have a beautiful, natural-looking result. Once you have narrowed down a few qualified dentists who place dental implants, then look at their cosmetic skills. The top-of-the-line cosmetic dentists are AACD accredited, so if you find someone with post-doctoral training in dental implants that is also AACD accredited, you will have hit the jackpot.

What if I don’t have enough bone?

It is possible that in the time you are in your dental flipper too much bone will be lost. The good news is that does not mean that you are not a candidate for dental implants. You will just need one additional procedure done beforehand. Bone grafting can build back up the bone necessary to properly secure an implant.

If you decide you do not want to go that route, then your next best option will be to get a dental bridge. This requires two dental crowns be placed on the adjacent teeth as an anchor for the false tooth that will be suspended between them.

This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.

Why Are My Porcelain Veneers Turning Gray?

Will The Metal Show By My Gums If I Get Implant Crowns?

Bone And Healing

Will The Metal Show By My Gums?

What if I don’t have enough bone?

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Bone And Healing

Will The Metal Show By My Gums?

What if I don’t have enough bone?