I was under the impression that porcelain veneers were very stain resistant. Mine are only a year old and they are already picking up stains on the top by the gums and in between the teeth. I paid quite a bit for these and I’m a little concerned. They’re not even all the way paid off and they’re staining. Do you know what is going wrong with them?
Mary
Dear Mary,
You are right that porcelain veneers are stain resistant. If there are stains at this point there is something going on which needs to be addressed. The glaze which is on your veneers and gives them their shine is also what protects them from stains. However, that can be removed if a dental hygienist doesn’t understand how porcelain veneers work and uses something on them such as a power prophy jet.
Once the glaze is removed they have no protection and will begin picking up stains. I don’t think this is happening to you because in this case, the stains would be all over the front of your veneers, not in the places you mentioned.
Without a picture of your particular case, I can’t give definites, but I can give a guess based on your description. It’s likely you have two issues going on here. The first one I’ll address is the staining between the teeth. This is likely the easiest to deal with and part of porcelain veneers maintenance. This could very well be just some composite bonding. If that’s the case then simple polishing between the teeth with ultra-fine polishing strips and a special ultra-fine aluminum oxide polishing paste. It will prolong the life of your porcelain veneers by keeping the area as smooth as possible and resistant to stain and plaque accumulation.
Staining on the Top of Porcelain Veneers
The stains on the top of your veneers by your gums has me a bit more concerned. I don’t have a picture and haven’t examined you, so I’d like you to have an expert cosmetic dentist look at these for a visual second opinion. My fear here is you have what is known as bulky margins. This means the dentist didn’t get your veneers flush with your tooth and gums and there is now a tiny ridge there which is trapping debris and bacteria. If this is the case, the veneers will have to be re-done. That’s why you need the opinion of an expert before approaching your dentist about this.
When looking for a dentist to give you that second opinion on your veneers, I’d like you to find a dentist who has been accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. There is a way to look them up on aacd.com. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. If there are bulky margins at the top, they can help you get a refund so they can be done properly.
Leaving them as they are, if that is the case, will cause decay. It has to be fixed.
This blog is brought to you by Lexington, KY Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Fred Arnold.