I was so excited to get porcelain veneers done because I have always struggled with discolored, yellowish teeth. Well, it’s only been a few months since my dentist did four porcelain veneers on my front teeth and they are turning gray! The color of the veneers has changed from when they were originally placed. When I complained to the dentist, he said me that they would just need to be made thicker so their wasn’t any discoloration showing through from underneath the veneers. Is this true? I have three different colors on my front teeth and it makes me want to cry. I have my real yellow colored teeth, by gray veneers and white veneers. What was the point in spending all this money to get a smile makeover if I look even more silly than before I had them?! One of the veneers has already been replaced because it wasn’t straight too. I am scared to go back to this dentist at this point. Please tell me why this is happening? I’m wishing I never got them done in the first place. But, I have to get something done so I don’t look foolish.
-Kendra in Florida
Kendra,
Well, first off, you deserve an apology. I’m sorry that you are having to deal with this cosmetic dentistry horror story. Let’s focus on what you can do now and what has gone wrong.
Unfortunately, your dentist does not sound like a skilled cosmetic dentist. Far too many patients find out the hard way when it comes to porcelain veneers. It takes extensive advanced coursework and training in cosmetic dentistry to deliver beautiful results. Cosmetic dentistry requires an eye for aesthetics and less than two percent of dentists truly have this ability.
That said, the four veneers should have matched each other and also blended in with your teeth naturally and beautifully. It would look silly if you had four bright, white teeth and then were surrounded by discolored ones around them. The mention of the recommendation to make the veneers thicker is wrong. Also, you said one of them was replaced because it was crooked, which sounds like a problem. A true cosmetic dentist would not have made these mistakes.
Sadly, at this point it is in your best interest to have the porcelain veneers done by an excellent cosmetic dentist. Ask the new dentist about cases similar to yours, be sure to check credentials to see the kind of training and work they have beyond dental school, and be sure to check out a portfolio or smile gallery of their personal work.
Now, assuming your current dentist is one that wants to do the right thing, it sounds like you have have the right to request a refund. You paid for a smile makeover and you didn’t receive one. Hopefully, he realizes he was out of his league with your case.
Your new cosmetic dentist very well may want to start over. The first step will likely be to have teeth whitening done on all your teeth, so when the new porcelain veneers are done correctly, they will blend in perfectly. After the teeth bleaching takes place, you will need to wait a couple weeks. This gives the bleaching agent time to stabilize so the new porcelain veneers can be matched perfectly. Even if you have dark discoloration on the teeth that will receive the new porcelain veneers, thicker veneers isn’t the answer. An opaquer can be used over the prepared tooth after the tooth has been prepared. Or it is possible that the new cosmetic dentist may prefer an opaquer liner from the dental laboratory. If you select the right cosmetic dentist, you should be able to trust his or her preference and comfort level in addressing this concern. If the lab is going to manipulate the color, it requires extensive communication on the part of the dentist and the ceramist. So, feel free to ask questions about what they recommend and why.
I wish there was an easy answer to tell you in regard to what went wrong with your original case of veneers. It is of course difficult to make assumptions without having seen your case in person. The tooth bonding may have been the issue or maybe there was a flaw in the glaze from the porcelain veneers and they weren’t sealed properly. A properly glazed set of porcelain veneer will not become discolored. Whatever the case, it’s time to move on and find an expert cosmetic dentist that actually can do what they say then can.
Again, sorry you have had such a negative experience. Hopefully, by sharing your story, you can help someone else avoid a situation similar to yours.
Best of luck!
This post is sponsored by Barrington cosmetic dentist James T. Gavrilos, DDS