I am a smoker, but I thought porcelain veneers didn’t stain. I haven’t even paid them off yet and thought they would last longer than this. Is it possible that they could be polished to brighten them up?
-Shannon in Kansas
Shannon,
Thank you for your question. It is difficult to figure out exactly what is going on without seeing a photo or seeing you in person. However, there are a couple of reasons that your porcelain veneers may be picking up stains.
It sounds like the protective glaze may be damaged. Sometimes this happens during a dental cleaning with a tool called a Prophy Jet. Also, certain fluoride treatments can damage the glaze too. Most hygienists that work for a cosmetic dentist will know not to do those things during a cleaning. But, not every hygienist understands how to properly care for porcelain veneers. If this is what is happening, the entire surface of the veneers would be getting stains.
If the stains are occurring between teeth, it may be an issue where the veneer meets the tooth. If there is a gap between the veneer and the tooth, it may be difficult to fix. But, if that area is filled with composite bonding, then it can be polished easily. It would be good to go back to the cosmetic dentist that placed them to figure out exactly what is going on. Not every general dentist will know how to polish your veneers. It could be that a simple polish will return them back to their original appearance.
Many excellent cosmetic dentists will recommend regular polishing appointments to keep them from picking up stains, which also increases the lifespan of the veneers.
This post is sponsored by James T. Gavrilos, DDS a dentist in Barrington, IL.