Category Archives: Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain Veneers

No-Prep or Traditional Veneers

I’m getting a smile makeover for the start of the new year. It was one of my Christmas presents. I’ve been doing some research and I just can’t make the final decision between Lumineers or traditional porcelain veneers. I like the idea of no-prep, but the reviews have been mixed with some people saying their smile ended up looking bulky. Do you have any advice for me?

Elaina

Dear Elaina,

A single porcelain veneer being held up by a dental instrument

How great that you received such an incredible Christmas gift. You must have been a very good girl this year. It is also nice that you are trying to research ahead of time to get the best option for a beautiful smile.

I’m going to shift your question a bit to give the important answer. A great cosmetic dentist can create a gorgeous smile for you no matter what type of materials he is working with. That is one of the reasons the reviews are so mixed on the Lumineers brand. The ones who’ve had their teeth end up looking bulky are the ones who didn’t go to a top-of-the-line cosmetic dentist.

Whenever you’re talking about creating a piece of art, the artist you choose matters. While porcelain veneers, whether traditional or no-prep, can give you a stunning smile. The right dentist has to be doing it.

So, how do you find this magic dentist?

Finding the Right Dentist for Your Porcelain Veneers

You’ll want a dentist who has not only invested a significant amount of time training in cosmetic dentistry and smile design, but one who has a natural or trained artistic eye as well.

You could spend countless hours researching each cosmetic dentist in your area one by one, or you can utilize one of two great resources. The first is the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). They have an accreditation program which helps patients find the best of the best.

You’ll simply need to go to their site (aacd.com), click on find a cosmetic dentist, then input your area. Be sure to check the box that says you’re looking for an accredited dentist. That is very important.

Sometimes it’s hard to find an AACD accredited dentist in some areas. These are among the top 1% of cosmetic dentists. The accreditation process takes a long time. If you don’t see one in a reasonable traveling distance to your home, check out mynewsmile.com.

This site screens cosmetic dentists who wish to be listed for both technical skill and artistry in their work. They also have a find a cosmetic dentist button. While many they list are accredited, others are highly skilled cosmetic dentists in the midst of the accreditation process and can give you an equally gorgeous smile.

This blog is brought you by Salem Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Were Porcelain Veneers the Wrong Option?

I have teeth which are too short. I’d recently read an interview about a celebrity who used to have the same problem. She got porcelain veneers on her teeth and now her smile is gorgeous. I told my dentist I wanted him to give me her smile, but it turned out horribly. Did I misunderstand what she had done? Were porcelain veneers the wrong option for me?

Kylie L.

Dear Kylie,

A single porcelain veneer being placed

Porcelain veneers are a great solution for what you were concerned about. They can change just about anything wrong with a smile. They can make short teeth longer, as you needed. In addition to the length of your teeth, they can change the width, the shape, the color, and create a character.

The problem likely lies in the skill set of your dentist. Not every dentist has invested a lot of time into learning how to do smile makeovers. Given that it is not something taught in dental school, the additional post-doctoral training is a must.

Even those who have invested in the training have varying levels of skill and even greater variety in artistry. If you’re unhappy with the results of your case, you can ask him to re-do it. However, even if he is willing, you may not get any better results. He’s limited by his capabilities or lack thereof.

I’d ask for a refund or at least a partial refund and then go to an expert cosmetic dentist to have the case done the way you’d dreamed.

Finding the Right Dentist to Create Your Porcelain Veneers

You want a dentist with more than just technical knowledge. You want an artist; someone who can truly design a stunning smile that blows you away. You should be so thrilled with your smile makeover you can’t stop smiling to show it off. You should feel like a new woman with renewed confidence.

So, where do you find a dentist like this? The easiest way is to go to aacd.com and click on find a cosmetic dentist. Then, make sure you check that you’re looking for an accredited dentist.

AACD accredited dentists are the top cosmetic dentists in the world. They will give you a stunning smile. Additionally, almost every one of them has a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by Salem, MA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Why Are My Gums Bleeding After Porcelain Veneers?

I’m a little concerned. Around six months ago I had porcelain veneers done. My gums were irritated from the beginning. I called the office. They said it is normal to have a little irritation after dental work and it should resolve itself. Then a month or two later the gums started bleeding when I brush. Not every time I brush, but enough that I wondered what’s going on. Now I went in for my six-month check-up and the hygienist said I’m not brushing and flossing well enough because I’m developing gum disease. I was horrified. I always am so careful about my oral care and have never had a problem before. Is this a common side-effect from porcelain veneers? My dentist said no, but I didn’t have any issues until I had them placed.

Carina

Dear Carina,

A single porcelain veneer being placed

It’s not a side-effect of porcelain veneers, but like you said, it’s rather suspicious it started when you had them placed. I have an inkling of what may be going on here. Is it possible your dentist is a family dentist who doesn’t do cosmetic work as a large portion of his practice?

My guess is your dentist isn’t a skilled cosmetic dentist and maybe just dabbles. With your gums being affected, it sounds like your dentist didn’t get the veneers flush against your teeth. When that happens, it’s what’s known as bulky margins.

What this does is create a tiny “shelf” at the top of your veneers, which allows for food and other bacteria to get trapped there. This is what is probably what is irritating your gums and leading to the bleeding and gum disease.

Who Should Replace Your Porcelain Veneers?

Here’s what I’m going to recommend in your place:

First, you have a great case for a full refund. In your case, I wouldn’t consider developing gum disease a functional case, which is the standard for whether or not you’d get a refund. If he gives you a problem about that you can get a second opinion from another dentist. Tell him what’s going on with your gums without making a comment about bulky margins. If he or she gives you that diagnosis as well, then the dentist will be more likely to refund you. Dentists have pride and don’t want to look bad in front of their peers.

One tip. Don’t tell the second opinion dentist who placed them, just in case they’re buddies. If he asks, tell him you just want an unbiased opinion and would prefer he not know. He should be fine with that.

Once you’ve gotten your refund, you need to go to a different dentist to replace them. Ideally, you’d want to go to a dentist who’s reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. AACD accredited dentists are in the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the country.

I wouldn’t be surprised if when you had your new case made that you found the end result to be much more beautiful. In fact, most expert cosmetic dentists have a beautiful smile guarantee.

If there’s not an accredited dentist within a reasonable distance from your home, you can go to the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend expert cosmetic dentists by zip code. Not all of them are accredited, but every one of them are skilled and artistic enough to give you the stunning smile you deserve.

This blog is brought to you by Salem, MA Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Can Children Get Porcelain Veneers?

My son is almost nine and he fell and chipped his front tooth. It’s a permanent tooth so I want to repair it in a way that will both last and look natural. I had porcelain veneers done several years ago because of stained and chipped teeth and love them. Can children have veneers done? I think he’d only need one.

Carla T.

Dear Carla,

A chipped tooth
Can Porcelain Veneers Fixed Chipped Teeth?

It’s fantastic that you’re looking out for your son’s smile. I especially like that you’re thinking through a permanent solution for him. While porcelain veneers can repair chipped teeth, I don’t recommend them in children.

Their jaws are in almost constant development throughout their childhood. That keeps the way their bite relates to its surroundings in flux as well, making it nearly impossible to keep on without changing it often. While technically do-able, it’s an expensive way to repair his chipped tooth, especially when there are better options.

Repairing a Chipped Tooth Without Porcelain Veneers

There are three basic options for repairing a chipped tooth. I’ll list them from most expensive to most affordable. You can click on each link to learn more.

You’ll have the same problem with porcelain crowns that we discussed above regarding porcelain veneers. However, this also will require grinding down a great deal of healthy tooth structure. Rarely do I suggest that.

Additionally, your son has experienced tooth trauma. You need to schedule an emergency appointment with your dentist so he can check for nerve damage and can take steps to deal with that, if necessary.

Dental bonding is the standard treatment for chipped teeth and it is a lot more affordable. While it will have to be updated every once in a while, it will hold up much better on a growing jaw because of its design.

Because dental bonding is done freehand, you will want to make sure you have an artistic cosmetic dentist to do the procedure.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Press-on Veneers versus Cosmetic Dentist

I don’t have a very good cosmetic dentist. He’s great for a lot of general dental work, but even he admits his cosmetic work needs work of a different kind. I appreciate his honesty but it leaves me in kind of a bind. I want to get porcelain veneers. He said he’s fine with me going to another, more experienced cosmetic dentist for that particular procedure. He even recommended someone he said was AACD accredited. He said that’s a huge deal. Not sure why. Anyway, I went to the AACD guy and had a free consultation. He was nice and I could tell by his picture gallery of patients that he does great work, but his prices were through the roof. Today I saw this website for press-on porcelain veneers. The pictures looked pretty to me and they were A LOT less expensive than the guy my dentist recommended. Do you know about these press ons? Are they really as good as the ones by a cosmetic dentist?

Veronica M.

Dear Veronica,

A single porcelain veneer being held up by a dental instrument

First, I really appreciate the honesty of your dentist. Some, less caring practitioners might be tempted to just do their “best” porcelain veneers knowing they’d be subpar but wanting the practice or the money. Instead, he was forthright and even suggested another, more qualified, dentist.

Not just that, he was careful to recommend an accredited dentist with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). These are the top 1% of cosmetic dentists in the world. Yes, their prices are sometimes a bit higher (though not always). That’s usually because they’re so skilled and artistic that they’re in high demand with patients wanting cosmetic procedures, such as porcelain veneers. In fact, there are people who travel across the country or even from other countries to have their work done by them.

If you went to one of them you would definitely get a stunning smile. Probably every one of them has some form of a beautiful smile guarantee.

Porcelain Veneers versus Press-on Veneers

The press-on veneers you saw on that website are completely different from the veneers you’d get from a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist. They’re more similar to what you’d get with a snap-on smile. They’re made from a composite resin and just press over your teeth temporarily. While they may look great for a photo shoot, they do not look nearly as stunning or natural in person.

Because the press-ons fit over your teeth, instead of being custom made and bonded to your teeth, they tend to come off a bit bulky and a little long. It can make it difficult for patients to speak when they’re in.

There are some procedures you can shop around and cut corners on. Teeth whitening is one example. It doesn’t really matter which dentist does that procedure. It’s fairly straightforward. Going for the cheapest dentist, in that case, will do no harm. Veneers are different. They require expertise in both technique and artistry.

If you want a true smile makeover, it’s an investment that will last a lifetime, giving you stronger confidence than you’d imagine.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain Veneers Staining After Months

I am thinking I did something terrible. My dentist told me that my porcelain veneers would last for years. But, I’ve only had them for a little over seven months and they look awful. They were fine, even at my six-month checkup and cleaning. It was after that they started picking up stains. I don’t know what I did. I thought I was super careful. I researched and got a special toothpaste that’s supposed to be for porcelain veneers called Supersmile. Was that a scam? Did that mess them up? Can this be fixed? I’m embarrassed to tell my dentist, but I really love these veneers.

Cathy

Dear Cathy,

A single porcelain veneer being held up by a dental instrument

You didn’t do anything wrong. The Supersmile toothpaste isn’t a scam. It’s actually the absolute best toothpaste you could have purchased for your porcelain veneers. Great job looking that up. It’s something your dentist should have told you about when you first got the veneers placed.

My suspicion is it’s your dentist’s office that made the terrible mistake. It sounds to me, based on the timeline you’ve given that your hygienist didn’t understand the proper care of porcelain veneers and used something on it like a prophy jet during your cleaning.

This would have removed the glaze from your veneers, leaving them dull and susceptible to staining. Without the glaze, they’ll never look good again.

What Do You Do If Your Glaze Is Removed on Your Porcelain Veneers?

Because it’s your dentist’s office that likely did this they need to fix it. There is a special procedure which requires a special diamond polishing technique which could restore the glaze. Unfortunately, it’s such an advanced procedure I doubt your cosmetic dentist knows it, especially if they didn’t even know how to properly clean your veneers.

My guess is they’re going to have to replace your veneers completely. If they give you any problem with that, you can show them this post. Or, maybe go to another cosmetic dentist for a second opinion. Sometimes, not wanting to look bad in front of your local peers is a great motivator.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

My Porcelain Veneer is Crooked

I’m not sure if you can help me but I’ll try anyway. I had bonding done on a front tooth that was chipped. That chip wasn’t that big. It kind of worn out after quite a few years. My new dentist said it can’t be replaced and I’ll need to have a dental crown placed. I wasn’t keen on that. Like I said, it’s just a small chip. Instead, we compromised on a porcelain veneer, but when he put it on it was crooked. Now he says because it’s bonded there’s nothing I can do about it. Is he right? I can’t go around with a crooked front tooth.

Denise H.

Dear Denise,

A single porcelain veneer being held up by a dental instrument

I’m concerned about the quality or honesty of the dentist you’re going to. First, there was no reason why he couldn’t have re-bonded your tooth. I have no idea why he told you that unless there’s something else going on that you haven’t mentioned. This is one reason I am questioning his honesty.

I’m thrilled you decided not to get a dental crown for the tooth. That would have been a massive overtreatment, costing you healthy tooth structure. I understand why you compromised on a porcelain veneer, which is a little better. However, it’s obvious your dentist didn’t have the skill or it would not have been improperly bonded. At the very least, without replacing it, he should have offered you a refund. it’s unbelievable to me he’s expecting you to go about with a crooked veneer.

In fact, it’s unethical. This doesn’t meet the minimum standards of treatment. At some point, because of how it’s placed, it will break off.

Who Should Do Your Porcelain Veneer?

You’re in a bind now. Here’s what I’d recommend. Go to a good cosmetic dentist and have them give a second opinion. I’m pretty sure they would tell your dentist it’s unsatisfactory. A dentist will sometimes listen to a peer where they wouldn’t listen to a patient. They’ll give you a refund so as to not look bad.

Then, you can go to another dentist to have it replaced. Finding an expert cosmetic dentist is a matter of knowing what resources to find. First, look for a dentist accredited with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

If you live in an area where there isn’t one within a reasonable drive, your next step is to look on the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend highly qualified and artistic cosmetic dentists by area. You’ll be safe getting a dentist who can give you a great veneer. In fact, they’ll give you a gorgeous smile.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Dentist Refuses to Give Me Porcelain Veneers Because of Tongue Ring

Why does my dentist refuse to treat me because of a tongue ring? I have always wanted porcelain veneers. When my boyfriend proposed to me, I thought doing it shortly before my wedding would be ideal. But, my dentist said as long as I have a tongue ring he won’t place them. I don’t know if I should give in or just look for another dentist who’ll be willing to place them with my piercing? What’s the reasoning behind his ultimatum?

Shayne A.

Dear Shayne,

Salem Porcelain Veneers

Before we get into the piercing, I want to congratulate you on your upcoming nuptials. This is such an exciting time in your life. I can understand your desire to do your smile makeover right before your wedding. Most women want to look and feel like a princess at their wedding. At the very least, they want to look their absolute best.

While you’ll certainly be able to find a dentist who’ll be willing to place your porcelain veneers with or without your piercing, there are a couple of things to ask yourself before you move forward. Porcelain veneers are quite pricey, so you want to be sure you’re getting the best care possible and that whatever you get will not only be stunningly beautiful but will last throughout your lifetime.

The first thing to consider is longevity. You’ll want your porcelain veneers to stay gorgeous for many years. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if your natural teeth have quite a few chips and dings. You may even have some cracked teeth. Whenever someone has an oral piercing, there’s always quite a bit of damage which goes along with it.

That’s the likely reason behind your current dentist’s ultimatum. He wants to be certain any work he does will have a chance at lasting. Keeping your tongue ring is like trying to treat an asthma patient who refuses to give up smoking. You’re not going to stop the damage.

Another very important consideration is the artistic and technical ability of the dentist doing your new smile. Ideally, you’ll want a dentist who’s reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. An AACD accredited dentist will have the skill to give you a gorgeous smile. In fact, most of them will have a beautiful smile guarantee.

You won’t need to have veneers placed on both arches of teeth. Generally, a patient will have veneers placed on their top teeth, but their bottom teeth will just use teeth whitening to get them to not distract from your top arch. One exception to that would be if your bottom teeth are equally as visible as your top teeth when you smile. In that case, you’ll want veneers on both.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Why Is My Veneer Turning Dark at the Top?

I received two porcelain veneers on my front teeth a couple of years ago. I only needed one but ended up getting two. The dentist said that was necessary to make sure my two front teeth match. It worked out, they matched and looked very nice. I’m concerned because one of them has developed a dark line at the very top. Will this happen to both of them? Is there any way to fix it? It’s a little embarrassing.

Stephanie H.

Dear Stephanie,

Porcelain veneers shouldn’t ever develop a line at the top. There are two possible scenarios, but both mean your dentist didn’t do the job correctly. That actually wouldn’t surprise me because he told you he needed to do two veneers in order to get them to match. If he were a skilled cosmetic dentist that wouldn’t be true. He could match a single veneer to the rest of your teeth.

First, the veneers should have been made flush with your natural tooth. If your dentist didn’t do that, it would leave a ledge which can gather all kinds of food and bacteria. That would be a possible explanation of the dark line. It will also lead to decay so he should repair this free of charge.

A second possibility is the dentist didn’t bond the veneer properly. This allows things to slip in between. This would more likely make the entire veneer look darker. Unfortunately, it also will lead to decay and should be repaired free of charge.

I’d get a second opinion from an expert cosmetic dentist, just to get an objective opinion as to what is going on. Don’t be surprised if he tells you what you actually have are two porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns and not porcelain veneers. Those DO develop a dark line at the gumline as a matter of course, but generally it takes more than two years for that to pop it’s ugly head out. If this is the case it’s just another piece of evidence that your dentist isn’t qualified in cosmetics. Front teeth require all-porcelain crowns. The metal based ones are better for back teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.

Porcelain Veneers

Did My Dentist Ruin My Smile?

I’ve had the same dentist since I was a little girl. I love the guy, but I’m afraid he really messed up my porcelain veneers. I was asked to be a speaker at a major convention and it was my big opportunity to shine and get investors for a project I’ve been working on. I mentioned it to my dentist because I was concerned about my smile and he said that he could get me fixed up with porcelain veneers. I let him do them and I really regret it now. They don’t look like they’re shaped right, for starters. They also don’t feel right. I keep catching my tongue on them when I talk and it has affected my speech. Lastly, the coloring is off. It looks like I have pieces of gum stuck to my front four teeth. I don’t want to hurt his feelings, but I really want to get them taken off and go back to my normal teeth. What’s the best way to approach this with my dentist?

Sincerely,

Lucia

Dear Lucia,

Unfortunately, porcelain veneers can’t just be taken off. It’s very likely a sliver of tooth structure was shaved before the porcelain veneers were put on, they won’t look right. Plus, being unprotected, they will be quite vulnerable to decay.

It sounds like your dentist is a decent general dentist, who cares enough to try to help you, but doesn’t have a lot of cosmetic expertise. He may be a great guy who treated you well for years, but cosmetic work takes a significant amount of post-graduate training. Training most family dentists don’t have.

This is a common issue in general practices, as the doctors don’t usually get the extra training they need to do truly beautiful restorations and they don’t do it often enough to keep their skills up. If you want truly stunning results, you’ll need to see an expert cosmetic dentist. Many of them even give a beautiful smile guarantee.

If this was only a matter of speech, there’s a chance that you might adapt to it in time. Failing this, small adjustments made by the dentist would help with making it easier to talk. However, you’re dealing with some pretty big cosmetic issues and these can only be cleared up by replacing the porcelain veneers.

You could ask your regular dentist to redo them, but the results will likely be the same. Going forward, you’ll need to meet with a cosmetic dentist to correct the issues. In this case, there’s really no need to talk it over with your regular dentist first, but there’s no harm in mentioning to him that you’d like to have them redone and why. You may be able to get some or all of your money back, so you can apply it to having them done properly.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Randall Burba.