In June of this year, I got porcelain veneers. I hate them because they are too shiny. Nothing about the temporary veneers I tried on in April gave me the idea that my teeth would look so fake. People have asked me if I am wearing something over my teeth to make them super shiny. I’m upset with myself for believing my dentist before he bonded my veneers. He said they looked super shiny because my natural teeth were dull and discolored. Almost daily, and every time I see pictures of myself smiling, I ache inside because I have spent thousands of dollars on a smile that doesn’t look natural. I’m wondering if you can tell me what to expect if I get a second opinion to see if the shine can be toned down. Thanks. Honoka from San Diego
Honoka
Proper shine and texture on the surface of porcelain veneers are crucial to helping them look natural. The glaze on porcelain veneers is needed to make it stain-resistant and give it a natural sparkle. But it must be applied correctly. From your description, your porcelain veneers lack texture. Veneers won’t look natural when the glaze is applied to a very flat surface.
What Are Your Options When Porcelain Veneers Are Too Shiny?
If your porcelain veneers are too shiny, you can reduce the shine with one of the following options:
- Prophy Jet polish – A dental hygienist can use a Prophy Jet to polish the veneers, destroying the glaze from the porcelain and decreasing the shine. But your veneers still won’t look natural because they will lack texture. They will also readily attract stains.
- Remake the veneers – We suggest asking your dentist to remake your porcelain veneers. You paid for a smile makeover, but you are disappointed with it. Insist that you try in the new veneers and that they are bonded to your teeth only when you love the new look.
- Second opinion – Your dentist will likely be willing to have your porcelain veneers remade, but if he isn’t, a second opinion from a skilled cosmetic dentist will greatly help. If you receive new porcelain veneers from another dentist, consider the costs you might incur. Your current dentist might be willing to cooperate in at least partially compensating you.
Natural-Looking Porcelain Veneers from a Cosmetic Dentist
The mishap with your porcelain veneers doesn’t occur with a skilled cosmetic dentist. Although you said that during the try-in, your dentist assured you the veneers only appeared to be super sparkly because your natural teeth were dull, you were not given accurate information. An expert cosmetic dentist ensures you love your new smile at the try-in because afterward, they will bond the porcelain veneers to your teeth, and after that, they need to be remade if corrections are needed. What you see during the try-in is what you’ll continue to see for 15 years or more until your veneers wear out and require replacing.
Your dentist should have been willing to send your veneers back to the laboratory to re-do your smile makeover. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.