cosmetic dentist porcelain veneers Archives

My Gums Are Still Swollen Around My New Porcelain Veneers

Posted on July 15, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Since I got them in early May, my gums have been swollen around my porcelain veneers, and my teeth look horrible. When I had a dental cleaning two weeks ago, the hygienist implied that I was not flossing between my teeth or brushing them too hard. She is wrong. When I saw my dentist last Wednesday, he removed some cement around the veneers and told me to call if it didn’t improve. My gums are swollen, and I am concerned that the problem will get worse if my dentist does not take responsibility. Should I insist that he take another look or get a second opinion? Why would I have lingering swelling after getting veneers? Thanks. Yasmin

Yasmin,

Although Dr. Tostado would need to examine your teeth, gums, and veneers, we can explain the possible causes of your gum inflammation.

What Causes Swollen Gums After Getting Porcelain Veneers?

Porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

Get a second opinion of porcelain veneers are irritating your gums

Swollen gums after getting porcelain veneers can result from one or more of these factors:

Excess cement left around the veneers
Improper porcelain veneer position
Irregularities where a veneer meets your tooth
Sensitivity to dental ceramics

We will explain.

Excess cement left around the veneers

When a dentist cures the cement in the middle of a tooth and removes the excess around the porcelain veneer immediately, it is unlikely that the bonding agent will irritate your gum tissue.

Improper porcelain veneer position

A porcelain veneer that fits too far beneath your gumline can inflame the tissue and lead to infection.

Irregular margins

Unevenness where the veneer and a tooth meet can irritate gum tissue. If inflammation or infection lingers, you may need to see a periodontist (gum specialist).

Ceramic sensitivity

Sometimes, sensitivity to dental ceramics can cause inflammation or infection.

We recommend consultation with an experienced cosmetic dentist for an exam and a second opinion. A cosmetic dentist will identify the cause of the irritation around your porcelain veneers and recommend treatment.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

Why Are My New Porcelain Veneers Staining?

Posted on July 3, 2023 by AllSmiles.

If porcelain veneers are stain resistant, why are there stains around mine? I got the veneers in October 2021 and will finish paying for them this year. They will be yellow before I finish my payments. I wonder if the problem is from some chemicals the dentist used on the veneers. I should have followed my instinct and looked for a holistic dentist. What can my dentist do to stop the staining? Please don’t say that I will need new veneers. Thank you. – Luz

Luz

Yes, intact porcelain veneers are stain resistant. A cosmetic dentist would need to examine your veneers or see pictures of them to determine what may be causing the stains. But we can explain a few possibilities.

Three Reasons that Porcelain Veneers Might Stain

Porcelain veneers may stain if there is damage to the glazed surface if there is a gap where the veneer and tooth meet, or if there is excess composite bonding around near your gumline. These are mistakes that even a holistic dentist can make if they don’t have advanced cosmetic dentistry training:

Damage to the glazed surface – Power polishing equipment or acidulated fluoride can damage your veneers. If a dental hygienist mistakenly used either on your tooth and damaged the laze, you can see stains across the surface of your porcelain veneers.
Gap between the porcelain and your teeth – If a dentist left a gap between the porcelain and your teeth, bacteria could leak in and stain your teeth.
Excess composite bonding – If a dentist does not thoroughly clean the composite around your teeth, it can cause staining.

How to Remove Stains from Your New Veneers

If you have porcelain veneers, a skilled cosmetic dentist can polish your veneers. For regular polishing, a hygienist can use ultra-fine polishing strips and paste to remove plaque and keep your veneers smooth and stain resistant.
Regular maintenance can prolong the life of your veneers. You may want to schedule a second opinion skilled cosmetic dentist to examine your veneers and determine why they are staining. Then you can determine if you want your current dentist to polish them or if you want to find another provider.
San Antonio, TX, dentist Gilberto Tostado sponsors this post.

New Veneers on Front Teeth Don’t Match My Natural Teeth

Posted on March 15, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Last month I got porcelain veneers on my 4 top front teeth. They are so much whiter than my other teeth. People have actually asked me if I got 4 new teeth. It’s so embarrassing. Me and my dentist had a long talk about this, but she says the veneers will get dull with time. Aren’t they supposed to match my teeth? Will they get darker with time? Giovanni (Gio)

Gio –

Thank you for contacting 5 Star Dental Group in San Antonio.

Yes, your new porcelain veneers should match the color of your natural teeth. They should blend in with your natural teeth’s size, shape, and color so people can’t tell you to have veneers. If you wanted ultra-white veneers, your dentist should have whitened your natural teeth before making the restorations to ensure a match.

A porcelain veneer held with dental forceps next to a woman's tooth

A cosmetic dentist can match porcelain veneers to your natural teeth

Porcelain is colorfast, which means a dentist cannot make your veneers lighter or darker after a ceramist crafts them. Your new smile’s color must be determined and agreed upon by you and your dentist.

At this point, you have two options. Regardless of your choice, we recommend finding an experienced cosmetic dentist to help you. A cosmetic dentist has an artistic eye for the best results possible. The options are as follows:

Whiten your natural teeth – It is possible that a dentist can whiten your natural teeth to match the color of your porcelain veneers closely. A cosmetic dentist will need to examine your teeth to determine if you are a candidate for teeth bleaching. If you are, they will tell you the results you can expect with whitening and how closely your natural teeth will match the veneers. As we mentioned earlier, a dentist must complete teeth whitening before porcelain restorations if a patient wants a brighter smile.
Get new porcelain veneers – Your dentist should offer to replace your porcelain veneers if she cannot achieve a match. You can allow her to try again or ask her to compensate you for getting a cosmetic dentist to replace your veneers.

We strongly suggest that you research to find a cosmetic dentist with experience. You can find a few cosmetic dentists with porcelain veneers experience and have a consultation with each of them before making a decision. When you get beautiful results, you’ll be happy that you found the right dentist.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

My New Dentist Wants to Replace My Veneers

Posted on April 30, 2022 by AllSmiles.

My dentist in Colorado placed porcelain veneers on my front teeth in 2017, but I’ve had problems with them since I got them. Now my new dentist wants to replace my veneers. Three of the eight veneers have fallen off in the past, but they still do not feel stable even though my previous dentist re-bonded them. The veneers are on eight upper front teeth, and the teeth are sensitive. I moved to Virginia this past January and found a new dentist. I went for a dental cleaning, x-rays, and exam three weeks ago and talked to the dentist about my uncomfortable veneers. I was surprised that the dentist recommended replacing the veneers with crowns because she can get better results with veneers. I understand what dentists do for crown and veneer tooth prep, so I choose veneers. Although my veneers are problematic, why would a dentist recommend crowns? Why not replace the faulty veneers with new ones? Thank you. Liya from Illinois

Liya,

Thank you for your question.

Although you are experiencing problems with your veneers, we recommend that you do not accept replacing them with dental crowns. As you understand, the aggressive tooth preparation is probably not necessary.

Why Do Porcelain Veneers Fall Off?

Porcelain veneers may fall off due to a dentist’s bonding technique, aggressive tooth preparation, or a patient’s teeth grinding.

Aggressive tooth preparation – Skilled cosmetic dentists remove minimal amounts of tooth enamel. If a dentist removes too much enamel and bonds veneers to dentin (the layer beneath enamel), the weak bond can cause veneers to fall off.
Bonding technique – Without advanced cosmetic dentistry training, a dentist may use faulty bonding techniques that result in unstable veneers.
Teeth grinding – Clenching or grinding your teeth can loosen veneers. Cosmetic dentists recommend wearing a mouth guard while you sleep to reduce the impact of teeth grinding on your natural teeth and veneers.

Schedule a Cosmetic Dentistry Appointment

You mentioned tooth sensitivity and past issues with veneers falling off. A skilled cosmetic dentist will x-ray your teeth and perform a thorough exam to identify the cause of your concerns with veneers and recommend treatment.

Dr. Gilberto Tostado, a San Antonio, Texas, cosmetic dentist, sponsors this post.

Porcelain veneers patient photos from Dr. Gilberto Tostado

I Am Afraid That Veneers Will Make My Tetracycline Stains Look Worse

Posted on January 15, 2022 by AllSmiles.

I have tetracycline stains on my teeth that look bad. I am 37 years old and can finally do something about it. My cousin has the stains, too, but she got porcelain veneers. My dentist said that porcelain veneers might help me, too.

I am really nervous about them because my cousin’s porcelain veneers look just as bad as her tetracycline teeth, just in another way. Her veneers look like a strip of cheap plastic teeth that she popped off of a find-your-size fake teeth kit. The dentist that did her veneers told her that there was no other way to hide the dark stains on her teeth. I told her to ask for her money back, but she never did.

My teeth are almost as bad as my cousin’s tetracycline teeth. If I get veneers, will they have to look like hers? Thank you. Genesis from Dallas

Genesis,

Thank you for your question.

Covering tetracycline stains with porcelain veneers is an art that only a skilled, artistic cosmetic dentist can master. It’s not easy. Unless your dentist has post-graduate cosmetic dentistry training, we recommend that you look for another dentist.

Hiding Tetracycline Stains with Porcelain Veneers

Hiding tetracycline stains with veneers requires a cosmetic dentist who understands balancing translucency with color. Your porcelain veneers don’t have to look like your cousin’s, but you must diligently look for a cosmetic dentist who has experience with porcelain veneers and tetracycline stains.

Ask for photos: Ask to see before-and-after pictures of other patients.
Be open: Talk with the dentist about your concerns and the results you want.
Speak up: If you decide to get porcelain veneers, you must speak up about anything about the model veneers that you don’t like.

If you feel as though the dentist you have chosen will not give you natural-looking results, find another dentist. The frustration of selecting a new dentist is nowhere near the disappointment you would experience if you received a smile makeover that you don’t like.

Dr. Gilberto Tostado, a San Antonio, Texas dentist, sponsors this post.