I need some advice. I’ve had horrible tetracycline stains most of my life. I’ve gone to three dentists to try to get this fixed and all of them want to put crowns on my teeth. I don’t want to do that because the teeth are perfectly healthy. Do I have an alternative?
Brenda
Dear Brenda,

First, I will say so you’re aware, tetracycline stains are among the most difficult cases for a cosmetic dentist to deal with. Truthfully, I’d say only about 2% of dentists can do this well.
For the benefit of those reading who are unfamiliar with what tetracycline stains are, I’ll explain. When children are given the antibiotic tetracycline before the age of 12 it causes severe staining on the developing teeth.
The stains are so dark that most dentists have trouble finding the balance between getting the porcelain veneers translucent enough to look natural but still not show the staining through.
Finding a Cosmetic Dentist To Fix This
There is definitely an alternative to getting dental crowns. Seeing as your teeth are healthy, you don’t want to remove any structure unnecessarily. I mentioned porcelain veneers above. That’s what I’d recommend. But, again, not every dentist can do this.
I’d ask any dentist to show you examples of the work they’ve done with tetracycline stains. Make sure they show you before and after so you can see if the staining is as dark as yours.
Another option is to go to aacd.com and look for an accredited dentist with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country and will have the color knowledge and skill to give you a beautiful smile.
If there’s not one within a reasonable travel distance to you, mynewsmile.com also recommends excellent cosmetic dentists. Not all of them are accredited, but they’re all screened for both skill and artistry. You can feel confident they can perform this as well.
This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.