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How White Should I Get My Porcelain Veneers?

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I have very white teeth. Yet, when I got porcelain veneers they weren’t quite as white as my teeth. I asked my dentist about it and he said both he and the lab are willing to re-do them. However, they warned me that to get them that white will require some opacity. I don’t want them to look fake. Should I do them that white?

Kelly

Dear Kelly,

A single porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth

You aren’t alone in wanting very white teeth. If you talk to dentists who do a lot of work for celebrities, you’ll hear they do the same. The key to having this work out beautifully is to make sure you have an experienced and artistic dentist. The cosmetic dentists who are in the top 1% of their field are AACD accredited. I’m a tad concerned that your current dentist seems to be mildly discouraging you from your desired smile.

Cosmetic dentists know that you are creating the dream smile the patient wants. Their job is to find the most beautiful way to do that. Some cosmetic dentists have a term for the type of white you want— ballistic white. There is a slight trade-off with opacity, but that is generally noticeable only at a very close distance. A good cosmetic dentist will still get that natural sparkle in there.

My experience has been people don’t get their porcelain veneers very white and wish they had it more “natural” looking. However, there have been many patients who have had a more natural-looking smile who regretted not getting a whiter one. Get the smile you want.

If you can’t find an AACD accredited dentist in your area, you can look on the mynewsmile.com website. They screen cosmetic dentists for both their technical knowledge and training as well as their artistry. Many of them are either accredited or on their way to accreditation. A cosmetic dentist from either group should be able to get your porcelain veneers as white as your teeth have gotten with your teeth whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Cosmetic Dentistry Horror Story

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I’m at my wits end. I paid a small fortune to get a beautiful smile makeover and I ended up with horse teeth. They are way too bulky and don’t look natural. When I first got them I noticed that right away. I mentioned it to my dentist and he said it’s the shock of seeing the difference in my old “thin” teeth and these better full teeth. Though, he told me he was using ultra-thin veneers. He was sure once I saw them for a few days I would love them. Well, it’s been two weeks and I still hate them. I’ve called the office asking to speak with the dentist four times and never get a call back, which says they are avoiding me. Is there anything I can do?

Marilyn

Dear Marilyn,

HIlton Head Porcelain Veneers

A single porcelain veneer

What you are learning, unfortunately, is there is a real difference between a family dentist who does cosmetic work and a dentist who is passionate about cosmetic work. You would never have gone through this with a true cosmetic dentist. They would never be satisfied with their work if you were anything but absolutely thrilled.

You said your dentist used an ultra-thin veneer and the results ended up looking like horse teeth. Is there any chance you heard him say he was using Lumineers? This is a specific brand of porcelain veneers which is marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. They say this because they are an ultra-thin veneer and as such may not require tooth preparation.

In reality, that only works for some cases, Many, even with an ultra-thin veneer will end up looking like horse teeth if the dentist doesn’t do any tooth prep at all. This may be what happened to you.

Another thing you wouldn’t experience with an expert cosmetic dentist is him saying “You’ll get used to how they look.” Nope. If you weren’t absolutely thrilled, a real cosmetic dentist would send those puppies back tot he lab to be re-done with any changes you think are necessary to obtain the smile of your dreams.

Before they were even bonded on, they would be placed on your teeth with a temporary try-in paste. You’d get a good look at them on your teeth in several different lightings. Your complete approval and satisfaction would be obtained before they were bonded on.

What you need it to get a refund so you can have your porcelain veneers re-done by a true, artistic cosmetic dentist. To do that, you’ll need to get an expert cosmetic dentist on your side who will say the porcelain veneers you did get aren’t satisfactory.

I would look either on the mynewsmile.com website or search for an AACD accredited dentist in your area. Either one of them has the expertise and artistry necessary to create beautiful smiles. In fact, most of them even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Dental Bonding Yellowed After Three Days

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I think I did something to mess up my dental bonding. I’m heart broken about it. I really loved them. I brushed with baking soda. Did I ruin them? They’re turning yellow and I’ve only had them three days. Can they be fixed?

Amanda

Dear Amanda,

Woman Covering her mouth
A great cosmetic dentist can give you a smile you’re proud to share

Baking soda is quite abrassive and would have etched your dental implants allowing them to pick up stains. That’s where the yellowing is coming from. Your bonding is unprotected.

Don’t beat yourself up about this. The problem is your dentist didn’t actually prepare you for how to care for your newly bonded teeth. That’s on them. Because of how short a time span you’ve had them, your dentist shouldn’t object to redoing them for you.

My hope is that they didn’t use lower quality materials which makes it easier for them to wear down. After they’re redone, make sure you use Supersmile toothpaste to clean them. This is specifically designed to clean and protect cosmetic dental work.

If you use the right toothpaste and they still turn yellow, then you can know they’re using inferior materials. You’ll need to go to an expert cosmetic dentist in order to get your dental bonding done properly.

My suggestion, if that happens, is you see one of the recommended dentists on the mynewsmile.com website. They screen cosmetic dentists to make sure they have both technical skill and artistry to give you a gorgeous smile.

This blog is brought to you by Hilton Head Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Dentist Wants to Crown Healthy Teeth

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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,

HIlton Head Porcelain Veneers

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.

CEREC versus Traditional Crowns

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My new job has dental insurance. I was thrilled because I’d been neglecting my dental care due to finances. I went today and they said I have need for two crowns and two fillings. Given how long it’s been since I’ve been it wasn’t a total shocker. The two crowns are an upper front tooth and a molar. The two fillings are also back teeth. The dentist suggested CEREC crowns, which my insurance doesn’t seem to cover. Are they better? Would it be worth the extra cost? Also, they said my back teeth are deeply pitted and I should get sealants. That’s also not covered. What do you think?

Jessie M.

Dear Jessie,

Block of porcelain for a CEREC crown

Cerec Versus Traditional Crowns

The big benefit to CEREC crowns is they can be milled and placed in one appointment, eliminating the need for a temporary crown and second appointment. In general, they’re equal in quality to traditional crowns. The one negative difference is they’re milled from a single block of porcelain. That makes them look uniform in color.

But if you look at your front teeth when you smile, you’ll notice they’re not uniform. While the entire tooth is translucent, Parts of it are more opaque than others. Because of that, while I recommend CEREC crowns for most restorations, I wouldn’t recommend it on a front tooth. Instead, I’d do a traditional porcelain crown which can be created using several blocks of porcelain giving it the subtle varieties needed to look completely natural.

As you’ll want to have a traditional crown from your front tooth, you may as well do both of them that way.

As for the sealants you mentioned, they’re usually covered on children. They seal the back teeth so that nothing can get down in those groves and pits you mentioned. It’s worth it to get them if you’re at great risk for decay.

Dental Crowns and Teeth Whitening

I’m only mentioning this because you’re getting a crown on a front tooth. Many people dream of one day getting their teeth whitened. If you’re considering whitening be sure to do it before you get your crowns made. Once the crowns are finished, there’s no way to whiten them. However, they can be made whatever color you need. So, whiten the teeth, then get the crowns made to match.

Who Should Craft Your Porcelain Crown?

Two images of a smile. Left image: poorly done crowns. Right image: beautiful crowns fixed by Dr. Rothwell.

Again, given that you’re having a front tooth done, it’s especially important that it’s done well. You want it to look both natural and beautiful. Not every cosmetic dentist is equally skilled. Look at the two pictures directly above. Both images are of the same smile. Both smiles have crowns. Looking at the image on the left, you’ll see that the crowns are okay. While they look natural, they don’t look beautiful and the patient has a black triangle between two front teeth. She came to Dr. Rothwell to fix her smile. The smile on the right is the one Dr. Rothwell did. You can see the teeth are both natural and beautiful, plus there’s no longer a black triangle.

If you want a beautiful crown, you’ll need a highly skilled cosmetic dentist to do that. Ideally, you’ll want an AACD accredited dentist. However, not every state has a dentist who’s reached accreditation level. If you can’t find one at a reasonably close distance where you are, try the mynewsmile.com website.

They only recommend skilled cosmetic dentists. Anyone on their list is qualified and artistic enough to craft a stunning crown for you.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Can Off-Centered Porcelain Veneers Be Fixed?

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I’m feeling really sad about my porcelain veneers. I spent a lot of money and had been saving for years. When the dentist put them on, they looked a little off to me. I couldn’t put my finger on it. I told my dentist something looked weird to me, but because I couldn’t give him specifics he figured it was because I’m not used to the smile. I figured he could be right and went home. Several days went by and it’s still bothering me. I asked my sister about it and she says the front teeth aren’t centered. Once she pointed it out, it was obvious. I called my dentist and he said they’re perfect. When I insisted they weren’t he told me once they’re bonded on nothing can be changed. Is that true? Did I spend a fortune on a permanently crooked smile?

Sara,

Dear Sara,

A woman having porcelain veneers placed

I’m very sorry you’ve received a disappointing smile. It sounds like you went to your family dentist instead of someone who’s invested time and money into becoming an expert at cosmetic work. Unfortunately, because there isn’t a recognized cosmetic dentistry specialty it’s very hard for patients to know who is great in the field and who just gets by. We’ll talk about how to find an expert cosmetic dentist a little later. First, let’s address your specific issue.

Once porcelain veneers are bonded on it’s permanent, but that doesn’t mean your dentist couldn’t take responsibility and re-do the veneers at his cost. It doesn’t sound like he intends to do that, though. It would be hard to force him into it. Unfortunately, the standard with the dental board is function, not form.

So you know, even celebrities have had this problem.

If you look closely at a photo of Tom Cruise’s smile, you’ll notice his front teeth are off-centered as well. I don’t know if that’s because his cosmetic dentist failed, Mr. Cruise wanted it that way, or his teeth shifted after his case was done. Any of those is possible.

Though Mr. Cruise has done quite well with his crooked smile, it doesn’t mean you have to keep yours. There is a chance another cosmetic dentist could put some pressure on your dentist to make this right. My suggestion is you see an expert cosmetic dentist (I’ll tell you how to find one momentarily) and have him look at your porcelain veneers. If he sees what you’re seeing, he could talk to your dentist. Sometimes a dentist is more likely to listen to a peer because they don’t want to look bad. You can choose whether or not to give him another chance to re-do the porcelain veneers or to just get a refund and see another dentist.

Finding an Expert Cosmetic Dentist

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD) started an accreditation program. It has both oral and written exams, as well as makes them demonstrate a large number of cases they’ve done to ensure they not only have technical skill but artistry.

It takes dentists years to reach accreditation level. Only 1% of dentists actually accomplish this. But, those dentists can give you a gorgeous smile. My first recommendation would be for you to get a second opinion from an AACD accredited dentist. It would be worth it for you to drive to another nearby city to get the beautiful smile you deserve. In fact, most of them even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

If there isn’t an AACD accredited dentist near enough for you to get to, check the mynewsmile.com website. They also recommend highly skilled cosmetic dentists. Not all are AACD accredited yet, but they’re highly skilled and on their way to accreditation.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

How to Avoid a Cosmetic Dentistry Disaster

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One thing great cosmetic dentists have to face is repairing disastrous work done by other dentists. This happens so often I thought it best to be proactive. If you’re considering getting a smile makeover, there are some precautions you can take to ensure you will have a gorgeous smile that you’re delighted to show off. Porcelain veneers can give you a stunning smile, but only if done by the right cosmetic dentist.

A brunette with a beautiful smile

Getting a gorgeous smile makeover requires a skilled cosmetic dentist

Step One— Do Some Initial Research

Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty with the American Dental Association (ADA). What that means is any general dentist can call themselves a cosmetic dentist regardless of the amount of training they have or don’t have. There’s very limited cosmetic work taught in dental school. Therefore, those who want a cosmetic focus in their practice have to make an effort to get the training they need. You’ll want a dentist who’s done that.

Ask them where they studied their cosmetic work. If all they mention is dental school, move on. Additionally, look at their smile gallery. It’s one thing to say they create beautiful smiles, it’s another to back it up.

Step Two— Make Sure They Stand Behind Their Work

While we’re on the topic of backing up their claims, make sure whatever dentist you see has some form of guarantee. Check out Dr. Rothwell’s beautiful smile guarantee.

Step Three— If Possible, Go to an AACD Accredited Dentist

The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry has an accreditation program. It’s a way to help patients know not only which dentists have the technical skill but the artistry. Those who’ve completed their accreditation program have passed several examinations, both oral and written. They also have to show many, many cases they’ve personally done to show they’re not just technical but artistic as well.

Now, becoming accredited takes a long time. Not many dentists have reached that level yet, but that doesn’t mean their skill and artistry aren’t up to par. In fact, there are some incredible cosmetic dentists who may be on their way to accreditation but haven’t had time to complete the process yet. If you don’t have an accredited dentist in your area, it’s worth traveling to get the right smile. But, before you do that, I’d also check with the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend highly skilled and artistic cosmetic dentists by area. You’d be safe with any dentist listed on their site as well.

However, if there isn’t a dentist from either group in your area, then I think you may need to travel a bit to get the smile you want.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

Can a Cosmetic Dentistry Disaster be Fixed?

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I’ve paid a fortune for a smile makeover. I don’t know what went wrong. All the before and after pictures he showed me were gorgeous, but my makeover turned out quite differently. It looks absolutely hideous. Can this be fixed? He used Lumineers. I don’t know if there’s a way to fix those or not. What do I do? They look completely fake.

Danya F.

Dear Danya,

A woman smiling after her smile makeover

A Gorgeous Smile Created by Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Bonnie Rothwell

I’m curious about the pictures your dentist showed you. Do you know if they’re photos of cases he’s actually done himself or did he show you stock photos? That would be something worth looking into. If he represented them as his work and they weren’t, that’s fraud. You could easily get a refund that way and go to a different cosmetic dentist to get this done the right way.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty by the American Dental Association. Every cosmetic dentist is a general dentist. Some give more time and study to cosmetic procedures than others. Just like with anything else, you’ll get different results from different practitioners depending on their skill level.

Lumineers, the brand he used on you, is often marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists as being easy to place. As you can tell by the results you received, there’s nothing easy about cosmetic dentistry.

Choosing Your Cosmetic Dentist

To get this fixed, it will have to be completely re-done. You certainly don’t want to have it redone by another unskilled dentist, so how do you find a skilled cosmetic dentist. Here are my recommendations:

  1. Go to a dentist who’s accredited by the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. These are the top cosmetic dentists in the country. They have to pass stringent oral and written exams along with demonstrating their artistry.
  2. If there isn’t an AACD accredited dentist available at a reasonable distance to you then you can try the mynewsmile.com website. They recommend highly skilled cosmetic dentists by zip code. Some are AACD accredited and some are on their way toward accreditation but are equally good.
  3. If you can’t find either of those, you may consider traveling to one of them. It would be worth it to get a gorgeous smile. Most of them will even have a beautiful smile guarantee.

You’ll likely find that none of them will recommend Lumineers. Instead, they’ll recommend the brand of porcelain veneers that will work best with the type of smile makeover you want.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonne Rothwell.

My Porcelain Veneer Doesn’t Match!

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I’m so frustrated I don’t know what to do. Part of me is afraid I’ll never smile in public again. I had a chipped tooth repaired about five years ago with dental bonding. I broke it. My dentist retired. He sold his practice to a dentist he’s known for years. She’s very nice, but I’m not thrilled with the repairs to my tooth. I wanted her to simply put more bonding on the tooth. She said that once it’s gone you can’t repair it. She suggested I get a dental crown. I really didn’t want to do that. It would mean grinding my tooth down to a nub. I asked about a porcelain veneer. She agreed. I’m glad she was willing to listen to me, but the veneer she gave me doesn’t match my other teeth. I mentioned that to her, but she said it looks fantastic and it’s probably just the angle I’m looking at it or the light. But, I never had trouble with my natural teeth matching and I looked at those with the same angles and lights.

Farra M.

Dear Farra,

HIlton Head Porcelain Veneers

Your new dentist may be very nice and great a general dentistry, but she doesn’t have very much knowledge when it comes to cosmetic dentistry. I’m not sure why she thought the bonding couldn’t be re-done. It could have and dental bonding is the standard treatment for chipped teeth. My guess is she’s just not confident with her ability to do it so she suggested a crown, which she was comfortable doing.

About your porcelain veneer. Unfortunately, once it’s bonded on there’s not much which can be done to change it. The only way to make this match would be to have it re-done entirely. Though, I doubt even if your current dentist was willing to redo it, you’d get the results you want. Placing a single porcelain veneer takes a great deal of skill to get the coloring just the right mix to blend with your other teeth seamlessly.

Your best bet is to find an expert cosmetic dentist to have it done right. You could ask for a refund. Hopefully, she’ll comply knowing deep down that the veneer doesn’t really match. To find an artistic cosmetic dentist, you have a couple of good options.

The first is to look for a dentist who has reached accreditation level with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). Accredited dentists are quite artistic and can make you a gorgeous veneer. The other is to look at the mynewsmile.com website to see who they recommend close to your zip code. They only recommend expert cosmetic dentists.

No matter which method you choose to find them, you’ll get a great dentist. Plus, I’d almost be willing to bet all of them have a beautiful smile guarantee. They certainly wouldn’t be satisfied if you weren’t.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Bonnie Rothwell.

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