Can you help me? I got porcelain veneers about seven months ago. I loved them. Seriously loved them. Then not too long ago they started picking up stains out of nowhere. They’ve also lost their shine. I’ve always taken good care of them, so I don’t know what went wrong. Is there a way I can get them back to their original color and shine? My dentist told me they’d last for years.

Paula Y. – Kansas City, KS

Paula,

Your dentist was correct. Porcelain veneers can last for years, sometimes a couple of decades, when well care for. That doesn’t mean you’ve done anything wrong. In fact, I suspect the problem is something the hygienist did.

You indicated you had them placed seven months ago. You sound like someone diligent with your oral care. That likely means you had them cleaned about a month ago. If your hygienist used something like a Prophy Jet during your cleaning, it would have damaged your veneers. A Prophy-jet can actually remove the finish off your veneers. Without the glazing, your veneers will start picking up stains. They would also lose the shine, as you mentioned.

There is a way to restore the glazing, but it is a very advanced procedure. I’m assuming, as your dentist didn’t know not to use a Prophy-jet or other power polishing equipment on the veneers, he (or she) won’t know how to do it.

My suggestion is for you to get an expert cosmetic dentist to look at your veneers to determine what actually happened. Look for a cosmetic dentist that is AACD accredited. I know of two in the Kansas City area. Accredited is different than just being a member.

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