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Fixing Tetracycline Stains Without Porcelain Veneers or Crowns

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I have had tetracycline stains for many years. I am tired of being embarrassed by my smile. Unfortunately, my dentist said that the only solutions he knows that works with tetracycline stains are Lumineers and porcelain crowns. I cannot afford to have either of those procedures done on all of my teeth. Is there anything else I can do that will improve the look of my smile?

Alice

Dear Alice,

teeth bleaching trays

Teeth Bleaching Trays

I am glad you wrote. While porcelain veneers are the ideal solution for tetracycline stains which produces the most beautiful result, there is a solution that will not cost you nearly as much as the procedures your dentist proposed. If you are persistent, you can make a big difference on the appearance of your teeth using teeth whitening. It will take some time, but it will work.

Don’t use Zoom Whitening or Laser Whitening, because it will require too many treatments. That won’t save you money at all. Instead, get the regular tray method of bleaching your teeth. The longer you can wear them each day, the faster you will get results. The ideal situation will be to wear them while you sleep, if you can tolerate that. Even then, it will likely require several months of bleaching. But, you will see a noticeable improvement.

A Word of Caution

Your dentist specifically recommended Lumineers. These are a brand of porcelain veneers that are highly marketed to inexperienced cosmetic dentists. Many skilled cosmetic dentists avoid this brand because they require the dentist to use their lab. The lab owned by the Lumineers’ company is not known for its beautiful results. This, combined with the fact that he also suggested porcelain crowns, makes me think that he is not a skilled cosmetic dentist. Often, when dentists are not confident in doing porcelain veneers they will suggest porcelain crowns instead thinking it will be easier because they are thicker. It is not.

My suggestion is to start with the teeth whitening. You can save up for the porcelain veneers. However, when you do get them, make certain that you use an expert cosmetic dentist. Doing smile makeovers is not adequately taught in dental school. It is an advanced cosmetic procedure which requires post-doctoral training.

Doing them for tetracycline stains are even more challenging because they require the dentist to make the veneers opaque enough to cover the dark stains, but still look translucent and natural. It will be worth the wait to save up and get it done by someone who truly can give you a beautiful result.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

What Is the Solution to Brown Spots on My Teeth?

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I had a fever when I was younger that left me with embarrassing brown spots on my teeth. My dentist decided to try teeth whitening to help it. We tried every over the counter whitening in the store, none of which worked. I’m wondering if I should go to someplace that offers Zoom Whitening. Would that work any better?

Stacey

Dear Stacey,

A single porcelain veneer being placed on a tooth.

I think your dentist means well but does not understand cosmetic dentistry. I’m sure she is an excellent general dentist, however, you are going to have to go somewhere else to get the right treatment.

Unfortunately, teeth whitening will not be the solution. Even the most powerful professional teeth whitening will not help. The reason for this is that while it will whiten your teeth, it will do so evenly. That means the non-spotted portions of your teeth whiten as well, actually making the brown spots more obvious.  This is a basic tenant of teeth whitening.

There are two good ways to deal with these brown spots: dental bonding and porcelain veneers. It is important that you don’t have your general dentist do this. Teeth whitening is the easiest of the cosmetic procedures and he or she had a fundamental misunderstanding of how that worked. The two procedures I’m suggesting as possibilities are both very advanced. You would need a dentist who has invested in significant post-doctoral training in cosmetic dentistry to do either one of these well.

Which you get depends on your goals and how big the spots are. If the only thing that bothers you about the appearance of your teeth is the spots and they are small, dental bonding is a sufficient solution. This will require some mild abrasives on the spots and then your dentist will bond some composite on top of the spots to blend that portion of your teeth in completely naturally with the remainder of your tooth structure. This is less expensive but doesn’t last as long, which means it will have to be redone every few years.

If the spots are bigger or there are other things about your smile you want to change, then porcelain veneers are the way to go. These are what the celebrities use to get those Hollywood smiles. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth. These use tiny wafers of porcelain that cover the entire front of your teeth. When well cared for can last many years.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

 

Does Teeth Whitening Hurt?

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I have two friends who have gone through the tooth whitening procedure. Though their procedures were different, both of them had pain during the treatment. My first friend did Zoom and she said it hurt the whole time. She does have sensitive teeth, so I thought hers was more of a fluke. My second friend used home whitening and this is the one that has me the most worried. She said it was fine at first, but then she started having some pain near a spot that she had some dental bonding done. It was bad enough that she stopped the whitening process. I have some dental bonding myself. So, my question is how common is this? Is some amount of pain just something that has to be accepted and dealt with in order to get your teeth white?

Rebecca

Dear Rebecca,

teeth bleaching trays

Teeth Bleaching Trays

I’m glad you wrote. Most patients, though obviously not all, have no problems with teeth whitening whatsoever. Zoom whitening is pretty strong and those with sensitive teeth do sometimes experience pain. If you have sensitive teeth, there are a desensitizing agents that can help. You would also want to take some Tylenol or something similar ahead of time. At-home teeth whitening trays should have even less of a risk of sensitivity. One of the beauties of it is that you only wear the trays for the longest period of time that you are comfortable.

You will get the fastest amount of teeth whitening if you wear them all night. But, if that is too challenging for you, then you can wear them during the day for however long you are comfortable. I would try not to go less than 15 minutes, or you won’t really find it effective.

As for your friend with the dental bonding, it sounds like she had a piece of the repair that was not adequately covered. If she wants to continue her bleaching, she can see her dentist and have him cover that spot. This is just one of the reasons that you should always be under the care of a dentist when doing a teeth whitening procedure.

Because you have a dental bonding repair, it would not hurt to have your dentist look it over just to make sure everything is in good shape. This shouldn’t be a problem because you only want to do teeth whitening after having a cleaning and check up done anyway. If you don’t have a cleaning done, the results are likely to be splotchy.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Do Teeth Whitening Strips Damage Enamel?

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I’ve been looking into various teeth whitening options. I would like to do something at home and have narrowed it down to the teeth whitening strips because they are a lot cheaper than what my dentist quoted me. However, a friend told me that they can damage your tooth enamel. Is this true? If so, what is a better option?

Carmen

Dear Carmen,

teeth bleaching trays

Teeth Bleaching Trays

 

I’m glad you wrote and are doing your due diligence in looking at teeth whitening options. There is currently no evidence that whitening strips can damage your tooth enamel. That being said, there are some things to consider about how they work before making your final decision.

It Takes Longer to Whiten with Over-the-Counter Strips

There is a significant difference in the potency between over-the-counter whitening strips and the professional strength teeth whitening you get with your dentist. While the strips may seem cheaper at first, you will have to use a large number of kits before you get the same results you would with your dentist. In the end, it may not be much cheaper at all.

Whitening Strips Give Uneven Results

There are three problems when it comes to getting comprehensive coverage of your teeth while using whitening strips. First, is the fact that the strips are flat but your teeth are curved. No matter how diligently you push those strips onto your teeth, there are going to be air gaps. Second, is the size of the strips. Crest Whitestrips, which is widely considered the best over-the-counter brand of strips only covers six of your teeth at a time. Most smiles are eight to ten teeth wide, so if you want all of the visible teeth whitened, you are going to have to double up on the strips, which will also cost you more. Finally, is the cleaning factor. Your dentist should expect you to have recently had your teeth cleaned before doing teeth whitening. This is so that the results are even instead of splotchy. This one is easily solvable. Get a cleaning before you do teeth whitening no matter what method you use.

Over-the-Counter Strips Can Lead to Irritation

When you are not under the care of the dentist for your whitening, there is no one to check whether you have any loose fillings that can be irritated by the whitening gel. You can even have perfectly healthy teeth, but the peroxide in the gel will irritate your gums by breaking down healthy gum tissue.

Safely Whitening Your Teeth at Home

While most people think of in-office Zoom whitening, which is done in one appointment, when it comes to getting your teeth whitened by your dentist, there is a way to get your teeth whitened at home by your dentist. He or she can provide you with custom teeth whitening trays that fit directly to your bite.  This protects your gums from irritation. It also preserves the strength of the gel by not allowing  your saliva to water it down.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Thoughts on Premium Home Whitening Kit

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I saw a suggestion on one of my feeds for me to purchase a Premium Home Whitening Kit. I liked the idea of whitening my teeth at home for less than my dentist charges for his Zoom machine. Plus, I can do it in private. Do you know if this kit works?

Mazie

Dear Mazie,

Teeth Whitening Trays

I’m glad you wrote about this. There are some good things and some concerning things about this product. Let’s start with the good. The ingredient they use for their whitening agent is legitimate and will work. The light, however, is bogus. It won’t be powerful enough to do anything. Bottom line, it will whiten your teeth. So, if that is the case, what are my concerns?

The Whitening Trays

If you were to do at-home whitening through your dentist, the trays given to you would be custom-fitted to your bite. That means there will be no leakage. Why does that matter? Glad you asked! The trays that come with the Premium kit are generic and will not keep the gel in well.  This means some gel with get out and some saliva will get in.

This not only weakens the effectiveness, which will drive your cost up purchasing more gel to attain the level of whitening you want, but it also puts your gums at risk. There is a post on mynewsmile.com about a woman who ended up needing a root canal treatment because of an over-the-counter whitening kit. If she’d been under the care of a professional, this would never have happened.

The Cost

While the cost is lower than some dentists, it is actually higher than others. The quote your dentist gave you, as you mentioned, was for the in-office Zoom Whitening. This is more expensive than take-home whitening, though it has the benefit of completely whitening your teeth in just one appointment. But, did you know that your dentist very likely does take-home whitening as well? Which would be less expensive.

In your place, I would tell your dentist that you have an offer for Premium Whitening at this price, but you’d prefer to get your teeth whitened under his care. Ask for him to do take-home and to come closer to their price. My guess is he will. If he doesn’t, there are plenty of other dentists who offer teeth whitening.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Luster Premium White At Home Tooth Whitening

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I was looking to remake my smile and saw this Luster Premium White At Home Tooth Whitening. It had some good reviews. Do you think this is a good substitute for teeth whitening at the dentist? My dentist doesn’t do any cosmetic procedures.

Brenda

Dear Brenda,

Teeth Whitening Trays

I’ve looked at several of these at-home kits. There are a couple that do work.  This isn’t one of them.  First, the light does nothing and is there purely for make customers think it is something special. Then, the whitening ingredient is really just a pigment– Zinc Oxide. This will stick to your teeth and make them look whiter for a while until the pigment wears off.

Real teeth whitening you get from a dentist uses a special peroxide gel to remove the stains. It isn’t a pigment that just temporarily covers them up.

You have a couple of choices here. If you are certain you just want to do an over the counter type of teeth whitening, then what you want is Crest Whitestrips.  These do work but have limitations.

First, they only cover your front six teeth. Most people have smiles that are eight to ten teeth wide. That means if you want all the teeth to whiten, you will need to use four strips each time instead of two. Second, they are not as strong so you will need several boxes worth to get the same amount of whitening.

If you want an evenly white smile, faster, your best option is to see a dentist who offers professional teeth whitening. You can do take-home trays as pictured above, or some dentists offer in-office Zoom Whitening, which allows you to whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

There are many patients who go to one dentist for their general dentistry needs and another for their cosmetic needs so it is fine to stay with your dentist while still getting your teeth whitened elsewhere. Though, in most cases, teeth whitening can be done anywhere. It doesn’t really take any specialized training.

This blog is brought to you by  Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Replacing a Tooth While on Fosamax

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I’ve been on Fosamax for over six years. Recently, I lost a lateral incisor. I wanted to replace it with a dental implant but he said I couldn’t do that because of the Fosamax. Instead, he provided me with a dental flipper. I hate it. I went back and asked for a dental bridge, but he said that would require grinding down two other teeth and he doesn’t want to do that. What are my options here? What about an Encore or Maryland Bridge?

Perry

Dear Perry,

dental implant diagram

Dental Implant Diagram

First, you should know you can have a dental implant even when you’ve been on Fosamax. There are some important things to consider before making the decision. While the chance of complications is small, if they do occur, they are serious. Don’t minimize them. One way around that is to temporarily suspend taking the Fosamax. If you decide to go that route, your doctor and oral surgeon will need to coordinate.

If you don’t want to take the risk, then a bridge is your next best option. An Encore Bridge would do well. However, if it isn’t one your dentist does a lot, I wouldn’t ask him to do this one. It is a complicated procedure.

If you decide you want to go the route of a bridge, then I highly suggest you go with whatever bridge your dentist does. The experience is more important than the procedure. Most bread and butter dentists generally do the traditional bridge. Yes, that may mean grinding the adjacent teeth, but if you choose a bridge that may be the one you end up with if your dentist does it. If you decide you want the Encore Bridge, you may want to have another dentist perform the procedure.

A Cosmetic Consideration

No matter what your choice, you are replacing a front tooth. A good cosmetic dentist can match the color perfectly. However, the color is permanent. It’s prudent to make sure you are happy with the color of your teeth. If not, the time to whiten them would be before your dental bridge or dental implant crown is made.

If you’re looking for the fastest teeth whitening, then you can do Zoom Whitening. This will whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Optional Root Canal?

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I’ve had a tooth that has been turning dark the last few years. I went to see a dentist who said the tooth is still viable, so I can either get a root canal treatment and dental crown or dental bonding. I’m kind of at a loss as to which one is the best option. What are the benefits to one over the other?

Meagan

Dear Meagan,

illustration of an abscessed tooth

Your dentist has muddied the issue. If the tooth is infected, it is considered a dental emergency and you need a root canal treatment. If it is not infected you don’t need the treatment.

While it is true that when a tooth turns gray, it often means the infected pulp inside has died, this is not what has happened to you. Your tooth is still viable. This means that there was likely some trauma a few years ago (around the time the tooth started changing color).

When there is trauma to a tooth, sometimes it will build up defenses with a second dentin. This will have the two-fold effect of giving the tooth a darker appearance, as well as shrinking some of the living pulp. This will make it less sensitive to stimuli.

Because you are not dealing with an infected or dead tooth, my suggestion would be to fix the problem, which is the appearance. Either dental bonding or a porcelain veneer will be the right fix for this.

Teeth Whitening and Cosmetic Work

A good cosmetic dentist can match the gray tooth to the rest of your teeth, so you truly only have to do that one procedure. However, there is a consideration. Cosmetic work, including porcelain crowns, veneers, and bonding will not whiten once it is completed. You can whiten your natural teeth. Though the whitening gel won’t harm your dental work, it won’t whiten it either.

To prevent that in the future, most dentists will recommend you do any teeth whitening you may want before you have something like dental bonding done. This way your teeth are the permanent color you’ll want and the bonding can be made to match the brightness and hue you are happy with. If you’re in a hurry, Zoom Whitening can whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Teeth Whitening or Bonding First?

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I want to get my smile fixed. I have two chipped teeth. I want to get them fixed. My dentist said to do dental bonding for that, but he wants me to whiten my teeth first. Can’t I just get the chips fixed and then later when I have more money get the teeth whitening done? I really don’t want to live with these chips anymore and this seems like an additional procedure which will just make things take longer.

Sandy M.

Dear Sandy,

Before and after teeth bonding

Your dentist isn’t trying to add on an unnecessary procedure in this case. He’s actually trying to look out for your best interest. An important factor in teeth whitening is it only works on natural tooth structure. Imagine for a moment the images above are from your repair.

If you get the dental bonding done without having your teeth whitened, that is fine. However, if you decide to whiten your teeth later, only the non-bonded portion of your teeth will be affected. That means you’ll have these beautiful white teeth and mismatched bonding. It will look strange.

The only way to get the bonding to match would be to replace the dental bonding and have the new bonding made to the whiter color. Doing the teeth whitening first prevents you from having to do the dental bonding twice.

Whitening Your Teeth in Just One Appointment

One thing you should be aware of is you don’t necessarily have to wait a long time for your teeth to get white. While take-home teeth whitening can take over a month to get your teeth as white as possible, with Zoom Whitening, you can get your teeth as white as possible in just one appointment.

Not all dentists have the technology so you may have to call around, but if time is what is bothering you, this would be an easy solution. Though, do give the color a few days to settle before having your dentist color match for the dental bonding procedure.

One word of caution. The dental bonding procedure is done freehand and requires an artistic dentist. Ask to see some before and after pictures of dental bonding cases your dentist has done to make sure he has the requisite skills and artistry.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.

Will Supersmile Accelerating Kit Help Stained Bonding?

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I have stained dental bonding. I see Supersmile has an accelerating kit. Will that help remove the stains faster than the Supersmile toothpaste? If not, can I just whiten them at the dentist? My regular teeth need whitening anyway.

Kit

Dear Kit

Image of Supersmile Toothpaste

Let’s start with what type of stains you are talking about.

Surface Stains

If you’re talking about basic surface stains that all teeth pick up periodically, then the Supersmile toothpaste is effective at removing those. In fact, I recommend anyone with cosmetic work use Supersmile. Calprox is a main ingredient in this toothpaste. It dissolves the protein pellicle that covers your teeth. This is what stains attach to. Once the pellicle is dissolved, the stain is removed.

The accelerating kit is a different beast. Its intention is to accelerate the whitening effect of the toothpaste using peroxide. When talking about surface stains on dental bonding, that’s not useful to you. I’d stick with the less expensive Supersmile toothpaste without the accelerator.

Stains from Lost Polish

If the glaze is gone from your dental bonding, this won’t help. Neither will whitening with your dentist. Even professional teeth whitening only works on natural tooth structure. The only thing to do in that case is to replace the bonding.

Be careful when you get your teeth cleaned with your dentist. If your hygienist doesn’t understand cosmetic work, she could unintentionally take off the polish by using a power prophy jet or acidulated fluoride.

Where to go from Here

You can still get the beautiful white smile you want. Because you want your natural teeth whiter, we’ll start with that. You’ll want to whiten your teeth first. If you have it available in your area, I’d recommend you do Zoom Whitening. This can be done in just one appointment which will allow you to get one with the dental bonding all the more quickly.

Once that is done, you’ll need to have the bonding re-done to match your new brighter color. Then, use Supersmile toothpaste to keep it stain free. Unlike other whitening type kinds of toothpaste, Supersmile isn’t abrasive so you don’t have to worry about it etching your beautiful bonding.

This blog is brought to you by Hoffman Estates Dentist Dr. William Becker.