Tag Archives: Stained Teeth

Will Press-on Veneers Be a Good Option for Me?

I have stained teeth and a chip on a very front tooth. My smile has always embarrassed me. A friend recently got porcelain veneers and her smile is stunning. I was going to do that myself until she told me the price tag. I just can’t afford that. I saw an advertisement for Press-on Veneers. They’re about $1000, which I could afford. However, I don’t want to spend that much money if it won’t give me a comparatively beautiful smile. What do you think? Is it a good option?

Karen S.

Dear Karen,

Porcelain Veneer being placed on a tooth

I’m about to save you a lot of money AND give you an improved and pretty smile. First, don’t get the Press-on Veneers. It’s not what you’re after. They’re not permanently placed and more just fit over your teeth.

Additionally, they’re not made of the same material and will look fake to people you’re having a conversation with. They’ll also be bulky. To the credit of the site who sells them, they’re very open about these issues so customers know what they’re getting into. So what good are they?

They’re a quick cheap solution if you’re having a photo shoot and want a prettier smile. Other than that, I’d look for better cosmetic options.

Porcelain Veneers and Cosmetic Alternatives

Porcelain veneers are the top of the line treatment for a smile makeover. They can change everything about your smile— the shape, size, color, and character. As you noted, they’re also the most expensive of your options.

However, I think you can get a smile you’re proud of for less than half the cost of the Press-on Veneers with the additional benefit of being permanent instead of removable.

You mentioned your teeth are stained and chipped. First, get your teeth whitened. This is a very affordable procedure that can be done either at the comfort of your own home or in one appointment in-office. After the whitening, a dental bonding can be done to repair your chipped tooth.

While any dentist can do the teeth whitening. Dental bonding is done free-hand and requires a skilled and artistic cosmetic dentist. I’d look on the mynewsmile.com website to see who they recommend. The site is very reliable. They will only recommend skilled cosmetic dentists.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Mike Malone, an AACD accredited Dentist.

Brown spots won’t respond to whitening products

I am in my early 20’s and just recently graduated from college. For almost as long as I can remember, my front teeth have been discolored. I have ALWAYS taken really good care of my teeth (no cavities!), but my mother told me the discoloration was caused by an illness I had as a small child. Now I am trying to get my professional career off the ground, and I feel like my teeth are making an awful first impression.

With the support of my dentist, I have tried almost every over-the-counter teeth whitening product available. If anything, my teeth look WORSE now. The spots did not change in color one bit, but the contrast with the surrounding tooth material (which whitened considerably) is even more noticeable and ugly. Now my dentist is suggesting a “trial” treatment, where he will grind away at the spots until they are gone. The problem is he doesn’t know how much he will have to grind, and I just cannot imagine how this will ever look good!

What about professional whitening? I just really need to get this issue addressed. My teeth are holding me back, and my self-confidence is really taking a beating. I don’t want potential employers to think that I am the type of person who doesn’t even properly care for their teeth!

Thanks so much for your help,

Leta in Albany

Dear Leta,

First and foremost, find a different dentist. Your current dentist obviously does not understand the principles of teeth whitening or he would not have had you wasting your time and money on repeated attempts of the same treatment. Professionally whitening is unlikely to yield the results you want, either. And the idea of grinding away the spots could go horribly wrong.

You need to seek the services of a talented, experienced, educated cosmetic dentist. Make sure you thoroughly check their credentials, and ask to see pictures of their work.

Depending on the severity of the spots, there is a very small chance that a technique called microabrasion might work. This is often used with white spots, but is only effective with brown spots when they are very superficial.

If the spots are small, dental bonding may work to cover them. This is one of the most difficult and artistically demanding skill sets in cosmetic dentistry, so make very sure the dentist you chose is not just competent, but exceptional. If bonding will not work, porcelain veneers may be a solution. Both of these treatments require a high degree of artistry and skill.

I hope you can find the right dentist to help you.

Which is best, Zoom whitening or at-home teeth whitening?

In your professional opinion, which is better, Zoom whitening, or one of those at-home whitening systems? I know your office does the Zoom whitening, but I trust you to give me an honest opinion.

Heather in St. Joseph

Dear Heather –

The short answer to your question is “It depends.” Used according to the instructions, both at-home and Zoom whitening systems yield similar results. Deciding which system is best for you depends a lot on your personality, time constraints, budget, and the nature of the stains on your teeth.

At-home whitening systems need to be applied every day, according to a specific set of instructions. It can take weeks or even months to see results. If your personality lends itself to this kind of patient, consistent approach, then an at-home whitening system would be great for you. They are less expensive than Zoom whitening, so if you have more time than money, an at-home system might be the right choice for you.

Zoom whitening is accomplished in one or two visits to your dentist’s office. If you have a tight schedule, or tend to have trouble sticking to a strict routine, Zoom whitening is a great choice for you. It is more expensive than an at-home system, but many people consider the savings in time to be more than worth the difference in price.

I do recommend checking with your dentist before you go with an at-home system, as some stains will not respond to teeth whitening procedures. If your teeth are stained by tobacco, coffee, tea or some foods (such as berries), an at-home or Zoom whitening procedure will be effective. If your teeth have tetracycline stains, then you will have to make different choices to get whiter teeth. Zoom whitening (or at-home systems) are not very effective in treating tetracycline stains. In fact, sometimes the tetracycline staining is MORE noticeable after a whitening procedure is done.

Also, if you have a tooth or teeth that have become discolored after root canal treatment, that tooth will have to be taken into consideration during the whitening process. If that is your situation, you really should consider having your whitening done under the watchful eye of your dentist.

I hope this information helps.